Digbeth Fun Fair

With restrictions being eased, a fun fair has opened in Digbeth. Located at Charles Henry Street and Moseley Street. Digbeth Fun Fair is also near Birchall Street (in walking distance of the Custard Factory and the Bullring). Opened on the 12th April 2021. Open daily from 1pm to 10pm. Only groups of six in social bubbles can attend. From the people behind Ice Skate Birmingham.

Digbeth Fun Fair opened on Monday 12th April 2021. In time for more restrictions being eased in the middle of Spring 2021. Just as people can go back to bars and restaurants (at the moment eating and drinking outside). The Fun Fair in Digbeth is located on wasteland at the corner of Moseley Street and Charles Henry Street (close to Highgate and towards Southside). You can approach it from the Custard Factory by walking up Birchall Street. It is also near Alcester Street, which connects you to Sherlock Street (if coming from Southside).

Due to the lockdowns and Tiered restrictions, Ice Skate Birmingham was cancelled in 2020 (it would have taken place around November 2020 to January 2021 at Centenary Square, but it didn't happen). Ice Skate Birmingham was based at Centenary Square until 2016, then at Eastside Green for 2017 and 2018, before moving back to Centenary Square in 2019.

So Digbeth Fun Fair is about 6 months later than the last Ice Skate Birmingham could have opened (but without the ice rink). Many of the rides here have featured at the previous events.

The approach from Birchall Street past The Market Tavern on Saturday 17th April 2021.

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Digbeth Fun Fair seen at the corner of Charles Henry Street and Moseley Street.

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The views below all taken from Charles Henry Street.

Wild Mouse was last seen at Ice Skate Birmingham on Eastside Green in 2017-18.

dndimg alt="Digbeth Fun Fair" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Digbeth Fun Fair (Apr 2021) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Welcome - I recall seeing this at a previous fun fair that was near Curzon Street Station in a car park about 10 years ago (now where the HS2 station will be built).

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The Big Wheel and Sky Flyer. They were last seen in Centenary Square around 2019-20.

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A ride called Extreme. View towards the Beetham Tower and Centre City Tower. 

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Wild Mouse and The Big Wheel back together again.

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Wild Mouse and the Sky Flyer.

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The Big Wheel with the Wild Mouse and Sky Flyer.

dndimg alt="Digbeth Fun Fair" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Digbeth Fun Fair (Apr 2021) (12).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

Halloween Decorations around Kings Heath on the 31st October 2020

We are closer to a Covid Christmas now than Halloween. But on the afternoon of the 31st October 2020, I had one last walk around Kings Heath before the 2nd lockdown announcment. Mainly to see those flower planters on closed roads. But also saw Halloween decorations in front of houses, in windows etc. Pumpkins, skeletons, cobwebs!

HALLOWEEN KINGS HEATH, 31ST OCTOBER 2020

A month late, but Happy Halloween! The Nightmare Before Christmas! It was heavily raining on the morning of the 31st October 2020, and with a dry spell in the afternoon, I got the 11C bus to Kings Heath. Mainly to see the Low Traffic Neighbourhood around Kings Heath. But couldn't help notice some houses had Halloween decorations out at the time. It was rumoured that another lockdown was coming, but it wasn't confirmed until later that day.

Halloween bunting spotted on a hedge on Colmore Road in Kings Heath.

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Passing Vicarage Road and Kings Heath Park and onto Avenue Road. Saw this window with these decorations inside. The Day of the Dead!

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Then onto Highbury Road. Social Distance Trick or Treaters Welcome Here! Skeleton on the wall.

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Later after seeing the last of the LTN flower planters went down Springfield Road to get the 11A bus home.

Various Halloween decorations around this tree plus a hand!

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Cobwebs around this telegraph pole and on the bushes.

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More Halloween decorations in this window with the blue plaque for Miss Minnie May (who was a Teacher of Dressmaking that lived here in 1939).

dndimg alt="Halloween Kings Heath" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Halloween Kings Heath (Oct 2020) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Near the end of the road was this pair of carved pumpkins. Looks like a bat.

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A more traditional scary Halloween pumpkin carving!

dndimg alt="Halloween Kings Heath" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Halloween Kings Heath (Oct 2020) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown. Can be found on Twitter: ellrbrown

Union Jack flags and bunting around suburban Shirley for VE Day 75

While the VE Day 75 Bank Holiday Weekend was never supposed to be like this (on lockdown during a pandemic), locals have still decorated the outside of their homes with Union Jack flags and bunting. Such as in Shirley, Solihull (just over the Metropolitan Borough border from Birmingham in Hall Green). Saw these on my Saturday afternoon daily walk in the warm weather on the 9th May 2020.

It has been 75 years since World War 2 ended in Europe. Victory in Europe Day was held on the 8th May 1945 (when Germany surrendered). While WW2 in the Far East didn't end until August 1945, when Japan surrendered (VJ Day). While the 75th anniversary commemorations are a bit more muted then they were supposed to be, households all over the country have decorated the front of their houses with Union Jack bunting and flags. Some may have even had tea on their front drives on the 8th May 2020. This daily walk the day later on the 9th May 2020.

For my Saturday afternoon daily walk, in the warm weather, walked down Solihull Lane from Robin Hood Island in Hall Green, Birmingham. Crossed the border into Solihull on Streetsbrook Road in Shirley, Solihull. Saw these Union Jack bunting and flags on the way.

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We left Streetsbrook Road at Olton Road and walked towards the Stratford Road in Shirley. Then back towards the Robin Hood Island. Saw a Union Jack flag, and one house with Lest We Forget.

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Earlier saw this Union Jack flag on Shirley Road in Hall Green.

dndimg alt="Shirley Road" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/VE Day 75 Shirley Rd (May 2020).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

At Robin Hood Island on Solihull Lane was this Union Jack flag and a hat outside of Keith Emery Butchers (while customers were socially distanced 2 Metres apart from each other).

dndimg alt="Solihull Lane" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/VE Day 75 Solihull Lane (May 2020).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Thanks for all the followers.

The Public, West Bromwich - the lost public arts venue in Sandwell

The Public was a free public arts venue in West Bromwich in the Metropolitan Borough of Sandwell. It was this big modern pink building with unique art installations inside. I once caught the Midland Metro to West Bromwich in April 2011 to visit it. But it closed down years later and is now Central Sixth, West Bromwich. The Public opened in 2009 and closed in 2013.

The Public, West Bromwich

The Public was a multi-purpose venue and art gallery in West Bromwich, it opened in 2009 and closed by November 2013. The architect was Will Alsop. Construction started in 2003 and was completed in 2009. Although it partially opened in 2008. It was fully completed on all levels in 2010. It was a free art gallery. Various artists had their work displayed here.

My visit to The Public was at the beginning of April 2011, and had no issues taking photos inside of the building. It was the only time I ever went inside. As by the time came back to West Bromwich years later, it was now Central Sixth, West Bromwich (a Sixth Form College from Sandwell College). But there was also the Sandwell Arts Cafe (but the automatic doors were closed when I went past in 2017). Apparently the Sixth Form College merged with my old Sixth Form College (Cadbury College) in 2018 and the campus in West Bromwich is now known as Saint Michaels Sixth Form.

