Staffordshire Hoard Update

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Part of the Hoard has recently been on display in Stoke on Trent (until March 7th) and, as earlier in Birmingham, has attracted tens of thousands of visitors and a substantial contribution to the appeal including an anonymous donation of £50,000.
The total raised by the appeal so far has just passed the one million pound mark and there is every likelihood of a major donation in the near future.
Another exhibition from the Hoard will come to Birmingham later in March and will contain items that were not on show at the first exhibition in the city. Latest plans are that Lichfield and Tamworth will have loaned components of the Hoard and there will be a touring exhibition visiting several museums in the region.
As to the Hoard itself, conservation will get into real detail when the ownership is settled. The gold (which is a fairly inert substance) is in good condition though some of the silver may need restoration work. It is now thought that some garnets may have come to Mercia from as far away as Sri Lanka. So rich is the material that full research into the Hoard is expected to take about ten years.
There is at least one helmet and probably two in the Hoard. These are in many pieces - a not uncommon situation as components were fixed on to an iron underlay and would have been broken off. The reconstruction of the helmets will take some time but it is expected that computer 3D modelling will greatly assist the reconstruction. It is also hoped to make this aspect of progress available on the internet as work proceeds - which will be very exciting to follow.

Lord Mayor’s Charities 2009/10

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The good causes for 2009/10 that are supported by my Charity Appeal combine new initiatives and existing charities. If you would like to make a donation online - thank you. Donations can be made quickly and securely through my justgiving page at: http://www.justgiving.com/Lord-Mayor

The Birmingham Fund for Pancreatic Cancer Research
While there has been steady progress with the treatment of several forms of cancer, for pancreatic cancer the five-year survival rate following diagnosis forty years ago stood at 3%. Today that rate is still little more than 3%. But there are promising research possibilities and the disease can be treatable on occasions where cancer of the pancreas, which typically shows symptoms only at a late stage, is detected early enough. The primary focus of the fund will be on research, conducted at the School of Cancer Sciences at the University of Birmingham, into improved diagnostic methods. The objective is to establish a fund that outlasts the current Mayoralty.
The Lord Mayor’s Engineering Scholarships
A fund to encourage young people to take up the study of engineering and the practice of manufacturing in Birmingham at various levels and in a range of forms. Manufacturing and engineering have made unmatched contributions to the city, and it is vital that Birmingham remains prominent in these important fields. So alongside other initiatives, the fund will be used to encourage and enable young people from Birmingham to take up engineering as a course of study and as a fulfilling future career. Encouragement will also be offered to progress apprenticeships and developments in newer areas such as Clinical Engineering.
WAITS
WAITS (Women Acting In Today’s Society) is a very important charity in a diverse city such as Birmingham, and WAITS is doing outstanding work tackling domestic violence and enabling women to address issues, overcome barriers and combat isolation. WAITS provides help to increase the involvement of women in the professional, business and public life of the city - from which all will benefit. There is a continuing need for the wide range of activities carried out by WAITS and there are many who are yet to benefit and a great deal more work still to be done.
St Basil’s
St Basil’s works with young people aged 16 to 25 providing support services, advice, mediation and guidance and tackling and preventing homelessness and its consequences. This charity has helped to transform many young lives in Birmingham and beyond. St Basil’s has nationally recognised expertise and not only provides accommodation but sets young people on secure tracks in life through education and employment. In today’s economic circumstances there is likely to be even greater need for the wide range of services provided by St Basil’s.

RAF Cosford

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We recently paid an official visit to RAF Cosford and had the privilege of presenting medals for distinguished service to airmen and airwomen.
The staff of RAF Cosford deliver outstanding training in engineering, mechanics and maintenance to young crew. They do this in a flexible way in a broad context so that not only will the personnel be skilled in servicing equipment - quite possibly in theatres of action - but which will also skill them for civilian life later on and thereby help to sustain the country’s position in engineering and manufacture - support for which is so urgently needed. Our thanks to the Commanding Officer and his team.
We were also given a tour of the base during which the Lady Mayoress (looking mildly concerned!) tried out the cockpit of a Jaguar trainer (I regret to say the fit was a bit ‘snug’ for the Lord Mayor!).
We also visited the Cold War Museum, which is housed at Cosford. This is a stunning collection of major artefacts including Thor and Polaris missiles, the V bombers , (de-activated) weapons of the period and much else besides. This museum is free to enter and well worth a visit - as are the open days and displays at Cosford. Well done again to all concerned.

Birmingham’s G&S Marathon

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Just two days to go to be part of a unique Gilbert and Sullivan event - and support charity at the same time.
The ‘Sullithon’ (all the G & S works sung end to end) in Birmingham’s historic Town Hall takes the form of a ‘scratch’ concert lasting about 22 hours and starting at 10-00 on Saturday 13th February.
This means no rehearsal, you can sing from a script, you can join a chorus (you don’t have to be a star) and you don’t have to have a costume. There are refreshments, a place to rest and over a hundred other enthusiastic people to be with enjoying the fun.
You can stay for as long or short a time as you like and you can register to take part on the day or ring 0121-243-9896 or by email to: philandkathy@blueyonder.co.uk
Alternatively you can come as a member of the audience on the day or get a ticket from the Town Hall. All proceeds will be donated to the Lord Mayor’s Charity Appeal.

Gilbert and Sullivan charity ‘Sullithon’

Lord Mayor’s Blog 42

Not long to go now before the unique to Birmingham Gilbert and Sullithon takes place at the city’s beautiful Town Hall. All of G & S’s works will be sung end to end in an ensemble scratch concert performance by groups drawn from a total complement of 100 participants.
So far as I know the only other instance of a Sullithon was also in Birmingham about twenty years ago at Carr’s Lane Church and was organised by the same team - still going strong!
There’s still just time If you’re interested in taking part as a singer or musician, (or attending for all or part of this as an audience member tickets just £5.00) please contact the organisers Phil & Kathy Lovell by telephone on 0121-243-9896 or by email to:
philandkathy@blueyonder.co.uk
The Lady Mayoress will be singing along in the chorus in several operettas and the Lord Mayor is due to make a guest appearance in Ruddigore sometime after 5-20pm. Ahem! All proceeds will go to the Lord Mayor’s charity appeal.
After some opening words by the Lord Mayor, the event will be introduced by Ed Doolan and starts at 10.00am on Saturday the 13th of February and will finish around 8.00am on Sunday the 14th. A cafe will be open throughout so do come along to be part of this bit of local history - see you there!

The Badgers of Old Oscott

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The St John Ambulance youth group the Badgers, based in Great Barr, held an awards ceremony recently to recognise the hard work of its young members in the past year.
I was delighted to be invited to the ceremony and to give out awards at All Saints Church in Shady Lane. Eleven of the group’s twenty young members received certificates, with one member receiving the most prestigious award, the Super Badger.
The picture shows myself with two volunteers and of course, the somewhat mischievous Bertie Badger.
The St John Ambulance do great work at public events throughout the year and their youth groups are well worth joining. Old Oscott Badgers have made great strides recently and they have some very interesting plans in store for the near future.