KIDDERMINSTER’S Mayor is raising cash for the Millbrook Appeal by staging a business lunch featuring Lord Digby Jones as a speaker.

The event at Brockencote Hall, Chaddesley Corbett, on Friday, January 29, will also be attended by Wyre Forest MP Richard Taylor.

Mayor Howard Martin, leader of Independent Community and Health Concern, is giving two-thirds of his mayoral fund to the appeal during his year in office.

He said: “I am thrilled that Lord Jones agreed so readily to our invitation. He is very supportive of this area and offered a date immediately it was raised with him at the Emily Jordan Foundation concert we jointly attended last month.

“I expect demand for places at the lunch to be high and I am sure local business leaders will welcome the opportunity to hear him speak and support the appeal at the same time.”

Lord Jones is a former head of the Confederation of British Industry and was Minister of State for UK Trade and Investment for 15 months from 2007.

Mr Martin said Lord Jones is “a renowned, incisive and amusing after dinner speaker”, adding he was looking forward to hearing his speech.

Two more events have been announced where the proceeds will go to the Mayor’s charities – the Millbrook Suite and the Child Contact Centre at Trinity Methodist Church in Kidderminster, which provides a place for parents and their children to meet up if they do not live together.

A civic Christmas carol service will be held at St John’s Church on Sunday, December 20 at 6.30pm and the Mayor’s Ball will be staged in celebration of Valentine’s Day on Friday, February 12 in Kidderminster Town Hall.

“I want the ball this year to be an attraction and accessible to all local people who might like to attend this event for the first time – I can promise them a good evening of food and entertainment,” added Mr Martin.