Panoramic of The Public during April 2011, taken from New Street / Cronehills Linkway. This would become part of New Square by 2013.

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Posters in the corner window including The Pink Floyd Show.

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LOVE ART

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Welcome to THE PUBLIC ENTRANCE FREE

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Gift shop - the lighting was pink all over.

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Content Pools by Lia & Miguel Carvalhais.

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This was also part of the Content Pools artwork. The light bubbles went all over these things.

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Flypad

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Wasn't sure at the time what you were supposed to do with Flypad. I would guess step on the square and touch Play on the touch screen.

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Local art exhibit. Looks like artists had created giant insects.

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Back down to the ground floor after getting a lift back down. Neon pink lights on the ceiling, curvy waves on the floor.

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Some kind of pink object I saw on the ground floor. The sculpture looked like it was made of tangled ropes.

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Out to the square at the back of The Public with these interesting looking shiny metal parts of the building.

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I would guess that there had been nothing like this in West Bromwich before or since.

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Entrance to The Public on the left. I would never go back in there ever again.

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The New Square shopping development would be built in 2012 and 2013 and would be in the area where those cars were in the distance.

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I went back to West Bromwich in July 2017 on The Big Sleuth bear hunt. After the bus from Bearwood / Warley I went to Dudley. And the next bus to West Bromwich for the last of the bears I wanted to see. By this point New Square had opened, and The Public was now Central Sixth West Bromwich.

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This Big Sleuth bear was called Picnic Time For Teddy Bears by the artist Cathy Simpson and the sponsor was The West Brom.

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This was now the Main Entrance to the Sandwell Arts Cafe, as well as to the Sixth Form College.

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It's a shame that The Public had to close to be replaced by Central Sixth. At the time it still looked "arty" with "imagine" and "create". In the Fab Lab.

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I last got the West Midlands Metro to West Bromwich Central in August 2019 to see the new Three Degrees statue in New Square (called The Celebration). So didn't get new photos of the former Public building. I did briefly pop into the square behind but was a dead end, then headed to Dartmouth Park for another look around, before catching a tram back into Birmingham. The shops and eateries here are near Queen's Square.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Now at more than 1,130 followers. Thank you.

Birmingham We Are People with Passion award winner 2020

St Patrick's Day at the Bullring

The St Patrick's Day Parade for 2020 may have been postponed, but that has not stopped the Bullring Bull dressing up for St Patrick's Day. This year looking like a clover leaf. He has also been dressed up for the period over the last two years (at least). Also Selfridges usually goes green. The only time I got it after dark in green was during March 2013. More positivity is needed.

Happy St Patrick's Day, Birmingham. Time for some positivity from the Bullring.

Every year, no matter what the occasion, the Bullring Bull is dressed up, and St Patrick's Day is no exception. For 2020 they have made the Bull looks like a giant clover leaf.

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A close up as people go past with their every day lives. There are people going into Birmingham City Centre, if not as busy as usual. And this was midday on a Thursday afternoon (was a bit wet).

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The Bull in it's St Patrick's Day outfit from the back. I went through the West Mall up the escalators. As you can see lots of shoppers around in the City Centre.

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Going back a year to March 2019, and this was the outfit the Bull wore for St Patrick's Day 2019. I think I missed seeing the hat.

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This was the day after the actual St Patrick's Day, and I missed the parade in 2019 (didn't want to see it every year). By chance, I caught this man in the red t-shirt doing a wheelie on his bike.

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For St Patrick's Day 2018, the Bull just wore a green hat with a clover leaf in it.

dndimg alt="Bullring Bull" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bullring Bull St Patricks Day 2018.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

During March 2013 I headed into the City Centre to get Selfridges in green for St Patrick's Day. Here is my classic photo. At the time it ended up in Flickr Explore and I think on a Flickr blog about St Patrick's Day around the world (of landmark buildings going green). From the corner of Park Street and Moor Street. Near Moor Street Car Park.

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Some more of the green Selfridges views from March 2013. This from Digbeth at the corner with Park Street.

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Heading onto Park Street which heads to Eastside to the right.

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Now on Park Street sometime after 8pm in the evening with Selfridges looking very green.

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This was near the corner of Park Street and Moor Street. I got my iconic shot after this one. The Parametric Bridge from Moor Street Car Park is above (I didn't really start popping into the top of the car park until the end of 2017, so didn't get any shots from above).

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Next up got some views from Digbeth, but my then camera wasn't too great at distant night shots. But you can see the Rotunda from here. This was from Milk Street.

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Slightly better behind this fence with the Rotunda and Selfridges in green. This was also from Milk Street.

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Now a look at some Irish flags that were on Edgbaston Street at the Bullring during March 2014. This one was near St Martin's Church.

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Was an Irish flag and a Happy St Patrick's Day flag near the end of Edgbaston Street and close to where you get of the bus (near Moat Lane and St Martin's Lane opposite the Bull Ring Tavern).

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There were market stalls not far from the World Famous Rag Market, selling Irish flags and scarves. This was the Saturday before the parade. Was also an Aston Villa flag.

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Close up look at a Happy St Patrick's Day flag and an Irish flag.

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March 2015 was the first time that I actually tried to get photos of the St Patrick's Day Parade. I went up to the upper balcony outside of Selfridges. I also tried to go around Digbeth but didn't take the parade close up. Instead got photos of Irish souvenir stands like this one facing Selfridges. The usual Irish flags and scarves.

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This Irish flag flying close to St Martin's Church on Edgbaston Street.

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This man is always (or used to be) around in colourful outfits. For St Patrick's Day he was in a snazzy Irish green outfit with his shopping.

dndimg alt="St Patrick's Day Bullring 2015" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bullring St Patricks Day 2015 (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

There was also some visitors in green Irish hats, perhaps they were German? Seen on the balcony below.

dndimg alt="St Patrick's Day Bullring 2015" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bullring St Patricks Day 2015 (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

In March 2018, I once again headed to the Bullring to try and get photos of the St Patrick's Day Parade. This time I got some from Moor Street Car Park, before heading down into Selfridges and out for the balcony views.

An Irish flag flying seen below the Bullring balconies below Selfridges, towards Digbeth.

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On Edgbaston Street near the Bull Ring Markets and the Rag Market, was several stalls selling Irish flags and scarves for St Patricks's Day. There was also an ice cream van down there.

dndimg alt="Bullring St Patrick's Day 2018" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bullring St Patricks Day 2018 (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

On Edgbaston Street near St Martin's Church was another stall selling the Irish flags, wigs and hats. Plus some people walking past including a man drinking something from a can. I would assume that they are Irish Brummies?

dndimg alt="Bullring St Patrick's Day 2018" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bullring St Patricks Day 2018 (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Now at 1,100 followers. Thank you.

Birmingham We Are People with Passion award winner 2020

From sunset to after dark from the balcony of The Birmingham Contemporary Art Gallery for Birmingham We Are

Was at The Birmingham Contemporary Art Gallery for Birmingham We Are and got some views of the sunset outside and some after it was dark. The sun set over the Sheepcote Street Bridge of the Birmingham Canal Navigations Mainline. The Legoland Discovery Centre Birmingham below was closed for the day. Wednesday 26th February 2020.

