Birmingham Post

He recalled: "Many famous personalities have spoken here including Charles Dickens.
"In the fifties and sixties many famous rock and pop stars played here including the Beatles and the Rolling Stones.
"In the seventies I remember attending a concert by a famous Indian folk singer.
"The renovated organ is internationally recognised instrument. It now has the latest acoustic technology.
"Earlier I tested the sound system and I was amazed how well I sounded when I sang a song.
"In fact, I am almost tempted to sing my speech."
And then the let down.
"Do not worry I will not do so," he remarked.
"My wife is here and I can clearly see her holding her head in her hands."
Very wise!
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Bright has always enjoyed the occasional breakfast fry-up.
But one breakfast supervisor has served nearly 400,000 breakfasts to guests at a leading hotel near Stratford.
Now she has retired.
On her last day the tables were turned as Mary Anderson was treated to a cooked breakfast by general manager Nigel Mann at the Charlecote Pheasant Hotel in Charlecote.
The 67-year-old also met up with several familiar faces as old colleagues returned to the hotel, which is currently undergoing a £2 million refurbishment.
Mary, who lives in Hampton Lucy with her husband, Bruce, and has two daughters, Deborah and Michelle, said it had been lovely to have been served breakfast on her final day.
"I have absolutely loved working at the hotel," she said. "It has been a big part of my life for 26 years."
"Many of our regular guests have become friends over the years as I have served their breakfast.
"I have been breakfast supervisor for the last 12 years so I am looking forward to not having to get up at 5am!"
She still travels around by scooter and has had a gym built at her home to keep herself fit. Proving that fry-ups are good for you!

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Bright's vicar on earth John Duckers, business editor of this august organ, is clearly losing his marbles.
Having mislaid his umbrella - yet again - he detoured over to Simpsons on route into the office having becoming convinced he must have left it there after a boozy Institute of Directors media bash.
Naturally, there was no sign of the article and by the time he reached his desk Duckers had resigned himself to having to get another.
But what should be leaning against the wall looking at him but the missing brolly.
Brolly good show, I say.
Keep up to speed, Duckers.
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News of marketing girl Joy Stefanicki who recently exchanged Birmingham for New York. Birmingham businesswoman Diane Benussi tells me she looked the gal up while on a recent holiday in the Big Apple.
Indeed they had a meal together.
Which naturally turned into mayhem - to do with the drunk on the next table taking offence at something or other.
And how is Joy faring?
She is now "much quieter", claims Diane.
Hang on - Stefanicki and quiet are words which just don't go together.
Indeed given both Stefanicki and New York are what you might better describe as loud it seems like a marriage made in heaven.
But I guess she is still finding her feet in a strange city.
Quiet! Can't get my head around that one.
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When insults had class ...
And there's even one from a certain John Bright!
"He has all the virtues I dislike and none of the vices I admire." - Winston Churchill
"I have never killed a man, but I have read many obituaries with great pleasure." - Clarence Darrow
"He has never been known to use a word that might send a reader to the dictionary." - William Faulkner (about Ernest Hemingway)
"I've had a perfectly wonderful evening. But this wasn't it." - Groucho Marx
"I didn't attend the funeral, but I sent a nice letter saying I approved of it." - Mark Twain
"He has no enemies, but is intensely disliked by his friends." - Oscar Wilde
"I am enclosing two tickets to the first night of my new play; bring a friend .... if you have one." - George Bernard Shaw to Winston Churchill. Followed by Churchill's response: "Cannot possibly attend first night, will attend second, if there is one."
"I feel so miserable without you; it's almost like having you here." - Stephen Bishop
"He is a self-made man and worships his creator." - John Bright
"I've just learned about his illness. Let's hope it's nothing trivial." - Irvin S. Cobb
"He is not only dull himself; he is the cause of dullness in others." - Samuel Johnson
"He is simply a shiver looking for a spine to run up." - Paul Keating
"He had delusions of adequacy." - Walter Kerr
"His mother should have thrown him away and kept the stork." - Mae West
"Some cause happiness wherever they go; others, whenever they go." - Oscar Wilde
Lady Astor once remarked to Winston Churchill at a dinner party, "Winston, if you were my husband, I would poison your coffee!" Winston replied: "Madam if I were your husband I would drink it!"
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Have you got the "balls" to enter PricewaterhouseCoopers' 2008 Charity Quiz And Auction?
It takes place on February 21, is in support of Birmingham Children's Hospital and host is Midlands man Alan Dedicoat, Wogan's sidekick on BBC Radio 2 and the Lottery's 'Voice of the Balls'.
Now in its third year, it raised £11,510 last time.
The event will also include a team trophy which last year was won by swots Bevan Brittan. Bright is pondering just how much of a fool he wants to make of himself ... but you should have no doubts!
Time to sign up.
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