Coat of Arms Mayors and Lord Mayors Birmingham has had a Mayor (and elected council) since 1838. One of the most famous was Joseph Chamberlain (1873-76) who brought water from the Elan Valley and redeveloped the town centre. In 1889, along with city status, Birmingham had its first Lord Mayor. Each Lord Mayor stands for a year, and is installed into office at the Annual Meeting of the City Council, Lord Mayors are non-political and non-executive during their term of office and act as Chair of the Council. As the First Citizen of Birmingham, the Lord Mayors represents not only the City but also the people of Birmingham. The Parlour The Parlour staff support the Lord Mayor by managing the Civic Diary and assisting the First Citizen to reach all sectors of the community. The Parlour also co-ordinates major annual events such as Remembrance Day and Civic Receptions to regional, national and international visitors.Support is also given to organising many charity fund raising events. Contact us Lord Mayor's Parlour Victoria Square Birmingham B1 1BB Tel: 0121 303 2040 Fax: 0121 303 4809 Email: lord.mayor@birmingham.gov.uk