This was around 4:40pm on Wednesday 26th February 2020 outside of The BCAG. Looking towards the Libary of Birmingham, ICC, Alpha Tower, Hyatt, Three Brindleyplace and the National Sealife Centre Birmingham. Not quite dark yet.

dndimg alt="The BCAG" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The BCAG BWA balcony (Feb 20) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Looking towards Sheepcote Street as the sun was going down, but was a bit bright to see anything from this side.

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Just before 5pm, the sunset was starting to look dramatic from The BCAG balcony.

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The canal was quiet, the Lego giraffe was all alone after the LDC Birmingham closed for the day.

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Popped out again at 5 minutes past 5pm as the sun went down.

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Just about got a reflection from Symphony Court.

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One last look at the sunset as it made red flares before I went back in. It was cold.

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This was about 5 minutes before 6pm. The sun had gone down as it started to get dark, but could already see the crescent moon.

dndimg alt="The BCAG" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The BCAG BWA balcony (Feb 20) (13).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A few minutes before 6pm past The BCAG towards the Library, ICC, Alpha Tower, Hyatt, Three Brindleyplace and National Sealife Centre.

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It was now sometime after 6:30pm and it was fully dark. I spotted a crescent moon in the sky.

dndimg alt="The BCAG" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The BCAG BWA balcony (Feb 20) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Above the moon was either a star or a planet, not sure which.

dndimg alt="The BCAG" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The BCAG BWA balcony (Feb 20) (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Here you can a decent image of the crescent moon with The BCAG.

dndimg alt="The BCAG" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The BCAG BWA balcony (Feb 20) (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I left just before 7pm, and got this view heading down the steps.

dndimg alt="The BCAG" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The BCAG BWA balcony (Feb 20) (11).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This view from a footbridge on the other side of the canal. Lego and Costa were both closed.

dndimg alt="The BCAG" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The BCAG BWA balcony (Feb 20) (12).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown. Now at 1,100 followers. Thank you.

Birmingham We Are People with Passion award winner 2020

Chinese New Year around Birmingham, in 2020 it's the Year of the Rat

The annual celebrations are being prepared for in Birmingham City Centre. They dressed up the Bull. The Chinese dragons is going around, but I've not seen it yet this year in 2020. Missed it in the Colmore BID, and at the Bullring. But saw a dragon at the Custard Factory, and caught some of the dancing at the Bullring (but crowded and hard to see anything). Plus not waiting around.

Here's a quick brief post on Chinese New Year in late January 2020. The Year of the Rat starts on Saturday 25th January 2020. And there will be the annual celebrations in the Chinese Quarter on Sunday 26th January 2020. I did pop through Southside on Saturday, but could not see much more than them setting up the stage, and I wouldn't want to be around there on Sunday as it will be way too crowded for me.

The Bullring bull seen on the 23rd January 2020 in it's latest costume for Chinese New Year. Which starts on the 25th January 2020. A yellow and red outfit completely covering the bull, apart from it's feet.

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Think I prefer this outfit to the one they used in 2018. Best to get it as early as I'm aware of it, before it gets too crowded around here (especially at the weekend).

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The bull from the back. Festival of Light event to the right.

dndimg alt="Chinese bull 2020" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CNY of the Rat Bullring bull (Jan 20) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Festival of Lights at the Bullring is back. In 2019 I only saw it in the daylight, and so far in 2020 also in the daylight. This is Pulse of St Martin's Walk.

dndimg alt="Festival of Lights Bullring daylight" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Festival of Light Bullring daylight (Jan 20) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Birds Fly Around With You in Rotunda Square. Seen them again since, but holding off taking more photos until I possibly head back when it gets dark. It opened on the evening of the 24th January 2020 and should be there until early February 2020. Spire of St Martin's Church down St Martin's Walk.

dndimg alt="Festival of Lights Bullring daylight" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Festival of Light Bullring daylight (Jan 20) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I went to the Colmore BID on the 24th January 2020, but did not see the Chinese dragon dances (had no idea at all where they were). So walked to Digbeth via the Gun Quarter and Eastside. Saw this Chinese dragon in the window of Ridding and Wynn at the Custard Factory in Digbeth.

dndimg alt="Chinese dragon Custard Factory" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Custard Factory Chinese NY (Jan 20).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Saturday 25th January 2020 at the Bullring. Was hoping to see some of the Chinese dragon dances, but when I got to the West Mall only saw this. DANS Dance. Taken from the top floor balcony.

dndimg alt="Chinese New Year Bullring" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bullring CNY (Jan 20) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Was a bit crowded on all floors to get decent views here.

dndimg alt="Chinese New Year Bullring" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bullring CNY (Jan 20) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Just caught the end as they walked to the Chinese arch made out of balloons.

dndimg alt="Chinese New Year Bullring" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bullring CNY (Jan 20) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I later popped back into the Bullring but could not see any dances going on, nor nothing around the Bull, I did not want to wait about. The City Centre around the Bullring was way too crowded for me. Nor did I see anything in Grand Central.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Birmingham We Are People with Passion award winner 2020

Gloriana Historical Dance at the Council House for Birmingham We Are (14th January 2020)

For quite a lot of hours, Gloriana Historical Dance, performed Tudor or Elizabethan style dances in the Banqueting Suite at the Council House, during Birmingham We Are's annual event on Tuesday 14th January 2020. I only saw them in here. Didn't see them elsewhere in the Council House, or pop into BM & AG. Thank you for coming.

They have a public Facebook group here Gloriana Living History and Historical Dance.

First dance in Venetian style masks.

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Masks off. Partnering up.

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Going up those sticks with leaves on them.

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Jonathan Bostock introduces the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Mohammed Azim to Gloriana.

dndimg alt="Lord Mayor and Gloriana" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Gloriana meets LM of Bham 14012020 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Lord Mayor and Gloriana" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Gloriana meets LM of Bham 14012020 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Lord Mayor and Gloriana" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Gloriana meets LM of Bham 14012020 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham (for 2019-20) poses for photos with Gloriana.

dndimg alt="Lord Mayor and Gloriana" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Gloriana meets LM of Bham 14012020 (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Lord Mayor and Gloriana" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Gloriana meets LM of Bham 14012020 (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Lord Mayor and Gloriana" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Gloriana meets LM of Bham 14012020 (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I got Jonathan in shot as well.

dndimg alt="Lord Mayor and Gloriana" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Gloriana meets LM of Bham 14012020 (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Lord Mayor and Gloriana" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Gloriana meets LM of Bham 14012020 (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Thank you very much for coming. After this they went to other parts of the Council House and into the Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery. I didn't head to BM & AG as I needed to have a late lunch. And to sit down after standing around for over 4 hours.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Birmingham We Are award winner 2020.

Birmingham We Are at the Council House (14th January 2020)

The annual Birmingham We Are event was held at the Birmingham Council House in the presence of the Lord Mayor on Tuesday 14th January 2020. Once again in the Banqueting Suite and Drawing Room. Birmingham We Are People with Passion had their photos on display. And BWA's Elliott Brown and Daniel Sturley won awards! Thank you very much. Plus various Birmingham organisations were present.

Postponed from the 3rd December 2019 (due to the General Election) to the 14th January 2020. The annual Birmingham We Are event. A Celebration of a City with Community was held once again in the Banqueting Suite and Drawing Room.

