NSVA AGM

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Viv and I attended the annual general meeting of the National Service Veterans’ Association recently. This was a varied and interesting meeting covering a range of topics as well as the standard AGM items. It was held at the Nautical Club, which is always a pleasure to visit. The NSVA members are great to be with and some of the finest people you can meet.

One item on the agenda came as a very pleasant surprise when I was made an honorary member of the Association and Viv was ‘called up’ for the women’s section! On top of that I was given a plaque which will find a prominent place in my office at the council house. Thank you NSVA for this honour and for all the good work that you do.

Tolkien's Anniversary

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As Deputy Lord Mayor and in my recent year as Lord Mayor I've often been asked about my enthusiasm for the work of JRR Tolkien and our city’s many connections with this world-renowned author. I’m always happy to oblige and there’s a good deal of material on my website.

In fact there is a notable occasion today, January 3rd which is the 119th anniversary of Tolkien’s birth. Devotees across the world mark the occasion at 9pm local time by making a toast to ‘The Professor’ while facing West (the direction of the undying lands in Tolkien’s realm).

Tolkien was a Birmingham resident during his youth and described himself as ‘a Birmingham man’. Each year in May Tolkien’s cultural legacy is celebrated at the unique Middle-earth Weekend (affectionately known as ‘MEW’) which is held at Sarehole Mill. This year’s theme will be ‘Woods, Wilderness and the Wild Men of Middle-earth’ and you can find out more from the MEW website located at
 http://www.middleearthweekend.org.uk/

The weekend is volunteer-led and the Deputy Lady Mayoress chairs the organising committee.

Birmingham is justly proud of its many links with Tolkien and as a city we should do all that we can to increase the ways in which his great legacy is commemorated. For myself in 2011 I shall continue to do my bit to assist in this and shall follow the progress of the new films for which shooting begins next month.

Happy New Year!

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!