Rise of Neville Chamberlain his eighteenth birthday. In later years, as Chamberlain rose to the heights of British politics, he seldom visited the school, did not enrol his own son, and rarely spoke of his time there. Joseph Chamberlain then sent Neville to Mason College (which later developed into the University of Birmingham), which both emphasised the politician's connection to Birmingham and catered to the interest in science which Neville had shown at Rugby. Neville Chamberlain studied metallurgy and engineering for two years, but had little interest in the subjects. In 1889 his father apprenticed him to a firm of accountants. Within six months,
Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent The position of Lord Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent is largely ceremonial. The role of Lord Mayor is decided upon by a vote amongst the elected councillors of Stoke-on-Trent City Council; the candidates are also selected from the councillors. The current Lord Mayor is Councillor Lilian Dodd. Between 1910 and 1928 the Borough, and later, City of Stoke-on-Trent had a Mayor rather than a Lord Mayor. The first Mayor of Stoke-on-Trent was Cecil Wedgwood of the Wedgwood pottery dynasty. The title of Lord Mayor was first conferred on the City of Stoke-on-Trent by King George V on 10