An Eventful Year!

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The past year has been a highly eventful one for myself and Vivienne - and literally so! During my year as Lord Mayor which ended on the 25th of May 2010 I completed a grand total of 1032 official engagements and Vivienne took part in something like 90% of these. We had rarely seen so much of each other!

In Birmingham the tradition is that you are plunged in at the deep end as Lord Mayor and then become Deputy Lord Mayor (DLM) the following year. The reason for this unusual arrangement is that if because of diary pressures the Lord Mayor cannot undertake an engagement then at least in the form of the DLM the event organisers will at least have a civic representative with some experience.

The DLM would normally undertake around 150 - 200 engagements in the year and in carrying these out it has been a great pleasure to meet again some of the very many good and true people who contribute so much to making Birmingham such a wonderful city.

And it is because of the people as a whole that I believe, despite the difficult times, we can approach 2011 with a good measure of confidence.

May I take this opportunity to wish you personally a very happy New Year and perhaps we will meet at a civic, charitable or community event as the year progresses.

Happy Christmas!

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Back in Action!

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I’m pleased to say that I‘ve now been able to resume civic duties on the run-up to Christmas. This is always a busy and interesting time on the civic front.

Amongst other official duties, along with the Deputy Lady Mayoress I recently attended the annual Salvation Army charity concert in Symphony Hall. This was, as last year very impressive and the Army are to be commended for their dedicated work.

We also attended the Hospitals Choir Concert, also at Symphony Hall and also in aid of related good causes. This was of outstanding quality – look out for next year’s event.

We were also invited to a Nativity and Carol service put on by Calthorpe School at St Alban’s Church. This was a very special event in all senses – both staff and pupils were highly energetic and imaginative in their ‘children of the world, theme.

We are very lucky in Birmingham to have so many dedicated people who can do such good work and celebrate Christmas at the same time.

Visiting the Royal Orthopaedic!

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I’ve recently had the opportunity to make an extended visit to Birmingham’s superb Royal Orthopaedic Hospital – not so much in the role of Deputy Lord Mayor but as a regular patient in for a full hip replacement! Incidentally, the title ‘Royal’ was granted by Queen Victoria’ and our hospital - also known as The Woodlands, with house and land donated by the Cadbury family - is the oldest orthopaedic institution in the country.

For myself, I’m now back home and steadily recuperating. I’d like to thank all who sent me cards- very much appreciated. I would like to say how grateful I am to the hospital and to the NHS for the treatment that I have received.

And while I was in hospital, the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress, Cllr Len and Mrs Gill Gregory were kind enough to pay a visit. It was very good to see them, and fellow patients and staff were just as pleased as I was.

Birmingham is fortunate in having such excellent hospital provision and such dedicated staff. In the Royal Orthopaedic we have a facility not just of regional but of international standing. And talking of standing, I hope to be doing much more of that much more easily in the very near future!

Follow The Band!

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The Deputy Lady Mayoress and I were delighted to attend a concert last evening - 'Follow the band Part One' given by the City of Birmingham Brass Band. The concert was held at the nationally acclaimed Joseph Chamberlain Sixth Form College which is now, thanks to the Principal of the College, the Band's new home.

We are so pleased about this and very proud of the CBBB with whom we've worked a lot in the last year or so.
The band will not only be making music but also working with the college students and local community to develop new works relating fine art and music and involving students working on textiles in the design of a new logo and uniforms.
This all adds up to a great synergy and is typical of how both Joseph Chamberlain College and the City of Birmingham Brass Band work.

Amongst a packed concert programme, a further special concert - part two of Follow the Band - is planned for December 10th at 7-30pm at the College - don't miss it!

P.S.The band are on the look out for a percussionist, so if you have some experience with percussion instruments and matching enthusiasm and you would like to be involved, you can email the band at: http://freespace.virgin.net/oliver.monk/ or contact me and I'll put you in touch.

BARC Volunteers Event

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I was very pleased on Saturday last to be invited to the event held by the Birmingham Arthritis Resource Centre (BARC) at the Medical School at the University of Birmingham. BARC is an educational project based on a partnership between the University and the City Council.
Now in its eleventh year, BARC helps people with arthritis to have improved quality of life and greater long-term independence.