At this end they were showing a slideshow presentation with our photos on Birmingham We Are.

dndimg alt="BWA Council House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BWA Council House 14012020 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Looking towards the Drawing Room. Packed at this point.

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Jonathan Bostock introduces the Lord Mayor of Birmingham to some visitors.

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Jonathan introduces the Lord Mayor to the Birmingham Contemporary Art Gallery.

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Quite busy at both ends. Lots of tables with various Birmingham organisations with art on display.

dndimg alt="BWA Council House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BWA Council House 14012020 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The likes of the Canal & River Trust and Birmingham Museums Trust were represented in the Drawing Room.

dndimg alt="BWA Council House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BWA Council House 14012020 (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Gloriana the Elizabethan dancers with their official photographer in his interesting looking costume. More on them in another post.

dndimg alt="BWA Council House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BWA Council House 14012020 (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

By this point, a few tables had been cleared, and many people had already left the Council House. At the far end of the Drawing Room was the gallery of photos by Birmingham's People with Passion (including my own).

dndimg alt="BWA Council House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BWA Council House 14012020 (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One last look before leaving the Council House. Was a lot of standing around.

dndimg alt="BWA Council House" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BWA Council House 14012020 (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

In the Banqueting Suite displays of art.

Craftybun Print Making.

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The Birmingham Contemporary Art Gallery and Gloriana.

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Lessness

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Get Balsall Heath Reading. St Paul's Community Development Trust. Smart Lyte.

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This looks like a portrait of the Queen on a stamp but with pressed flowers.

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Birmingham Urban Sketch. Paula Gabb I think.

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Commissoned Book Arts.

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Handmaiduns

dndimg alt="BWA art" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BWA art displays CH 14012020 (12).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Birmingham We Are People with Passion Awards 2020

All the awards were concrete models of the Rotunda. Community groups first. The award presented by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham.

Award 1.

dndimg alt="BWA Awards 2020" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BWA Awards 2020 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Award 2.

dndimg alt="BWA Awards 2020" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BWA Awards 2020 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Award 3

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Award 4

dndimg alt="BWA Awards 2020" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BWA Awards 2020 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Award 5: Birmingham Community Matters.

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Award 6

dndimg alt="BWA Awards 2020" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BWA Awards 2020 (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Award 7: The Gunmakers Arms.

dndimg alt="BWA Awards 2020" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BWA Awards 2020 (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Award 8: Elliott Brown. Photo courtesy of Damien Walmsley. Thank you Damien.

dndimg alt="BWA Awards 2020" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BWA Awards 2020 (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Award 9: Daniel Sturley.

dndimg alt="BWA Awards 2020" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BWA Awards 2020 (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Birmingham We Are award winner 2020.

Circus Berlin at The NEC Birmingham

I kept seeing posters around Birmingham about the Circus Berlin at The NEC. So wanted to see it from the outside before it closed on the 4th January 2020. I headed to The NEC with Karl Newton although there was a lot of bright sunshine to the right of the circus. It was opposite Resorts World in the South Car Park. 19th December 2019 - 4th January 2020. This NEC visit on the 3rd Jan 2020.

Circus Berlin

Previous circuses post here Circuses in Birmingham.

There was posters all over Birmingham about this circus, so had to check it out at The NEC before it closed down. It opened for it's first performances on Thursday 19th December 2019 and finished on Saturday 4th January 2020. I travelled to The NEC with Karl Newton (showed him the Air-Rail Link and we also went to Vortex Gaming in Resorts World) on Friday 3rd January 2020. So one day before it was going to close.

This zoom in from just outside The NEC main entrance, past Resorts World Arena, with Resorts World Birmingham on the left.

dndimg alt="Circus Berlin" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Circus Berlin The NEC (Jan 20) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Located in South Car Park 3, there was strong sunlight to the right of Resorts World. The main circus tent where it all took place.

dndimg alt="Circus Berlin" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Circus Berlin The NEC (Jan 20) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

As you can see the light was quite bright from this side, but it was about midday on this visit to The NEC.

dndimg alt="Circus Berlin" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Circus Berlin The NEC (Jan 20) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Conely's Thunderdome with Union Jack flags and smiley Emoji's.

dndimg alt="Circus Berlin" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Circus Berlin The NEC (Jan 20) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A close up zoom in of the Circus Berlin tent which was red and yellow all over.

dndimg alt="Circus Berlin" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Circus Berlin The NEC (Jan 20) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Ticket Office with a sign for Circus Extreme. Above was various flags of the world, although mostly European flags.

dndimg alt="Circus Berlin" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Circus Berlin The NEC (Jan 20) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Chop Shop. Some kind of dodgems ride I think.

dndimg alt="Circus Berlin" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Circus Berlin The NEC (Jan 20) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The bright sunshine wasn't getting any better on this side, so this was my last photo of the circus tent.

dndimg alt="Circus Berlin" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Circus Berlin The NEC (Jan 20) (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I think this ride was called Twister. Could barely see what I was taking with all the strong sunlight so took one more shot of it.

dndimg alt="Circus Berlin" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Circus Berlin The NEC (Jan 20) (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Lots of reds and yellows. The photos came out better after editing and fixing the lighting issues.

dndimg alt="Circus Berlin" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Circus Berlin The NEC (Jan 20) (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Magical Lantern Festival 2016 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens

I booked a evening ticket to see the Magical Lantern Festival on Saturday 10th December 2016. After a lot of waiting around town, I got the bus to Westbourne Road in Edgbaston. Was there between 4:50pm and 5:30pm. It was raining on my visit, so I got quite soaked going around the trail of colourful lit up Magical Lanterns. I've not been back since (apart from the dinosaurs / ice age)

The Magical Lantern Festival first came to Birmingham at Christmas 2016 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens on Westbourne Road in Edgbaston. It was on from the 25th November 2016 until the 2nd January 2017. They returned to Birmingham for the Christmas 2017 season at Kings Heath Park (I only saw that in the daylight) and back to the Botanical Gardens a year later at Christmas 2018 (I only saw them from the bus or walking past on the Westbourne Road). I'm not aware of if it's returning for the Christmas 2019 season.

You book your ticket online, and get it on Eventbrite with a QR code (or print it out - but the paper version would get wet in the rain).

My visit on the evening on the 10th December 2016 just after 5pm. But it was raining, but I did manage to get around the trail (my camera got wet).

"Merry Christmas". A welcome from Santa.

dndimg alt="Magical Lantern Festival 2016" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Magical Lantern Festival (Dec 2016) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2016 with penguins and a snowman. Also presents.

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Colourful birds and flowers.

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A jug of water and flowers.

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A reindeer.

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The Chinese Pagoda that you would find in the middle of Holloway Circus in Birmingham City Centre.

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A Bug's Life. A mushroom and a giant ant.

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A peacock. I've seen real peacocks here in the daylight hours (in the years after this visit).

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Santa Claus in his sleigh.

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The world famous Bullring bull in Magical Lantern form.

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A Christmas tree Magical Lantern style.

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I think this is supposed to look like the glasshouses of the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

dndimg alt="Magical Lantern Festival 2016" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Magical Lantern Festival (Dec 2016) (12).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One of the clowns.

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Canopy over the fountain.

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Frog on a lily.

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Green ant from A Bug's Life. Or Antz?

