The Ladder Skills Academy
I was delighted to join the Chair Kevin Davis DL and Apprenticeship Manager Justine Johnson, together with the CEO of Millennium Point Abbie Vlahakis DL, to present Ladder Graduation Certificates to students from Cherry Tree Learning Centre and East Birmingham Network Academy. It was great to learn more about the vitally important work that is […]
City of Coventry Freemen’s Guild
The first known Freeman of the City of Coventry was a merchant indentured in 1317 and the first deed of Apprenticeship of a Woman was in 1336. In 1340 the first Merchant Guild was formed to represent the Merchants and their apprentices. However in 1546, Henry VIII disolved all the Guilds. Four hundred years later […]
“We are Solihull’ – Fundraising Variety Performance
Amanda and I thoroughly enjoyed attending a fundraising performance organised by the Mayor of Solihull Cllr Sharon Ashram MBE to celebrate her year in office and the reopening of The Core Theatre. The Core is a key hub of activity for the creative arts in Solihull and it was real treat to see such a […]
Service of Welcome for the Right Reverend Esther Prior as Bishop of Aston
I was honoured to attend a service at Birmingham Cathedral alongside the Lord-Lieutenant Derrick Anderson CBE and the Lord Mayor and Lady Mayoress of Birmingham to welcome the Right Reverend Esther Prior as the new Bishop of Aston. The Right Reverend Bishop of Birmingham Dr Michael Volland led the service and it was a joyous […]
Visit to HM Prison Birmingham
I was very grateful to have the opportunity to visit HM Prison Birmingham with my Chaplain Claire Reid and meet with the Governor and the Prison Chaplain and a number of the other Faith leaders who work on the site. It was a very illuminating and thought provoking visit, during which we were encouraged to […]
Service of Thanksgiving for the City of Coventry
Amanda and I had a super evening in Holy Trinity Church in Coventry as we attended a service of thanksgiving for both the City and for the Lord Mayor Mal Mutton. I was also really pleased to be supported by my Police Cadet Martha. The service was movingly led by Rev Cannon Richard Hibberd and […]
Visit to Anawim – Birmingham’s Centre for Women
I was really pleased to have the opportunity to visit the Anawim Centre for Woman based in Balsall Heath in Birmingham. It does some amazing work supporting over 1,500 women on an annual basis in a wide range of areas consistent with its mission “to provide trauma responsive services, including holistic support and advocacy, to […]
Her Royal Highness The Princess Royal Visit to Sense
I was honoured to support the Lord Lieutenant Derrick Anderson CBE in welcoming Her Royal Highness the Princess Royal to the West Midlands when she visited Sense in Birmingham as part of their 70th Anniversary Celebrations Sense was founded in 1955 and provides life changing support to disabled people with complex needs and their families. […]
Annual Birmingham Thyagaraja Festival
I really enjoyed attending the 11th Annual Birmingham Thyagaraja Festival at the Consulate General in India alongside Dawn Ward DL. There were a number of wonderful performances of music and dance and I was delighted to meet up again with Dr Paul Sabapathy, former Lord-Lieutenant of the West Midlands and to assist in recognise outstanding […]
A service of prayers to reflect on the life of Pope Francis
I was very pleased to be able to join other Civic, Ecumenical and Faith leaders for Solemn Vespers led by The Most Reverend Bernard Longley, Archbishop of Birmingham at the MetropolitanCathedral and Basilica of St Chad in Birmingham as we reflect on the life of Pope Francis We remembered the Pope’s lifelong commitment to compassion […]