Mr Pershore’s room officially opened

VIPs gathered at the Civic Centre in Pershore this week to celebrate the naming of a new room in memory of a former councillor dubbed ‘Mr Pershore’.

On Tuesday, 14 February, a room at the Pershore Civic Centre, the new home of the day centre which relocated last month from Heathlands Care Home, was officially opened and named in memory of VJ Smith for his dedication and long service to the town.

Members of his family, along with council delegates and Sanctuary Care representatives, who run the day centre, gathered to celebrate the fitting tribute.

It was widely known that John’s biggest political tool was an inexhaustible supply of ‘pick ‘n mix’ sweets and bags of sweets were given to VIPs as a very personal tribute to his memory.

Chairman of the Council, Councillor Tony Miller led the ceremony. He said: “I was very proud to know VJ. He loved people and if he couldn’t offer you a word of wisdom he would go into his pocket and pull out a sweet!”

John died in January 2009 but left a long legacy having served on Pershore Town Council since May 1947, he was a Worcestershire county councillor since May 1973 until his death and a Wychavon district councillor in May 1974 until May 2003 and serving on virtually every committee there was locally. He was the first Honorary Alderman for Wychavon, an honour he was bestowed with in December 2004.

John’s niece Jenny Downie, who has worked at Heathlands Care Home as a catering assistant for 18 months said: “We were very proud of him and we miss him. I’m really honoured and so grateful that they have done this for him. He was a man who would help anybody and his memory will live forever.”

Speaking at the event about the partnership Sanctuary Group’s Director Care and Support Steve Wood said: “I am honoured to have been here to mark the occasion. It is so fitting that a centre providing such a vital service to the community is named in the memory of such an important and prominent figure.

He continued “Sanctuary Care has worked closely with Wychavon District Council to relocate our day centre here and we are thrilled to continue to work in partnership to provide this lifeline to local people.”

(Steve Wood, Sanctuary Housing and Chairman WDC Tony Miller)

Betty Cook, who has been using the day centre for 10 years, added: “When you eat at home on your own and then have company it makes such a difference. It’s very important to have somewhere like this for the elderly to go to and mix with other people.”

Chairman Cllr Tony Miller giving out pic n mix to Heathland residents