SIR – As readers will know, Cllr Jo Hodges is the 399th Mayor of Worcester this year – which means next year, 2021, is the 400th anniversary of a charter basically incorporating the City of Worcester and creating a mayor.

Some people have already started talking about how to celebrate, along the lines of the festival held on Pitchcroft in 1971. Does anyone remember that?

But Covid-19 has changed a lot of things. Most of the arts events planned for this summer such as the Elgar Festival, Three Choirs, Arches Project, are looking to come back next year.

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We know cultural and hospitality are the sectors who may find it hardest to recover. Tourism is a key plank of the Local Enterprise Partnership’s recovery plan.

So let’s make next year a Charter Year for Worcester.

Let’s brand the whole year and its events and activities as part of the 400th anniversary of the city and showcase what’s great about Worcester.

Schools, community centres, neighbourhoods, the Arts Workshop, WorcesterLive, museums, attractions, cricket, racing, shops and businesses can all take part and benefit using the celebration as a rebirth to drive the economic and social recovery here in Worcester.

ADRIAN GREGSON

Cllr, Rainbow Hill ward