It provides a sympathetic and confidential listening service run by a team of trained volunteers and has a large information resource of leaflets and CDs
Covering the different types of arthritis, their treatment, aids and ways of managing the illness which in all its forms affects nine million adults in the UK, three million of whom have significant disability.

Arthritis is not just about older people, over 12,000 children and teenagers also suffer from the condition.
BARC is located on the 5th floor of the Birmingham Central Library and is open Monday to Friday 10-00 till 4-00. You can just drop in or phone 0121-464-2708 or email barccentre@bham.ac.uk or visit the BARC website at http://www.barc.org.uk/

Charity Success

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I recently had the pleasure of meeting again the members of the Charity Committee with whom the Deputy Lady mayoress and I worked during the year in which I was Lord mayor of Birmingham. They are a stalwart group working selflessly and without reward or recognition for good causes. We recalled some of the lighter moments such as the cameo appearance of Viv and I in the Gilbert and Sullithon at the Town Hall (Viv went on to do other parts), the Mega Quiz and the coaching I needed to ring a bell properly and the enjoyment as well as the fundraising that we had at the traditional fayres we held at Birmingham's historic markets.
But the main purpose of the evening was to present cheques to our main charitable causes for the year. We raised £34,000 for Pancreatic Cancer research in Birmingham, £21,000 for St Basils, our premier homeless charity for young people, £21,000 for WAITS who help women, especially in minority communities to play more prominent roles in society, £21,000 to help young people into careers in engineering and as a late addition to the appeal £3,000 for BARC (Birmingham Arthritis Resource Centre). You'll see that the overall total is £100,000 and there is still a little more to come in. This is a considerable achievement in these difficult times and we would both like to express our sincere thanks to all the volunteers who supported the fundraising events.

Communities Together

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Along with the big set piece events that the Lord Mayor or his deputies attend are the much smaller local cultural and family festivals that are put on by local communities in many parts of the city. In this connection as Deputy Lord Mayor I recently had the pleasure of attending two of these - the Springfield Cultural Festival and the Bromford and Firs Fun Day.
The Springfield event drew the rain as well as the local population but spirits were by no means dampened! The festival, which is now in its ninth year, is a great example of a fun event made possible by the community working together, and involving volunteers, Councillors, support services and local residents. All join in an event that shows that people from all communities can work together, raise funds for charity and enjoy themselves together - and maybe sometimes even get wet together! But the sun always shines on Springfield one way or another!
The Firs and Bromford Fun Day was a bit luckier with the weather - at least when I was there. Family occasions such as this are an important part of community life - and indeed are a sign of a lively community. It is tremendous news that the Lottery fund has given a major award to the Firs and Bromford Estate and the community association, our outstanding housing officers and all involved are to be congratulated. When communities pull together, so much can be achieved.

Our Great Museums

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Birmingham’s Museum and Art Gallery are world class attractions at the cultural heart of the city and are drawing in many visitors from home and abroad. The total number of visits went up from 866,904 in 2008/9 to 1,095,683 in 2009/10 - an increase of over 26%.
The Staffordshire Hoard was responsible for part of the increase, with 40,000 visits when it was first shown last year and thousands more week by week since the second display came back in the spring.
But even allowing for the Staffordshire Hoard the results are impressive. They are a result of a series of interesting exhibitions which have been well advertised. It shows what can be achieved with inspired and dedicated staff.
As for the latest exhibitions, I’m told that the current dinosaur exhibition in the Gas Hall “T Rex - The Killer Question” is really good and recommended for families with young children. It has lifelike and animatronic models of T Rex and other dinosaurs. I look forward to seeing this exhibition myself, being a lifelong dinosaur enthusiast! The exhibition runs until the 5th of September.
You can find out more about all the exhibitions at Birmingham’s Museum’s and Art Gallery by visiting the website at www.bmag.org.uk/events
Museums right throughout the city are also a great success. In my own part of Birmingham, Hall Green, we have in Sarehole Mill the premier heritage attraction on the South side of the city, complete with watermill, displays, and strong Tolkien connections (the basis of the mill in Hobbiton - Tolkien lived just across the road) - and a very nice tea room. Well worth a visit, laden with history and legend - guaranteed dinosaur free but there may be a reference to the odd dragon!

