Lord Mayors Consort
Lord Mayors Consorts
Lady Mayoress of Birmingham - Mrs Kathleen Lines
Kathleen is the eldest, by 5 minutes, of identical twins. Kathleen and Maureen were born in Birmingham to Scottish parents Jock and Bessie Burnie and they have an older sister Betty who was born in Scotland.
Kathleen attended local infant and primary schools and Four Dwellings Secondary Modern Girls School in Quinton. When she left school she worked at Dukes & Gilbert, a Stockbrokers office in Colmore Row for four and a half years before moving on to work in accounts at Queens Park Garage in Harborne, which is where she met John in 1966. They married in 1967 and went on to have three children, Sharon, Gerard and Bruce, one son-in-law and two lovely daughters-in-laws, three grandchildren Heather, Georgia and Charlotte and two step-grandsons Terence and Daniel. John and Kathleen will have been married for 45 years in July.
Kathleen enjoys crocheting, reading, crossword puzzles, going to the theatre and cinema. She has a love of all animals, especially dogs, and has raised £1000 at a Ladies Evening for the Hall Green Rescue Greyhound Trust. She helps the PDSA with collections and continues to sell raffle tickets for them and Guide Dogs for the Blind and has also raised money for Hearing Dogs for the Deaf. John and Kathleen, together with their greyhound Rosie, also enjoy caravan touring. Kathleen also finds time to support John in his work in the Ward.
Mrs Sonia Lines
Sonia was born in March 1973 in Wolverhampton and attended Saint Chad R.C. Comprehensive. Upon leaving school, Sonia attended Wulfrun College in Wolverhampton, where she gained a Btec National Diploma in Business & Finance.
In 1996 Sonia attended Dudley College where she gained her degree in Dental Nursing and went on to work as a qualified Dental Nurse, working in a practice in Halesowen.
Sonia met her husband Gerard in 1997. They were married in Gretna Green, have been happily married for 13 years and have two daughters Heather and Georgia, who were born on the same day 5 years apart. In her spare time Sonia enjoys baking with her girls, needlecraft and reading American crime novels. Sonia and the family are also members of Martial Art Concept Black Belt Academy, where they enjoy mixed Martial Arts, Kick Boxing and Thai Boxing. The family also enjoy touring caravan holidays.
Councillor Bruce Lines
Bruce was born in Birmingham and raised in Bartley Green where he still lives to this day.
He attended Woodgate J & I School then Shenley Court Secondary School, at the age of 11 years he became a member of the local Sea Cadet Corp T.S. Sirius based at Bartley Green Reservoir and also worked part time at a local farm.
Upon leaving school Bruce started an apprenticeship, firstly at hall Green Technical College then moving to Birmingham Automotive Training Centre Tyseley, whilst working at ABS Motors in Cotteridge, obtaining City & Guilds in motor repair and servicing 1 2 & 3 including a National Craft Certificate.
Bruce later worked with his father at his garage then worked as a partner at another garage workshop both of which were based in Bartley Green. In 2000 he moved from the motor trade to the motor Insurance business until 2003 when he first became elected as a City Councillor. He continues to work in the motor engineering business.
Bruce is married to Claire, they have three children Terence, Daniel, Charlotte and pets, George the Labrador and Hammy the hamster. Bruce enjoys caravan touring with his family especially visiting Scotland and The Isle of Barra, where his sister and brother-in-law reside and work.
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