I NEED a hero! Well, at least the brilliantly performed characters in Worcester’s recent production of stage musical Footloose by our very own WODYS (Worcester Opera and Drama Society’s Youth Section) did.
It was great to celebrate the fantastic talents of some of our city’s young people. One of the things I hear incredibly often is that we need to “sell Worcester” more.
Do you ever think that?
Somehow, we realise that our city has so much going for it, but in some way it’s not recognised, not celebrated.
My hunch is that this is more than a marketing problem.
In fact, while I do think Worcester could afford a bit more swagger as we represent ourselves around the region and the country, I suspect that it’s our self-image that could benefit from some love.
People who visit or move into Worcester invariably seem to love the place. But do we (you and I) recognise the beauty in our city that others find it easy to see?
Our sports teams, charities, university, schools, library, shops, hospitality, river, woodlands and parks; they’re all special. But it’s the people who make the city, and that means us. Our workplaces, our families and homes are special, beautiful even. We know it. But do we own it?
I’ve been kicking off some work to get under the skin of what it would mean for us to really “sell Worcester”, but in the end I think it also rests with each one of us to recognise the beauty in ourselves.
It’s a tough, even heroic task. But here’s my challenge to each of us: Let’s take a minute for a conversation with another person about our city and our own place in it.
Worcester is an incredible place to live and work. Let’s sell it amongst ourselves.
Together, we make something beautiful. Have a go. After all, our city needs a hero!
Tom Collins,
MP For Worcester