The National Children’s Orchestra

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On Saturday evening we had the great pleasure of attending a concert at Birmingham Town Hall. Not so very unusual you may think. But what made this different was that none of the musicians was over thirteen and some were much younger.
The standard was sensational. If you closed your eyes you would never have thought this was not an adult orchestra. There was an immense depth of talent and we were much inspired by the great outlook for classical music all this implies and of which the NCO will be an important part.
Our thanks to the young musicians and to the charity, families and volunteers who brought this event to fruition. They are helping to create and sustain a love of music not only in those who make it but in those of us fortunate enough to enjoy the performances.
Despite best endeavours at publicity, the NCO remain something of a hidden gem. I certainly hope that word will spread and that many more concerts such as Saturday’s in the Town Hall can be given for all to enjoy.

Jamaican Nationals' Concert

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At the weekend we were delighted to be able to attend a concert at the Adrian Boult Hall given by the University Singers of the West Indies. This was organised by Birmingham’s Association of Jamaica Nationals around the occasion of the 48th year of Jamaican Independence. The singers gave a scintillating performance of immense range from solemn religious music to lively folk songs.
The press coverage of Jamaican matters is invariably biased towards the negative. There is a very great deal of which to be proud and many people working hard in the community making major contributions and striving to present a more balanced and positive image. We greatly enjoyed the concert as we do all occasions with Birmingham’s Jamaican community.
During the past year or so I have worked regularly with one of the community’s most prominent members, Beverly Lindsay, on charity and community matters who recently received an invitation to a Royal Garden Party. Our second photo shows Beverly and guest outside the palace. These are great occasions which I had the privilege of enjoying while in office last year.

Mela at the Mill

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We recently had the pleasure of attending the annual Mela held at the recreation ground by Sarehole Mill. This is one of several, all-community events of its kind in Birmingham and there was a very pleasant atmosphere – especially in the tea tent as shown in the photo!

One distinctive feature of Hall Green Mela is that the opportunity is taken to present awards to people who have contributed a lot to the local community through voluntary service and I was delighted to present these well deserved awards in recognition. There was also an impressive talent competition for young people ranging from song and dance through to poetry and it was good to talk to the competitors.

So a very good day enjoyed by everyone – just what Melas are all about.

Queen Alexandra College

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Over the past year or so I’ve had the pleasure of visiting and interacting with Birmingham’s Queen Alexandra College which provides training for people with limited or no vision along with other disabilities. The College does absolutely outstanding work and I recently had the pleasure of attending the QAC family day held at the college and at which qualifications were announced and awards made.
The first photograph is of the audience at the ceremony. I cannot overstate the value of this work and the dedication of the staff and volunteers and the determination, commitment and success of the students. Yesterday I paid a follow-up visit to the ‘Sight Village’ which was held at the New Bingley Hall in Hockley.
This is an exhibition of the very latest aids, adaptations, devices, software and support for blind people and those with limited vision. I met exhibitors from the UK and Europe and from as far afield as Oregon in the United States. There has been amazing progress in recent years and research and development continues apace. This international event is organised by QAC and is a credit to the college – and indeed to Birmingham.
On a personal note I had the great pleasure of meeting again someone I had not seen for 48 years since we were both at University together. Roger Hinds now runs a very successful social enterprise making available, free of charge, software that makes it much easier to read on screen material. While attempting the impossible of catching up on almost five decades, Roger and I were also thinking of ways that we can make the software more easily accessible to people in Birmingham.
I also had a chance to have my picture taken at a photography project – again for people with very limited sight. I am shown here with Vicky from the ‘Look’ team - and optional snakes!
Good luck to all concerned and thank you to Queen Alexandra College for all that it does.

Wheelchair Basketball

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The City of Birmingham is proud to be hosting the wheelchair basketball championships of the world for 2010. As Deputy Lord Mayor I had the privilege of delivering the official welcome at the opening ceremony at the National Indoor Arena.
There was a splendid display by dancers and skaters from in and around Birmingham and a parade of the athletes from the countries taking part. The Deputy lady Mayoress and I stayed on for the first match of the championships which featured the Great Britain women’s team against the Netherlands. Our photo shows the teams lining up at the start of the match.
This was an exciting game in what is a fast and fluid sport. Although participants usually have a disability you don’t need to be disabled to enjoy playing the game.
The opening game was very, very close with Great Britain taking an early lead and sustaining it until the second half. However, there must have been a particularly effective pep talk by the Netherlands coach as the lead was clawed back and in a nail-biting finish the Netherlands eventually came out the winners by 39 to 38. It couldn’t have been closer.
All praise to the competitors, the organisers, the volunteers and city council officers for making the opening day such a great success for the sport and for the city.

