Deputy Lord Mayor of Birmingham - Councillor Anita Ward

Deputy Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Anita Ward

Born in Birmingham, Councillor Anita Ward is the only daughter of Pamela and Phil Ward. She has three brothers.

Anita attended Yenton School, Erdington and Castle Vale Comprehensive, later returning to Sutton Coldfield College to study Sociology and English Literature. She also undertook courses at Birmingham Polytechnic, in her twin areas of interest, Housing and Politics. The latter is still a working process which Anita hopes to complete once her year as Lord Mayor is over.

On leaving school Anita worked at the Birmingham Metropole Hotel for four years before moving to Essex to start her family. Unfortunately, her eldest child, Karena, was born in 1981 extremely prematurely, as was her second child, Vincent. This has lead to a life-long interest and commitment to the welfare of premature babies.

Upon returning to Birmingham, Anita worked for the charity ‘Organisation for Sickle Cell Anaemia’ (OSCAR).

Her commitment to social welfare causes, led Anita to join her local political party in 1984 and her chosen career when she started working for Erdington’s former MP, now Lord Corbett of Castle Vale in 1986. This was a job she thoroughly enjoyed and Anita has worked for two subsequent MP’s, giving up the job this year to become Birmingham’s Lord Mayor.

Anita has been supported in pursuing her varied political career which has included such posts as Group Chief Whip, Group Secretary and Shadow Cabinet Member, by her husband, Mick, who took on much of the care and upbringing of Karena and Vincent.

Having raised two children, Anita and Mick are now the proud grandparents of Ryan, Jamie and Jessica and love nothing more than spending time with them and supporting the local football team.

Although married, Anita has retained her maiden name for professional purposes.

Deputy Lord Mayor - Consorts

Councillor Michael Brown

Mick was born and raised in Shelton, a mining community in Stoke on Trent. The oldest son of Jesse and Dora, he has one brother Andrew and they both attended Cauldon Road School before Michael moved onto Oakhill School for his secondary education.

On leaving school, Mick worked in several clerical jobs in Stoke on Trent and got his “first” experience of Birmingham when working as an Assistant Buyer for a grocery firm in Oakhill. He then worked for several years for the then Department of Health and Social Security which provided further experiences of Birmingham. He represented the Hanley office in the annual

Midland region Track and Field event held at Perry Barr Stadium on numerous occasions.

On leaving the DHSS Mick went to North Staffordshire Polytechnic to complete a degree in Sociology and it was here that he first fell in love with basketball; a love that blossomed when he came to Birmingham to undertake his post graduate studies at Birmingham University.

A few years after leaving University Mick met Anita and they moved together to Erdington. Whilst Anita pursued her role as a City Councillor, Mick was committed to help raising their two children, Vince and Karena and would adjust his work to enable him to support Anita in her fledgling political career in whatever way that he could. They both were so absorbed with this that they “forgot” to get married until 2006, but have since been blessed with three grandchildren Ryan, Jamie and Jessica.

Mick works full time in the Voluntary Sector for a national charity and has been able to pursue his professional interest in autistic conditions in his role of Vice-Chair of Governors for an inner City Primary School. Outside of these areas Mick has continued his “affair” with basketball and has recently returned to indoor climbing, a sport he first became aware of when he moved to Birmingham.

Mick is looking forward to helping Anita in her role as Deputy Lord Mayor representing the City that she has passionately supported as a City Councillor for over 15 years. Mick was himself elected as Councillor for the Tyburn Ward in May 2012.

Karena Hockley

Karena was born in March 1981 at Rochford Hospital, Essex and went to Yenton School, Erdington and Plantsbrook School, Sutton Coldfield before going on to study at Sutton Coldfield College.

Since leaving school Karena has developed a successful career in the retail industry and currently works for a major national department store. She has an interest in history and reading.

Vincent Hockley

Vincent was born in March 1982 at Rochford Hospital, Essex and went to Yenton School, Erdington and Plantsbrook School, Sutton Coldfield before joining the Armed Forces.

Vincent is a career soldier and has reached the rank of Lance Sergeant. He has served his country in a number of places and has spent time as an Army Instructor. He has been a member of his regimental boxing team.

He is the proud father of three young children and an avid Aston Villa Supporter.

Kelly Hughes

Born in April 1982 at Good Hope Hospital. Kelly was educated at Minworth Junior and Infant School before moving to Plantsbrook School, Sutton Coldfield where she first met Vincent.

Kelly is an associate member of the Institute of Legal Executives and is employed as a Paralegal for a firm of Birmingham Solicitors.

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