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.”
“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.”
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