A Definite Score!

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We recently had the opportunity to attend a performance of SCORE! a new commission from composer Tim Steiner with words from Ian McMillan. This was a huge open-air production by nearly 5,000 children from all over the country.

The performance was both highly enjoyable and inspiring and took place at the ground of Birmingham City FC and was part of the 2010 national Festival of Music for Youth - the 40th anniversary festival.
This enormous event involves no less than 160 cities, towns and villages across the country. Around 14,000 young instrumentalists take part along with 3,000 singers!
In Birmingham alone there are other festival performances at the Town Hall, Birmingham Conservatoire, the CBSO Centre, Symphony Hall, Brindley Place and the O2 Academy.
Terrific stuff! And thank you to all who took part yesterday and to Music for Youth and Birmingham Music Service for what was a truly outstanding event.

Armed Forces Day

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Saturday June 26th was Armed Forces Day 2010, a day when the nation salutes our Armed Forces, past, present and future. In Birmingham's Victoria Square in the afternoon we had the pleasure of meeting active service personnel, cadets and once again the many veterans associations, standard bearers as well as senior representatives of the Services and service related organisations.
The day went off splendidly and there was an excellent march past at the end. There was a great deal of public enthusiasm and support - as always in Birmingham.
I spent some time with many groups including the National Service Veterans,(first picture) , the Korean Veterans, the War Widows Association and the Royal British Legion.
I was very surprised to learn that the bikers section is now one of the largest and most successful branches of the RBL. They very kindly let me have a sit on one of their machines - very trusting as I hung up my own lid over twenty years ago! Still it felt good to be in the saddle again if only briefly and statically!

Birmingham City University

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Today I am about to complete my term of office as Chancellor of Birmingham City University. This has been a most interesting and rewarding experience. BCU is a fine University of which the city can be truly proud with some outstanding courses and doing excellent scholarly work in key areas.
As Chancellor I presided at nine degree congregations at each of which as well as the graduating students, honorary graduands were awarded higher degrees. The photo shows myself and the Vice Chancellor with The Most Reverend Vincent Nichols, Archbishop of Westminster and previously Archbishop of Birmingham. The citation by the orator, Professor of English David Roberts and the response by Archbishop Nichols on the theme of The Common Good were amongst the best that I have heard.
As part of my more routine duties at the congregations, in receiving the graduating students I shook no fewer than 4,823 hands! A bucket of ice came in handy at the conclusion of the last congregation!
Altogether a very good year both for me and for the University and I hope that current issues notably with the suggested location of a High Speed rail terminal slap bang where a BCU campus expansion was to be will be resolved in a fair and equitable fashion. Birmingham needs its thriving Universities every bit as much as a quick trip to London!

Great Charity Walk

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We recently had the great pleasure of attending the ceremonies concluding a charity walk in Birmingham organised by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Association involving over two thousand people.
This was a tremendous turnout and no less than fourteen good causes were supported by the sponsored walkers with a six figure total being raised overall. Our photo shows a busy scene at the end of the walk.
A total of £10,000 was raised for the Birmingham Fund for Pancreatic Cancer Research alone. This is something I’ve been raising money for over the past year and I’m delighted with this major contribution.
The walk was extremely well organised and walkers came from as far afield as Glasgow, Cardiff and London. The Ahmadiyya Muslims are fully involved with society as a whole, engage with all communities and have the message of ‘love for all and hatred for none’, for which they are persecuted in some other lands.
I thank the Association for their public-spirited example and generosity.

Local History Event

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We recently looked in at a thoroughly excellent event displaying the work of local history societies throughout Birmingham held at the Radisson Hotel.