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Mushrooms and flowers with water droplets.

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Pearl in an oyster.

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Reindeer and a snowman near the entrance canopy.

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Exiting back onto Westbourne Road, giant teddy bear and presents.

dndimg alt="Magical Lantern Festival 2016" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Magical Lantern Festival (Dec 2016) (20).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I've also got daylight photos from Kings Heath Park from December 2017. I will put some of those in another post soon.

For a similar post on the Jurassic Kingdom and Ice Age: The Lost Kingdom events follow this link to this post: Jurassic Kingdom 2017 and Ice Age: The Lost Kingdom 2019 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens.

More photos here on my Flickr Magical Lantern Festival including photos from 2016 to 2018.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Remember when Terminator was on Caroline Street in the Jewellery Quarter (March 2018)

Ahead of the release in cinemas of the sixth Terminator movie (Terminator: Dark Fate) a look back to that time when The Terminator (T800 Model 101) was on Caroline Street in the Jewellery Quarter. This was on the 13th March 2018. When I saw on Twitter / Facebook that he was there I had to see him before he disappeared! I'll be back! Hasta la vista baby!

Somehow I forgot to add Terminator to this post: Characters from Movies and TV spotted around Birmingham and the West Midlands.

On the 13th March 2018 I saw photos on Social Media (Twitter / Facebook / Instagram) that the Terminator was in the Jewellery Quarter.

So I headed out at lunchtime to see him. Was on Caroline Street just north of St Paul's Square.

dndimg alt="Terminator" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Terminator on Caroline Street JQ (March 2018) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Here he is in close up in the middle of Caroline Street. "I told you I'd be back!".

dndimg alt="Terminator" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Terminator on Caroline Street JQ (March 2018) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Terminator is played by Arnold Schwarzenegger. Arnold has played different versions of the T800 in the movies since 1984 (apart from the 4th movie in 2009 when he was Governor of California so that was a CGI version over a stunt double). He was the T850 in T3. 

dndimg alt="Terminator" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Terminator on Caroline Street JQ (March 2018) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Terminator from the back as he looks to the spire of St Paul's Church and to the BT Tower. Not far from The Bloc hotel.

dndimg alt="Terminator" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Terminator on Caroline Street JQ (March 2018) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Terminator: Dark Fate comes out on the 23rd October 2019. Arnold Schwarzenegger and Linda Hamilton have just completed a promotional tour of the UK (London). Arnold has been to Birmingham several times for those An Experience with ... events at The ICC.

The movies are as follows: The Terminator (1984), Terminator 2: Judgment Day (1991), Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), Terminator: Salvation (2009), Terminator: Genisys (2015) and Terminator: Dark Fate (2019).

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Characters from Movies and TV spotted around Birmingham and the West Midlands

I recently saw Paddington Bear at the Tyseley Locomotive Works open day of September 2019, and that reminded me of other similar characters that have been in Birmingham and the West Midlands over the years. Such as Alien, Predator and Iron Man on New Street, Transformers at The Mailbox. Shaun the Sheep at the Bullring. Even the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters at The NEC!

Tyseley Locomotive Works

Paddington Bear was the special guest at the Tyseley Locomotive Works open day / weekend (last weekend of September 2019). Seen here waving to kids, not far from the miniature railway display. Another photographer taking his photo or videoing him on a tripod.

dndimg alt="Paddington" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Paddington Tyseley Locomotive Works.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

New Street

Seen at the bottom end of New Street near Rotunda Square and the Bullring was this street entertainer as the Predator. Seen in early January 2014. Predator has been in four movies released between 1987 and 2018 (1987, 1990, 2010 and 2018). Also in two Alien vs Predator movies (2004 and 2007). Also various video games and comic books based on the Predator franchise.

dndimg alt="Predator" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Street entertainer New Street Predator.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Alien seen outside of Odeon in January 2014, same day as Predator. Four movies in the Alien Quadrilogy released between 1979 and 1997 (1979, 1986, 1992 and 1997). Also appear in the two Alien vs Predator movies (2004 and 2007). There was also the also the Alien prequel movies (2012 and 2017), but a version of the Xenomorph was mostly in the second prequel movie than in Prometheus.

dndimg alt="Alien" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Street entertainer New Street Alien.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Iron Man from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, seen during March 2014 not far from the High Street and Rotunda Square. Iron Man / Tony Stark has appeared in a lot of the MCU movies released from 2008 onwards, including the Iron Man Trilogy (2008 - 2013), the four Avengers movies (2012 - 2019). Also appearances in the third Captain America movie (2016) and the first MCU Spider-Man movie (2017).

dndimg alt="Iron Man" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Street entertainer New Street Iron Man.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Bumblebee from the Transformers was outside of the former Lloyds TSB bank on New Street during October 2015 (it is now a TSB bank). He has appeared in all five live action Transformers movies released between 2007 and 2017, as well as his own spin off / prequel released in 2018.

dndimg alt="Bumblebee" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Street entertainer New Street Bumblebee.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This Minion was seen at the bottom end of New Street near Rotunda Square and High Street when Vodafone was at that corner (now Metro Bank). This was during March 2016. The Minions are from the Despicable Me movie series. I have never seen this movies or the spin off. The three main Minions are called Stuart, Kevin, and Bob.

dndimg alt="Minion" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Street entertainer New Street Minion.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Late December 2018 and after dark at the bottom end of New Street near Rotunda Square in the Bullring. Pikachu and another Minion were seen here. Pikachu is from the Pokemon cartoon, movie and video game series. Was a recent live action Pikachu movie released in 2019 (never saw it apart from the trailers).

dndimg alt="Pikachu and a Minion" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Street entertainer New Street Pikachu and Minion(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

High Street

Super Mario from the famous Nintendo videos was seen on High Street in Birmingham City Centre during September 2014. Games have been released since 1985. Originally on the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), then in the 1990s on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Also on the Nintendo 64, GameCube, Wii, and other Nintendo consoles. As well as on the Game Boy, Game Boy Advance, Nintendo DS etc. Also has been several cartoons, and a 1993 live action movie.

dndimg alt="Mario" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Mario on High Street Birmingham.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Bullring

Shaun the Sheep seen at the Bullring near the Nelson statue during May 2015. First appearing in the Wallace & Gromit short film from Aardman Animations, A Close Shave (1995). The character was later the star of his own CBBC TV series ( 5 series between 2007 to 2016). In 2015 the first Shaun the Sheep movie was released. A second film due to be released in October 2019.

dndimg alt="Shaun the Sheep" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bullring characters Shaun the Sheep.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Optimus Prime from Transformers, seen in truck mode at Rotunda Square in the Bullring during August 2015, I think promoting the Transformers Prime cartoon series. Although this was the way the character looked like in the live action Transformers movies (2007 - 2017). Was a version in the Bumblebee movie (2018), but resembled the Generation 1 version of the 1980s.

dndimg alt="Optimus Prime" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bullring characters Optimus Prime.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Raptors from Jurassic World. Seen during October 2015. There has been raptors in the Jurassic Park trilogy (1993 - 2001) as well as in the two Jurassic World movies released so far (2015 and 2018). Expect to see them (or one of them) in the next Jurassic World movie (eta 2021?). They were visiting four UK shopping centres probably promoting Jurassic World's home media release.

