I have recently called time on my 45-year BBC career which culminated in 22 years as the BBC's Midlands Political Editor. I had been a member of the Lobby at Westminster for 35 years and am still best-known for my coverage of politics on Midlands Today and as the presenter of Sunday Politics Midlands, both on BBC One.My role included heading-up the team of political reporters for whom I was responsible for recruitment and career development.Outside the BBC, I have also recently completed my 5-year term as Chairman of the Board of the King Edward's Schools Foundation in Birmingham, although I remain a member of the Board and of our Academies Trust, of which I am also a director. I retain an extensive network of connections with both Westminster and local politics as well as with our region's business and educational communities, including our major universities. I would welcome an opportunity to discuss new ways of making my self useful given the extra time that I now have at my disposal. Patrick BurnsSeptember 2020