Entirely run by volunteers, it is important to recognise the cultural value of all that they do in helping to ensure that the life of the city, particularly the lives of ordinary people, is not lost to memory.
It is so very important to have these records and recollections. History is identity and shared recollections are part of the soul of any community.
And we need the community spirit more than ever in today’s changing - not to say feckless - world. We need co-operative endeavours too (there was an excellent exhibit on co-operative societies in Birmingham) and we need continuity and memory as well as change. And this is just what is provided by wonderful people such as Katherine Kelly who has been selling flowers at the historic Bull Ring markets for 47 years. (Both photos in this item are from ‘Birmingham Up Town’ by Mac Joseph, Ted Rudge and John Houghton available from Amberley Publishing).
The displays were wonderful and were presented with taste and enthusiasm. We could have spent far more time there than we had available - as well as a good few more quid! Thank you local historians all and please do carry on all of the good work that you do for the common good.

Aston Hall Book Bash

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It was a pleasure to visit Birmingham’s Book Bash which was held at the magnificently restored Aston Hall earlier this month.
The emphasis of the event is on families and children and all aspects of reading, recitals, displays and stimulating engagement so that youngsters develop a life-long love of books, literature and knowledge.
If you didn’t get a chance to visit the Book Bash this year, do look out for it in May next year. Meanwhile a visit to Aston Hall will be a great experience.

Retiring Speech

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My first function as Deputy Lord Mayor was to deliver my retiring speech to the City Council AGM. Here is what I said.
“High Sheriff, My Lord Bishop, Members of Parliament, Honorary Freemen, Former Civic Heads, Council Members, Distinguished Guests, Ladies and Gentlemen.
I’ll begin with thanks, most of all to Vivienne, for the year, for the 39 years before and for the work we’ve done together. To family and friends for their support and forbearance; to the City Council for electing me and for your patience; to those who nominated me (may your regrets be short!); to the Parlour staff without whom the job is impossible; to the Charity Committee; to the stalwart ‘support group’ for their unstinting commitment, unbidden, unpaid and, so often at their request, unsung; to all the Council House and Catering staff and to everyone in Birmingham who support our civic life and work for the common good.
It is hard to think that a year has passed since being made Lord Mayor and the old adage ‘time flies’ has never seemed so true. Still, true to tradition in other time-limited contexts, I began the day with a hearty breakfast!
Being the first citizen of Birmingham has been the greatest of honours. Though it may be risky for an (erstwhile for the year) politician to use these words, it has been an enriching and rewarding experience in the truest senses of these words.
I won’t pick out a single highlight of the year because there is such a great variety of occasions, large and small, momentous and moving, that cannot really be compared.
Rather I will point to something that has run right throughout the year - meeting so many good people and organisations - the charities, the voluntary organisations, the services, the Veterans, the Faith leaders, the community groups and most of all the volunteers themselves - so strong of heart, though many now grey of head.
Vivienne and I have done all in our power to support the civic function, working for and promoting Birmingham, its industry, its good causes, its heritage and its culture. The name ‘Birmingham’ means ‘Home of the people of Beorma’ and ever since those earliest days we’ve made people welcome and have always been very proud of our open and democratic traditions.
Of course we are much changed as a city since the time of the Industrial Revolution when we were part of the Workshop of the World to the international city that we are today - proud of our Industry, proud of our Science, proud of our Arts and above all, proud of our people. We have the friendliest, most helpful and most welcoming citizens in the country - thousands of visitors tell us so every year.
We are a city that is proud of its past, which lives in the present and which looks forward to the future. We are a city at ease with itself, a city which need know no bounds, a city of industry, a city of heritage and, I am quite certain, a city of culture.
Being Lord Mayor is an odd sort of job, by the time you’ve really come to understand its immense significance you can see the door coming up! There have been harbingers of this - the picture of myself and the lady Mayoress in the ‘Rogues Gallery’ by the Parlour has been on the slide for a few weeks now!
But of course while one closes, so many doors also open giving, in a well used but important phrase, a chance to make a difference through support, influence, presence and unmatched connections to communities, to charities and to individuals, bringing back a little of ‘what was lost’ such as traditional festivals and promoting ‘made in Birmingham’.
We have brought in the policy that all new civic gifts must be made in Birmingham (not sourced from suppliers here or bought from catalogues but obtained direct from our factories).
But there’s also chances to be blown off course - as Macmillan said ‘Events dear boy, events’ - and so many of them, over a thousand in the year. Two or three occasions spring to mind.
I was invited to give a talk to officers from Democratic Services from across the country on the subject of Democracy and, under the stated presumption of Chatham House Rules, I would be unusually forthright. But shortly after delivering my address, the chairman - rightly proud of his up-to-date organisation - announced that the whole meeting was being Podcast!
Then there was my attempted teasing of visitors from Sweden about the rules of cricket only to have it whispered in my ear half way through that these were our own visitors about to go to Sweden!
Then there was a charity run around Edgbaston Reservoir with a curious handicapping system termed a ‘yacht race’. Word of the event had reached the commodore of the yacht club who assumed that there was to be a sailing event on his patch so he scrambled to be present! Still, the Lady Mayoress was subsequently offered a swallows and Amazons basic sailing lesson that she had always wanted!
And I really enjoyed the chance to conduct the City of Birmingham Brass Band at the May Day Fayre in a performance of the Floral Dance. I can guarantee that I was never more than half a beat behind the musicians!
A chance also to have enjoyable, funny events such as the charity Pantomime Horse Grand National, after which I was truly delighted to make an award to the competitor who finished a distant last. Few things have given me more pleasure than handing over that Jeremy Clarkson trophy!
And a chance to experience some silly frustrations. You may have noticed that the Lord Mayor’s car, LOM 1, no longer flies the Birmingham, or any other flag. This is courtesy of our friends the insurance companies. Apparently someone might hurl themselves at the front of the car and impale themselves on the flag. And we wonder at the state we’re in!
And a chance to have some unusual challenges. The Lord Mayor is Chancellor of Birmingham City University and in this office I presided at all nine degree congregations held in January at the ICC, shaking precisely 4,823 hands and needing to put my own in an ice bucket after the final congregation!
And a chance to have your identity questioned. The Lady Mayoress was mistaken for Her Majesty the Queen more than once while I, increasingly worried by the constitutional knowledge of some of our youths, was also greeted more than once when beshod in full robes by the question: ‘Are you the King?’. It was a lot nearer the mark to be asked ‘Are you a Pirate?’ (not really - at least a parrot short!).
It has been a most memorable year and a transforming one - particularly for me a heretofore fairly reserved person (spot the difference you may say!) - with a chance to play a role for our great city of Birmingham.
And a chance to play a part in sustaining the historic office of Lord Mayor, giving reassuring continuity in a world of too much change. It is an office immensely valued by our citizens. And it is an office that, in accordance with tradition, is handed on today and which is secure in most capable hands. I wish you every success Lord Mayor and assure you of my complete support.
So there we are, nearly all said and done and with nary a mention of J.R.R. Tolkien! I thank you all once again, colleagues and friends. Thank you.”