dndimg alt="Raptors" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bullring characters Raptors.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Stig from Top Gear in Rotunda Square during October 2015. A BBC Top Gear Experience ride.

dndimg alt="The Stig" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bullring characters The Stig.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Leonardo from Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles was at the Bullring during March 2016 ahead of the relase of Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Out of the Shadows, the second of the reboot movies. For me the cartoon I remember is the one that started in 1987 (on the BBC they called it Teenage Mutant Hero Turtles). Then there was the TMNT Trilogy released from 1990 to 1993 (Jim Henson Creature Workshop did the first two films). Later a CGI animated movie in 2007. The reboot movie series started in 2014, but the 2016 sequel was the last one of these (I believe the film makers are rebooting the series again). Has been other cartoons, as well as comic books.

dndimg alt="TMNT" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bullring characters Leonardo TMNT.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Mailbox

Another Optimus Prime from Transformers was seen at the top of the steps of The Mailbox during August 2013, but in transformed mode. This was before the redevelopment of The Mailbox. More likely to be a security guard here now than a Transformer!

dndimg alt="Optimus Prime" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Mailbox Optimus Prime.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Great Charles Street Queensway

One of my earliest Birmingham City Centre Floral Trail photos was taken during September 2009 of Wallace & Gromit on Great Charles Street Queensway (above the entrance to the Queensway tunnel). There has been four short films released between 1989 and 2008 (usually shown on the BBC). A feature film was released in 2005. There has been other TV series featuring the characters as well as adverts, comics and video games.

dndimg alt="Wallace & Gromit" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Wallace and Gromit Floral Trail 2009.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Mell Square, Solihull

Seen collecting for charity outside of a Game shop in Mell Square, Solihull during April 2017 was Captain America. In the MCU movies, Cap / Steve Rogers has been in the Captain America Trilogy (2011 - 2016). The four Avengers movies (2012 - 2019). As well as cameos in some of the other movies.

dndimg alt="Captain America" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Captain America Mell Square Solihull.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

MCM Birmingham Comic Con at The NEC

The highlight of the follow photos were taken at the MCM Birmingham Comic Con I went to in November 2016 at the Birmingham NEC. It was the only one I went to (not counting the Destination Star Trek conventions I went to). A lot of fans in cosplay.

Bishop from Aliens (1986). Was also other fan recreations of creatures from Aliens here and a powerloader. Bishop was also in Alien 3 (1992) but in a much worse state. Was also a Bishop II in Alien 3 as well as Charles Bishop Wayland in AVP: Alien vs Predator (2004). And a Karl Bishop Wayland in the 2010 video game Aliens vs Predator.

dndimg alt="Bishop" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/NEC MCM BCC 2016 characters Bishop.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Stay Puft Marshmallow Man from Ghostbusters (1984). There was also a version in the 2016 female Ghostbusters reboot movie. And he was also in the 2009 Ghostbusters: The Video Game. Also appeared in The Real Ghostbusters cartoon of the 1980s.

dndimg alt="Stay Puft Marshmallow Man" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/NEC MCM BCC 2016 characters Stay Puft Marshmallow Man.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Stig from Top Gear, this time a man in the racing driver outfit.

dndimg alt="The Stig" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/NEC MCM BCC 2016 characters The Stig.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2016 was the year of the movie Captain America: Civil War, so here a pair of cosplayers outside of The NEC were recreating the fight between Captain America and Iron Man!

dndimg alt="Captain America Civil War" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/NEC MCM BCC 2016 characters Captain America Civil War.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

About a month after I saw Christopher Lloyd at The NEC (during Destination Star Trek Europe), this man was dressed as Doc Brown selling autographs near the Delorean and other memorabilia from Back to the Future. The Doc was in the Back to the Future Trilogy (1985 - 1990). As well as Back to the Future: The Ride, Back to the Future: The Animated Series and Back to the Future: The Game.

dndimg alt="Doc Brown" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/NEC MCM BCC 2016 characters Doc Brown.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Deadpool on a break. "Wisecracks return in 10 minutes". The first movie Deadpool (that wasn't right) was in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009). We later got him in two proper Deadpool movies (released in 2016 and 2018). Whether he'll show up in an MCU movie in the future is unknown, or if they will still be R rated (15 here).

dndimg alt="Deadpool" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/NEC MCM BCC 2016 characters Deadpool.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

A variant of a Spider-Man costume near the steps outside of the hall. Spider-Man has appeared in many movies, including the Spider-Man Trilogy (2002 - 2007), the pair of Amazing Spider-Man movies (2012 - 2014). He later joined the MCU in 2016, and has made about 5 appearances in that (including two solo movies in 2017 and 2019 and in two Avengers movies in 2018 and 2019). Also in various cartoons and video games. Including the 2018 PS4 Spider-Man game. In 2018 was also Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse (which was an animated CGI movie).

dndimg alt="Spider-Man" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/NEC MCM BCC 2016 characters SpiderMan.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Floozie in the Jacuzzi in Victoria Square over the years

The Floozie in the Jacuzzi is a bronze statue / fountain in Victoria Square, in front of the Council House. River and Youth by Dhruva Mistry was made in 1993 for the refurbished Victoria Square as opened by the late Princess Diana. The fountain used to flow, but for many years there has been a leak. Now plants.

Floozie in the Jacuzzi - it's official name is The River. The bronze statue at the top of Victoria Square. Youth is the pair of statues at the bottom of the square. Here we are looking at the statue at the top. The River is a 1.75-tonne bronze statue of a woman. Unveiled in 1993, the water fountain was working until the first leak was discovered in 2008. This was repaired in 2010 and it was turned on again, but another leak was found in 2013, and turned off again. In 2015 soil and bedding plants were filled in. But it is now possible that the Council has found funds to repair the leak and get the water flowing again, probably in 2020 (10 years after the last repair).

One of my first photos of the Floozie was taken during April 2009 (when I started taking photos around Birmingham). The pool was dry due to the leak the year before (2008 see above). A big screen was also in Victoria Square at the time (I think it survived until 2012, but was removed for good in 2013).

dndimg alt="Floozie 2009" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie in the Jacuzzi (April 2009).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

May 2009 and still dry, only wet patches from the rain. Looking towards the Town Hall and Alpha Tower, with the statue of Queen Victoria to the right. At the time was a temporary display behind about "How much labelling do we need?". Looked like giant chicken packets.

dndimg alt="Floozie 2009" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie in the Jacuzzi (May 2009).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

By November 2009, the Birmingham Frankfurt Christmas Market was being set up in the square. The Council was getting ready for Christmas, at the same time was around the Remembrance commemorations that are annual every November. The Floozie was still dry.

dndimg alt="Floozie 2009" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie in the Jacuzzi (Nov 2009).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The leak was repaired in 2010, and the fountain switched back on! So the water jets sprouting out of the bronze Floozie statue. Behind is the Town Hall, Alpha Tower and Council House. Birmingham Central Library in Chamberlain Square was still open (until the new library opened in 2013). Hopefully the Floozie will look like this again in 2020? Except 1 and 2 Chamberlain Square will be behind to the right.

