WORCESTER first citizen was welcomed to Parma to meet his opposite number ahead of Warriors European Challenge Cup clash against Zebra.
Mayor of Worcester Coun Stephen Hodgson was on hand to support the Worcester Warriors in their continental clash with Zebre last weekend.
Before the match the Mayor met the Mayor of Parma, Federico Pizzarotti, at the Town Hall (Palazzo del Governatore), where the two mayors discussed the systems of local government in their two countries.
Coun Hodgson was shown also around the Parma council chamber, that has a very similar layout to the council chamber at Worcester Guildhall. They even use exactly the same microphone system as Worcester for their meetings.
The two mayors exchanged gifts, with the Mayor of Parma receiving a souvenir of the Worcester 400 Charter Celebrations, a photograph of Worcester, and a bauble of the Guildhall to go on next year’s Christmas tree. In exchange the Mayor of Worcester was given a beautiful book on Parma that will be on display in the Mayor’s Parlour in the Guildhall.
Unlike the Mayor of Worcester, who is elected annually, the office of the Mayor of Parma has been a directly elected executive office since 1994. Federico Pizzarotti, as well as being Mayor of Parma since 2012, is also leader of a small Italian political Party, Italia in Comune, which is a centrist green party.
Warriors have now played in Parma on three occasions, and many Worcester players and supporters have visited the city in recent times.
“Meeting the Mayor of Parma was a great honour, our two cities have much in common with our long histories, and love of the arts and sport,” Coun Hodgson said.