Statement

My term of office as Lord Mayor of Birmingham is now complete. My role now becomes that of Deputy Lord Mayor for 2010/2011 and Vivienne becomes Deputy Lady Mayoress. It has been suggested that I continue this blog in a similar form while Deputy and under similar conditions as to content, none of which of course should be interpreted as in any way representing the priorities or concerns of the current Lord Mayor.

Last and First

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My term of office as Lord Mayor of Birmingham came to an end on Tuesday. It has been a most memorable year and an immense privilege for myself and Vivienne to be the first citizens of our great city of Birmingham.
I hope that this blog, for which this is the final entry relating to the Lord Mayoralty, will have given something of the flavour of what we have been involved with during the year.
We are immensely grateful for all of the support we’ve received from staff, family and friends who have helped us do our bit for Birmingham.
The first picture shows me at the desk in the Parlour writing a note to my successor minutes before going into the handover AGM. The desk incidentally was Chamberlain’s (both Joe and Neville) and it was always a special feeling to work there.
The second picture is from later that evening - now as Deputy Lord Mayor - being presented with a signed photo graph from one of our very first events during last year’s Lord Mayor’s Show when I sang (if you can call it singing!) with the Steve Gibbons Band at the end of the show. In the background, John Bright does not look altogether approving!
Well, all good things must come to an end and so it is with my year as Lord Mayor of Birmingham - a year that I shall never forget.

The Lord Mayor's Family Show

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This year’s Lord Mayor’s Family Show takes place on Monday the 31st of May from 11am to 5pm, in and around Victoria Square and Chamberlain Square in, Birmingham City Centre.
At the show, we will be celebrating Birmingham’s great achievements - past, present and future – in this very special event for all of the family to enjoy.
There will be live entertainments, many stalls and attractions, picnic areas, children's rides and entertainment, spitfire aircraft, vintage vehicles and lots more.
We look forward to this most enjoyable occasion and seeing you at the Lord Mayor’s Family Show 2010.

