Workers' Memorial Day

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On April 28th I was pleased to have the opportunity again to take part in the Workers' Memorial Day Ceremony that was held in St Philip's Churchyard in Birmingham. The ceremony is held by a memorial to two workmen who were killed during the construction of the Town Hall.
Workers' memorial day reminds us that the scale of death and injury through industrial accidents and illness is much larger than most people realise - comparable to a sizeable war in fact. Most of these workers do not die from mystery ailments or in tragic accidents. They die because their safety wasn't a high enough priority.
The day commemorates those workers who have died and is also an event emphasising the need to campaign for the living. There is a focus on both these areas, through memorials to all those killed through their employment and at the same time working to ensure that such tragedies are not repeated.
All over the world workers and their representatives hold events, vigils and conduct many other activities to mark the day and to recognize those who have been killed or injured on the job.
At the Cathedral, I had the chance in particular to speak again to the campaigners for mesothelioma research and support who were present at the ceremony. The number of people dying from asbestos-related cancer continues to increase with over 2,000 people dying in Britain each year as a result of their exposure to asbestos. For more information on asbestos related cancer support and treatment, the Mesothelioma UK website can be found at:  http://www.mesothelioma.uk.com 

International Fencing in Birmingham

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I recently had the opportunity to show civic support for the Birmingham International Fencing Tournament held at the Munro Sports Centre at The University of Birmingham. I was delighted to do this as it is one of the top 5 open competitions in the country and because Birmingham is proud to be the chosen city for this fine competition and premier competitions in many sports. Birmingham has a very strong sporting tradition and world class venues such as the National Indoor Arena. In fact the city has staged more World and European sporting events than any other city in the country. And we are very proud of our international reputation for our sports events programme.

I was at the fencing tournament for some of the finals with the competitors using foil and sabre (separately!) at lightning speed. And we have some excellent fencers here in Birmingham. In particular I would like to mention Rhys Melia, with whom I am pictured here, who was runner up in the foil final and who has done much to bring this excellent sport to wider communities and I would like to see him have the opportunity to do more and see the sport available in more schools. Fencing is highly skilful of course and discipline and respect are also much to the fore and highly desirable in today’s world. There is a very friendly atmosphere and family traditions in the sport too. Recommended!

A Peal Appeal!

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Visitors will recall an earlier item in this blog singing the praises of Birmingham’s bellringers and the St Martin’s Guild of Church Bell Ringers. They are now looking for 100 new recruits to man the ropes at churches across the Diocese. An attempt to ring all the bells on Easter Sunday has highlighted the shortage of ringers in the region. Over 300 bells and only 200 bellringers means that some will be ringing at up to five different towers on Sunday morning!

It’s not a lack of quality though, just quantity. Birmingham’s bellringers are among the best in the country. Guild Master Simon Linford explains the problem: “We regularly win the most prestigious competition in bellringing, but we didn’t field a team in the National Young Person’s competition last month. Next year I don’t just want us to enter – I want us to win that too.”

The Guild recently ran a training course at the Birmingham School of Ringing to train more bellringing teachers – including young teachers. The School’s home is St Paul’s Church in the Jewellery Quarter which has modern facilities for church towers including silenced bells and computer simulation. It is now hoped that the school can teach next year’s competition winners.

But it is not just new young ringers who are sought. Simon explains: “Anyone can learn to ring – it is just a bit easier when you are young. Ringing is an excellent hobby at any age and can take you around the country and even around the world.”

If you would like to learn to ring, please contact Simon Linford as:

Simonhippo@hotmail.com

or ring him on 07747 866688

Birmingham Tinnitus Group

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I was very glad of the opportunity recently to find out more about the Tinnitus Group in Birmingham and the progress of research into this distressing condition.

Tinnitus is the name given to any kind of noise heard in the ears or head and sounds can include banging, whistling, humming, buzzing, cracking and ringing to name but a few.

I joined in on the occasion of the group's thirtieth anniversary - a real achievement for this the largest and best-organised self-help group in the country.

The group does immensely valuable work and contributes to public wellbeing, providing much needed support and counselling not provided by the NHS.

I am a very strong supporter of the self-help approach working alongside scientific medicine and, in a very wide range of contexts, I know that it works.

Thanks also go to those clinicians with a keen professional interest in the treatment and research of tinnitus – with the best research being conducted in Birmingham and London. Although there is as yet no cure, the future is promising and there is good reason to be optimistic.

So if you are one of the many thousands suffering from this condition, joining the group will help them to help you and will also make your voice heard.

For more information you can visit the Birmingham and District Tinnitus Group's website at:

 http://www.tinnitusbham.org.uk/

Chimney Sweeps Show!

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I recently had the pleasure of opening a rather unusual and very interesting event – the National Association of Chimney Sweeps trade show, held at the Ramada Hotel in Sutton Coldfield.

The organisers and exhibitors were a very lively group and there were interesting products on display including a new, very green, type of fuel – straw logs.

Of course, things have moved on a lot from the days of my childhood when my father (a plumber and solid fuel installer) let me have a go with his rods and brushes and showed me how to light a fire with a cold chimney.

Good maintenance is essential and reduces the risk of carbon monoxide poisoning from choked chimneys. The sweeps also help preserve important aspects of our architectural heritage – ornate chimneys - of which there are some very good examples in Birmingham and my home ward of Hall Green.