Released on: October 11, 2008, 5:29 pm

Press Release Author: Junaid Bhatti, Ballencrieff House

Industry: Government

Press Release Summary: The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Abdul Rashid, has
recently been active in honouring British servicemen and women. In the last month he
has overseen the city's largest ever enlistment ceremony, inspected the troops at a
military parade and taken charge of HMS Daring - the Royal Navy's fastest and most
powerful vessel!

Press Release Body: The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Abdul Rashid, has
recently been active in honouring British servicemen and women. In the last month he
has overseen the city's largest ever enlistment ceremony, inspected the troops at a
military parade and taken charge of HMS Daring - the Royal Navy's fastest and most
powerful vessel!

At the beginning of September, the Lord Mayor was present as 47 Midlands teenagers
swore allegiance to Queen and country at the largest ever Army enlistment ceremony
in Birmingham history. Each new soldier received their enrolment certificate from a
beaming Coun Rashid, as dozens of proud parents watched their children take their
first step towards a career that could see them posted to the frontlines of Iraq and
Afghanistan in just over a year.

Just days later, in Scotland, Coun Rashid was guest of honour at an official tour of
the new 7,000-tonne Naval Destroyer HMS Daring. The Lord Mayor was given an
opportunity to inspect one of the most powerful naval ships in the world, and even
took charge of the bridge controls on the country's fastest sea-faring vessel
(pictured). HMS Daring is affiliated with the second city, and Commanding Officer
Captain Paul Bennett was previously in charge of the Naval Destroyer HMS Birmingham
-which patrolled The Falklands during the 1980s and The Persian Gulf in the 1990s.

At the end of the month, the Lord Mayor of Birmingham inspected the troops at a
special military reception outside Birmingham's Council House. The Second Battalion
of the Royal Regiment of Fusiliers was granted the Freedom of the City of
Birmingham, an occasion marked with a "Freedom Parade" by 250 troops, watched by
hundreds of bystanders. On welcoming the troops, Coun Rashid declared: "The City of
Birmingham would like to thank the Fusiliers, who were the first regiment in Iraq in
2003, fought the longest battle in Afghanistan, and who had more service in Northern
Ireland than any other regiment. Welcome home."

About The Lord Mayor

Councillor Chauhdry Abdul Rashid hails from the Pakistani province of Azad Kashmir.
He moved to Birmingham in 1963, and has been active in the City's social, cultural
and educational development for more than 45 years. As Birmingham's First Citizen,
the Lord Mayor represents the most ethnically-diverse city in Britain, including the
largest Muslim community outside London. Further information about The Lord Mayor of
Birmingham is available at www.lordmayor.org

About Birmingham

Birmingham is the UK's second largest city, with a population of more than 1.5
million people. Due in part to its inland central location, Birmingham is a major
transport hub on the UK's motorway, rail, and canal networks. The city is often
referred to as "The Heart of England".

Birmingham's Conservative-led City Council is the largest local authority in the UK,
and the largest government council in Europe. The city has made a valuable
contribution to Britain's political, economic and cultural history. Famous residents
have included Neville Chamberlain (former Prime Minister), JRR Tolkien (author of
Lord of The Rings), WH Auden (poet), Barbara Cartland (novelist), Tony Hancock
(comedian) and Arthur Conan Doyle (creator of Sherlock Holmes).

Web Site: http://www.lordmayor.org

Contact Details: Junaid Bhatti
Director
Ballencrieff House
Holborn
London
WC1N 3XX
United Kingdom

Phone: +44 7980 586 243
Email: junaid@ballencrieff.net