Middle-earth Weekend 2010

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This year the Lady Mayoress and I had the great pleasure of attending the Middle-earth Weekend at Sarehole Mill in an official capacity.
Naturally, as locals and Tolkien enthusiasts we are there every year and the Lady Mayoress has been instrumental in the organisation in the past.
This year’s event was another great success. As you can see, one of the smaller dragons was taking a worrying degree of interest in the Mayoral Gold! Fortunately, nerves were soothed later on with the aid of the Hurdy Gurdy man.
There were an estimated 14,000 visitors over the weekend, to this traditional family festival, provided free of charge and with old-fashioned entertainments as well of course as the Tolkien dimension.
Birmingham has much to be proud of with the landscapes of The Shire reflecting the Sarehole Area. We should make more of this connection. Perhaps the advent of the next two films (one of The Hobbit and one covering the period between The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings) will provide a springboard.

With the Ballet in Virginia

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We have recently returned from a very successful visit to Norfolk, Virginia at the invitation of the Mayor, the organisers of the Virginia Arts festival and Birmingham Royal Ballet.
The BRB were absolutely magnificent and gave three sublime performances of Swan Lake to packed auditoria.
It was our pleasure to lend Birmingham Mayoral support around the official dimensions of the visit via dinners, speeches and TV interviews.
As a result of the artistic excellence of the BRB, Birmingham’s stock stands even higher, not simply in Virginia where we have made many friends (BRB have been invited to return for a third time probably in 2013) but well beyond.
The Lady Mayoress and I, as ordinary citizens by that time, intend to be there with the Ballet and will have the chance to renew the friendships we have made.
I cannot praise too highly the friendliness and hospitality of our Virginian hosts and the people in all walks of life that we had the pleasure of meeting.
We understand that BRB will be performing Swan Lake - the most beautiful classical production - in Birmingham later in the summer. Whatever else you do, do not miss this.

May Day

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The Lady Mayoress and I had a really enjoyable first of May at the Lord Mayor’s May Day Fayre in and around Birmingham’s traditional markets. In Birmingham we are very fortunate to have the Bull Ring markets which are still here after over 800 years and which serve the people of Birmingham so wonderfully well.
It’s important that we’ve got the traditional markets and it’s important to retain our sense of history. Our history and traditions are part of our identity and it’s important to hang on to that in these days of change for the sake of it. We hope that festivals such as this - and the Michaelmas Fayre that we re-introduced last September will serve us well in this regard.
We had lots of entertainment and items of interest with the highlight being the crowning of our May Queen followed by her magnificent and right royal procession with her two princesses!
We also had two Morris dance groups - the Green Man Morris and the Glorishears - if you haven’t seen women’s Morris dancing before they are really good so look out for them. We also had a Green Man, birds of prey, a Jester to accompany the Lord Mayor, a barrel organ, children’s rides and the ever-popular City of Birmingham Brass Band.
I was absolutely delighted to have the chance to ‘conduct’ the band in a rendition of the Floral Dance. I think I did pretty well - usually not lagging the instrumentalists by much more than half a beat! A great band - we’re really proud of them - and a great day too. Hope to see you soon at the markets!

Saint George’s Day

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It was very good to be present at some of the celebrations in Birmingham for England’s patron Saint, Saint George. The main events in Birmingham took place at various locations on Saturday the 24th of April.
This year, we were particularly taken with the Anglo-Saxon village in Chamberlain Square and the excellent Saint George’s day concert at Symphony Hall in the evening. I also visited the Saint George’s day event at Highfield Hall in Hall Green.
Of course the actual Saint’s day was Friday 23rd of April, which points up the fact that Saint George’s day is not an official national holiday - as in my view it should be in England.
The 23rd of April 2010 marks both the death of St George in 303 and the 446th birthday of Shakespeare. Saint George’s day was first celebrated in England in 1222. After 788 years we should make a holiday out of this! More information from the Birmingham St. George's Day Association website.
By the way, there will be more dragon-related activity - of a rather different kind - at this year’s Middle-earth Weekend to be held at Sarehole Mill, Hall Green, on the weekend of May the 15th and 16th. This unique family event celebrates Birmingham’s close connection with JRR Tolkien who had a passionate interest in English mythology and latest details of the weekend can be obtained via the Shire Productions website

Who Done It?