dndimg alt="Floozie 2010" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie in the Jacuzzi (Nov 2010).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Lit up at night during late December 2010 (a day before New Years Eve). The colourful lights had been added along with the 2010 leak repairs. A Christmas tree at the bottom of the square close to the top of New Street. Also the big screen was showing the London 2012 logo.

dndimg alt="Floozie 2010" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie in the Jacuzzi (Dec 2010).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Was trying to do one shot from different months, but this view below from the same evening as the previous photo. The view towards the Town Hall and Alpha Tower. The colourful lights kept changing. I think the fountain had been turned off again.

dndimg alt="Floozie 2010" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie in the Jacuzzi (Dec 2010) view 2.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

A few years later and it is now January 2013. And during a heavy snowfall. The fountain was on at this time, but the Floozie was freezing and covered in snow and ice! The next leak was discovered in 2013 and the Council once again switched the fountain off here. This would be the last time that I saw the Floozie with the fountain working (until they fix it in 2020?).

dndimg alt="Floozie 2013" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie Victoria Square snow Jan 2013.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Floozie wearing a pink bra. For Ladies Fighting Breast Cancer. Seen during November 2014. The Birmingham Central Library behind was now closed, and would be demolished from December 2015.

dndimg alt="Floozie 2014" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie pink bra (Nov 2014).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Since the Council couldn't get funds to fix the fountain, they put soil and plants in. Seen here with the Floozie in July 2015. It's been like this now for over 4 years.

dndimg alt="Floozie 2015" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie plant garden (July 2015).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Victoria Square was dressed up for the closing ceremony of the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games in Australia. The Floozie had an outfit on during April 2018. And they would broadcast live from Birmingham to the Gold Coast. This was before that went out on TV, a few days before when I saw her like this.

dndimg alt="Floozie Commonwealth Games 2018" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie Commonwealth Games 2022 (April 2018) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

About a week later (still April 2018) was the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games 2018 home coming. Team England celebrated winning their medals in Victoria Sqauare. The Floozie had the same colourful wig on. While the event also looked forward to Birmingham 2022. She also had a gold medal around her neck and brush on her. The view between the Town Hall and Council House was now the Library of Birmingham and One Chamberlain Square (since then Two Chamberlain Square has blocked the view of the new Library).

dndimg alt="Floozie Commonwealth Games 2018" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie Commonwealth Games 2022 (April 2018) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another pink bra seen during October 2018 on the Floozie. Had to take it much further back due to the plants being in the way. As before was the Ladies Breast Cancer awareness campaign.

dndimg alt="Floozie bra 2018" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie pink bra (Oct 2018).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Floozie reading a book in March 2019. Once upon a time in Birmingham Women who dared to Dream. Was installed near the Floozie in the Flower Bed for International Women's Day. (The book has long since gone from Victoria Square).

dndimg alt="Floozie book 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie reading book (March 2019).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Floozie seen with the Knife Angel (by Alfie Bradley) when it was in Victoria Square, Birmingham during May 2019. Backed by the Town Hall. Previously in Coventry, I believe as of September 2019 it is now in Middlesborough. See my post Knife Angel in Coventry and Birmingham for more photo on the Knife Angel.

dndimg alt="Floozie Knife Angel 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Knife Angel Victoria Square Birmingham (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Rugby World Cup 2015 in Birmingham (September 2015)

I can't believe that it has already been 4 years since the Rugby World Cup was held in England in 2015. As the Japan 2019 Rugby World Cup has already got underway. Looking back to September 2015, when a giant rugby ball was in Centenary Square (in front of the Library of Birmingham), and a Fan Zone set up on Eastside Green (now HS2 development land at Curzon Street Station).

Giant Rugby Ball in Centenary Square

The Rugby World Cup 2015 got under way on the 18th September 2015, held in England (it finished on the 31st October 2015). Villa Park was used as a venue in Birmingham. On the day that the new Birmingham New Street Station opened, I headed over the Centenary Square to check out the giant rugby ball.

dndimg alt="Rugby World Cup 2015 Centenary Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rugby World Cup 2015 Birmingham Centenary Square (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

From the period of 2013 to 2017 there was grass in front of the Library of Birmingham, and to the right they place the giant rugby ball.

dndimg alt="Rugby World Cup 2015 Centenary Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rugby World Cup 2015 Birmingham Centenary Square (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

You could use the hashtag #RWC2015 on Twitter. In late September 2015 was the last time that you could see The Big Hoot 2015 in Centenary Square, before the owls were sold off for auction.

dndimg alt="Rugby World Cup 2015 Centenary Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rugby World Cup 2015 Birmingham Centenary Square (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Towards Baskerville House and the Hall of Memory. The now closed Birmingham Central Library had yet to be demolished (that would start in December 2015).

dndimg alt="Rugby World Cup 2015 Centenary Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rugby World Cup 2015 Birmingham Centenary Square (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Fan Zone Birmingham at Eastside Green

The fan zone was being set up around the middle of September 2015. Here you could see it from Eastside City Park.

dndimg alt="Fan Zone Birmingham RWC2015" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rugby World Cup 2015 Fan Zone Birmingham (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Barriers in the way, but you could see some Rugby World Cup 2015 goal posts that fans could play with.

dndimg alt="Fan Zone Birmingham RWC2015" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rugby World Cup 2015 Fan Zone Birmingham (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There was also fun fair rides being set up.

dndimg alt="Fan Zone Birmingham RWC2015" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rugby World Cup 2015 Fan Zone Birmingham (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Best view from the train. This on the day I caught a train from Stechford to the newly reopened Birmingham New Street Station, 4 years ago in September 2015. Passing the old Curzon Street Station in Eastside.

dndimg alt="Fan Zone Birmingham RWC2015" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rugby World Cup 2015 Fan Zone Birmingham (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Masshouse apartment blocks dominates the scene as the England 2015 Rugby goal posts was now full inflated for fans to interact with.

dndimg alt="Fan Zone Birmingham RWC2015" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rugby World Cup 2015 Fan Zone Birmingham (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The fun fair rides seen to the left.

dndimg alt="Fan Zone Birmingham RWC2015" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rugby World Cup 2015 Fan Zone Birmingham (6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Birmingham Snow Hill Station - Livery Street Entrance

I saw signs and banners for the Rugby World Cup 2015 at Birmingham Snow Hill Station during October 2015 (probably near the end of the last World Cup). Didn't really follow the matches, but sounds like England got knocked out in the group stages, and they were the hosts!  These banners seen near the ticket machine, close to the doors of the Livery Street Entrance.

dndimg alt="RWC15 Snow Hill" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Snow Hill Livery St RWC15 (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

RWC15 bunting on both sides of the tunnel to the escalators and stairsto platforms 1, 2 and 3.

dndimg alt="RWC15 Snow Hill" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Snow Hill Livery St RWC15 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Combo of various signs with #RWC2015 and England 2015 at the Livery Street Entrance of Birmingham Snow Hill Station. Always seems like it's just me whenever I used this entrance (guess everyone else is using Colmore Row).

dndimg alt="RWC15 Snow Hill" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Snow Hill Livery St RWC15 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The England 2015 bunting seen in the Livery Street Entrance at platform 1 and 2 at Birmingham Snow Hill Station. Assume that I probably got the train to Snow Hill Station and getting off on platform 1 (at the time - it was 4 years ago). At this stage it's the semi finals with only the southern hemisphere sides remaining (Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Argentina).

dndimg alt="RWC15 Snow Hill" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Snow Hill Livery St RWC15 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The champions was New Zealand. Australia was the runners up.

