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.
Monday, 31 May 2010
Thursday, 27 May 2010
Last and First
Lord Mayor’s Blog 59My 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.
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.
Tuesday, 25 May 2010
The Lord Mayor's Family Show
Lord Mayor’s Blog 58
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.
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.
Friday, 21 May 2010
Middle-earth Weekend 2010
Lord Mayor’s Blog 57
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.
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.
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
With the Ballet in Virginia
Lord Mayor’s Blog 56
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.
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.
Sunday, 2 May 2010
May Day
Lord Mayor’s Blog 55
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!
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!
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