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Do you have what it takes to be an ace detective and solve a mysterious case of murder? Here is your opportunity to find out "who done it?"
The Lady Mayoress and I are hosting a Murder Mystery Night in aid of the Lord Mayor’s Charity Appeal. This one-off, very special event is taking place on Thursday 29th April at Highbury Hall, Birmingham.
This is an exceptional event, raising funds for charity whilst promising a thrilling evening for all. Tickets are priced at £20.00 per person which includes a 2 course meal and entertainment.
There is also a raffle on the night; the prizes include two tickets for an Inspector Morse tour of Oxford, a DVD of "Taggart" signed by all the cast and many more.
Tickets are limited. To book yours please contact the Lord Mayor’s Parlour on 0121 303 1999 or via email

Regimental Visit

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I recently returned from a visit to the 26th Regiment, Royal Artillery at their base at Mansergh Barracks near Gutersloh in Germany. The Regiment of course has the freedom of the City of Birmingham that I had the pleasure of conferring last summer as per the first photo.
The visit included extensive briefings on the Regiment as a whole and its component batteries. There were also opportunities to view the latest electronic close combat trainer and to meet socially and individually with many of the troops.
The Regiment (the Midlands Gunners) draws many recruits from Birmingham and the West Midlands and it was very good to meet them - they are doing a great job.
The Regiment will be on exercises shortly in the Czech Republic and later in the year in Canada, where the vast exercise area is larger than Luxembourg! This prior to a second deployment in Afghanistan next year.
The visit also included an outing to Mohnesee and the photo shows the dam (one of the targets of the Dam Busters) as it is today.

Lady Mayoress Crashes Flying Boat!

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Yes it’s true – well, sort of! We recently visited Limerick County at the invitation of the Chairman of the Council. We’d already got to know each other well and of course Birmingham has a thriving Irish community from several counties, amongst which Limerick is well represented. I addressed a meeting of the Limerick County Council and met most of the members to discuss current issues – especially economic ones.
Our hosts were most attentive, and one of the visits we made was to the superb Flying Boat Museum at Foynes, County Limerick. It is unique and exhibits include a full scale replica of a Boeing 314 Clipper.

If you could afford it, this way to travel in the flying boat heyday in the late 1930’s was the way to go in style and comfort.
While at the museum the Lady Mayoress took a turn on the simulator (just visible in my dark mobile phone photo). While she made a good take-off the landing was abrupt and unintentional! Still, it was her first attempt and I used the excuse that I would have been a snug fit in the simulator!
The Museum is great and there is much besides by way of castles and historic cottage villages for tourists to see in Limerick. Highly recommended.

Special Guests in the Parlour

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We invite supporters and volunteers of the Lord Mayor’s Charity Appeal to the Lord Mayor’s Suite in the Council House to thank them for their support and commitment to our charitable causes.
Among our recent guests were Perry Beeches School who held a Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Week raising £1000 for the charity. A competition was held to design a logo.

The winner was Liyah Robinson-Ash with her key design. Head Teacher Liam Nolan, Deputy Head Jackie Powell, the winner and the two runners ups; Mohammed Rahman and Amadou Sarr, attended on behalf of the school.
Another Birmingham school took part in the Lord Mayor’s logo competition; Aaron Young from Castle Vale School impressed the judges with his Engineering Scholarships logo design. Head Teacher Barry Williams, his colleague Garry Flatres and Aaron represented the school.
Birmingham City Council team, Forward for Work hosted an auction at their awards evening which raised £450 for the charity. Team Manager Kathryn Davis, colleague Yvonne Keates, trainees Shreen Griffith and Ian Moore presented the cheque to the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress.
Throughout the year we hold several charity events in aid of the Charity Appeal. We rely on the continued support from the volunteers who make these events possible. Irene Jones and Thelma Sharpe are two of our stalwart volunteers who support the Lord Mayor’s Charities every year and we are delighted to recognise their contribution.
To date the Lord Mayor’s Charity Appeal has raised over £40,000 for the chosen charities; St Basil’s, WAITS, Birmingham’s Pancreatic Cancer Research and Engineering Scholarships.