Remembrance Sunday will take place on 13th November. I will, as always, be taking part in the Holy Trinity Church service and laying a wreath at the King Edward Square memorial, along with our Royal Town Mayor, Jan Cairns. Please see below, the full itinerary of events scheduled to take place around the Royal Town:

Holy Trinity Church / King Edward Square

1. Church service starts at 9.30am followed by a Parade to the memorial for 11am

2. Road closures will be in place at various key points around the memorial from 10.20am – noon.

3. Dr John Craggs MBE DL will be in attendance alongside Councillor Jan Cairns, Town Mayor.

Walmley War Memorial

4. Rev Adrian Evans, St John’s Church, will conduct a service at 10.40am from Walmley War Memorial followed by traditional acts of remembrance at 11am.

5. Dr Nasir Awan MBE DL & Councillor Jane Mosson, Deputy Town Mayor will be amongst those laying a wreath.

All Saints Church Four Oaks

6. Church service starts at 10.00am followed by acts of remembrance at the War Memorial at 11am.

7. Mick Laverty DL will be representing the Lord-Lieutenant with Cllr Tony Briggs laying a wreath on behalf of the Town Council.

My first week in post as Minister for Development has been both challenging and energising, and I have hit the ground running. There is a lot of work to do against a difficult economic backdrop, but I will be working with the whole ministerial team at the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office to secure the best outcomes for Britain. Meanwhile, my work in the Royal Town continues at pace.

Commonwealth Legacy for Swimming

On Friday I met with Simon Kirkland, Chair of West Midlands swimming at The Delhi in Boldmere, to try and advance the legacy of the Games this year for swimming and related activities.

Amongst other issues we discussed open water swimming in Powell’s Pool nearby and the success of the diving programme at Wyndley leisure centre. Indeed, I was pleased to learn that there’s been such a strong response locally since the Games, particularly amongst teenagers wishing to take up diving, that Wyndley has put on additional classes to meet the surge in demand.

There’s also a strong demand for open air swimming and subject to water quality (and there is a bit of an issue here) Powell’s pool would be the perfect place. Local triathlon clubs are also keen and there is wider interest across the Midlands. We will be working on all of these areas and creating opportunities for greater participation.

I should also say how grateful we are to Boldmere swimming club for all the work they did over covid, expanding opportunities - not only for children - to come and swim. Boldmere swimming club (which I am very pleased to hear may be considering changing its name to Royal Sutton Coldfield Swimming Club - as are many of the Royal Towns brilliant organisations) is also interested in the open water swimming at Powell’s Pool.

This is all very good news for the health enjoyment and exercise of my constituents of all ages and abilities and part of the legacy from those brilliant games last summer which we must be sure to support and promote!

Cheers!

You get some wonderfully different tasks in my job as the Royal Town’s MP!

I was asked last week by a constituent to advise on a wine cellar - it’s value and quality following the sad death of their partner who was something of a wine aficionado and investor.

Coming from a background in the wine trade I had the pleasure of surveying a fine collection of noble names and vintages and doing my best to advise

Congratulations, Selina Thompson Ltd!

Today, Arts Council England has announced a £1,050,000 investment over 3 years for Selina Thompson Ltd, a performance artist based in the Royal Town. The funding is part of the Arts Council’s programme to ensure more people have access to fantastic, fulfilling art and culture in the villages, towns and cities where they live

Next-Generation Security Hall construction now underway at Birmingham Airport

I am very pleased a significant new investment in terminal facilities has started at Birmingham Airport.

Overall, the airport will be investing £28m in this phase of the upgrade. Amongst the innovation being introduced will be a new high-tech screening equipment that will no longer require passengers to remove liquids and laptops from their hand luggage.

This investment is also a designed to grow passenger volumes by 50% to 18m a year by 2033. This business growth will, in turn, drive regional growth. In 2019, Birmingham Airport contributed £1.5bn to the West Midlands economy and supported a total of 30,900 jobs.

It is heartening to see the recovery of the aviation industry after covid. This investment will help tackle residual problems such as staff shortages. This is good news for local communities because of the employment opportunities that will arise.

Correction:

Last week I reported on my visit to a Food Club at Falcon Lodge. I wish to make it clear that the organisation is called the Falcon Lodge Pantry (see photo for details) and not Hope for Food, as was incorrectly reported in the article.

Migrant Processing

Yesterday the Home Secretary visited migrant processing facilities in Kent, confirming steps immediately to improve the situation on the ground, while we do whatever it takes to crack down on small boats crossing the Channel.

It is vital that we dismantle the international criminal gangs behind the global migration crisis – whilst ensuring the safety of the most vulnerable people.

That is why the Home Secretary went to see first-hand the work being done to reduce the number of people in Manston, ease pressures and support people there, while tackling the business model of people smugglers to ensure the illegal migration route across our Channel is rendered unviable.

We must protect our borders, provide immediate care to vulnerable people, and deliver an immigration system that works in the interests of the British people.

Containing Global Warming

Today the Government announced that we have kept 1.5 degrees alive, following the success of the UK presidency of COP26, unlocking a sustainable path to prosperity for billions of people around the world.

Under the UK’s presidency and during a global pandemic, COP26 brought together nearly 200 countries to forge the historic Glasgow Climate Pact to tackle emissions and climate change.

We are keeping 1.5 degrees alive and limiting global warming, with over 90 per cent of the world’s GDP covered by net zero commitments, up from 30 per cent, while over 153 countries have now put forward new 2030 climate plans.

Working with our international partners, the decade ahead can be one where we deliver a sustainable path to growth and prosperity for people all around the world.

Useful Information

Please see below the visits scheduled for the week commencing 7th November 2022 of the Council’s Mobile Household Recycling Centre in Sutton Coldfield.

Mon 07/11/2022 Welford Road B73 5DP 07:00 12:00 Sutton Vesey

Tue 08/11/2022 Calder Drive B76 1GG 07:00 12:00 Sutton Walmley & Minworth