Matches at Villa Park included on the following dates:

26th September 2015 - South Africa 46-6 Samoa in Pool B.
27th September 2015 - Australia 65-8 Uruguay in Pool A.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

A tour of the Street Art in and around Southside (Spring / Summer 2019)

Most of this street art is by the local street artist Gent48 (and others maybe) created at the time of the B-Side Hip Hop Festival. You can see them on Smallbrook Queensway and Hurst Street. Also some on Pershore Street, and I found one piece on Dean Street (off Upper Dean Street back of the Travelodge).

Smallbrook Queensway

July 2019

Gent48 - a sitting man with a skull between his legs.

dndimg alt="Smallbrook Queensway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Smallbrook Queensway street art (July 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Gent48 - at the former Banana Leat - Chinese dragon, a goldfish and Chinese lanterns.

dndimg alt="Smallbrook Queensway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Smallbrook Queensway street art (July 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

August 2019

Round the corner at Holloway Circus. A panda with bamboo by Gent48.

dndimg alt="Smallbrook Queensway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Smallbrook Queensway street art (August 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

No name on this one but assume by Gent48 - a blue man with green cap.

dndimg alt="Smallbrook Queensway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Smallbrook Queensway street art (August 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another Gent48 (probably). At the former Chicken Box - Winner! Winner! Chicken Dinner!

dndimg alt="Smallbrook Queensway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Smallbrook Queensway street art (August 2019) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Corner of Hurst Street and Smallbrook Queensway. Love. Possibly by Gent48 or someone else. I did see a stage being set up mid week but didn't go down to investigate it (headed to the Bullring).

dndimg alt="Smallbrook Queensway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Smallbrook Queensway street art (August 2019) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Hurst Street

May 2019

These pieces under the Ringway Centre close to Smallbrook Queensway. Artists including Gent48 and others.

dndimg alt="Hurst Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hurst Street HiViz street art (May 2019) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This colourful piece on the right side of Hurst Street from the Smallbrook Queensway end.

dndimg alt="Hurst Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hurst Street HiViz street art (May 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Birmingham The Bronx - Another NY Classic - artists here include: Goldie, Flake, Zed, Marlyn and Aaron.

dndimg alt="Hurst Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hurst Street HiViz street art (May 2019) (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This piece just off Hurst Street next to Dixy Chicken in an alley. Artists include: Gent, Zooki and Panda.

dndimg alt="Hurst Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hurst Street HiViz street art (May 2019) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Dean Street

August 2019

I got off a bus on Upper Dean Street and crossed over and saw this piece on Dean Street. Another Gent48. The rear of the Travelodge hotel. And not far from the future Smithfield site (current Wholesale Market demolition site). A purple man with hands on his face and cactuses.

dndimg alt="Dean Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/B-Side Hip Hop Festival Dean Street (August 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Pershore Street

August 2019

These pieces mostly by Gent48 and others were for the B-Side Hip Hop Festival and are round the back of The Arcadian.

dndimg alt="Pershore Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/B-Side Hip Hop Festival Pershore Street (August 2019) Gent48 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This one looks like a zombie baseball player.

dndimg alt="Pershore Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/B-Side Hip Hop Festival Pershore Street (August 2019) Gent48 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

On the side in this private car park.

dndimg alt="Pershore Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/B-Side Hip Hop Festival Pershore Street (August 2019) Gent48 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Southside Cinema: The Screen on the Green

For the August Bank Holiday weekend. Southside put up a screen to show movies on Hurst Street. They had astro turf up on Ladywell Walk and Hurst Street. Not just showing films, but the news and sport as well. A very hot weekend to end the summer in Birmingham! When I went past a BBC News report was on about the hot weather! Was also a screen at The Mailbox this summer.

Ladywell Walk

I popped along on the August Bank Holiday Monday, 26th August 2019 to see if the Southside Cinema was still there. Organised by Enjoy Southside. Southside BID plans to name this square Hippodrome Square and one day install a Chinese Arch on Ladywell Walk.

dndimg alt="Southside Cinema" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Southside Cinema (August 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The green on Ladywell Walk. No screen on this section. A Steven Knight look-a-like (creator of Peaky Blinders) went past me.

dndimg alt="Southside Cinema" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Southside Cinema (August 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Southside Cinema" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Southside Cinema (August 2019) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Hurst Street

The cinema is on Hurst Street. With the Elonex screen and striped deckchairs. A hot weekend for people to enjoy movies in the sunshine, or BBC News.

dndimg alt="Southside Cinema" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Southside Cinema (August 2019) (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There was a report about the weeekends hot weather, including at beaches and swimming pools.

dndimg alt="Southside Cinema" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Southside Cinema (August 2019) (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Since the 3rd test of the Ashes ended on Sunday where England beat Australia, they were just showing the news.

dndimg alt="" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Southside Cinema (August 2019) (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The back of the screen near Genting Casino.

dndimg alt="Southside Cinema" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Southside Cinema (August 2019) (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Mailbox

I passed through The Mailbox on the 22nd August 2019 and noticed this. Live the Summer at Mailbox.

dndimg alt="Mailbox" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Summer at the Mailbox (August 2019) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

That day they had deckchairs out and were showing the 3rd Ashes test England v Australia, at Headingley in Leeds. England went on to win this test drawing the series 1-1 (loss at Edgbaston, draw at Lords, win at Headingley). 2 more tests to go.

dndimg alt="Mailbox" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Summer at the Mailbox (August 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

St Martin's Square, Bullring

In July 2019 there was a big screen and deckchairs out in St Martin's Square near Selfridges and St Martin's Church. So that people could watch Wimbledon here. On the 7th July 2019 no games, so they had Finding Nemo on, but deckchairs all stacked up.

dndimg alt="Bullring" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Wimbledon at the Bullring (July 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A week later on the 14th July 2019, the deckchairs were out as Tim Henman was on the screeen at Wimbledon.

dndimg alt="Bullring" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Wimbledon at the Bullring (July 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

I don't think this is there now if you head in or out of St Martin's Square. But it was the same kind of set up as in Southside.

dndimg alt="Bullring" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Wimbledon at the Bullring (July 2019) (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

The best of The Big Hoot 2015 and The Big Sleuth 2017

Does anyone miss the public art trails that were around Birmingham and the West Midlands like I do? The Big Hoot was held in the summer of 2015, while The Big Sleuth in the summer of 2017. We haven't had a trail like this in 2 years now. So in this post a look at some of my favourite owl and bear painted sculptures. Wild in Art have these trails around the country and around the world.

There was over 100 owls and bears from each trail, so I'm not going to post all of them here. But you can follow the links to my Flickr albums for all my photos, including the little owls and bears.

The Big Hoot Birmingham 2015

The Big Sleuth Birmingham 2017

Comparing an owl and bear from approximately the same location, but two years apart.

Victoria Square

Alf the Penguin Owl was near the bottom of Victoria Square in front of the planted garden that now surrounds the Floozie in the Jacuzzi. The artist was Deven Bhurke and the sponsor was The National SEA LIFE Centre. During the trail a lot of these owls got vandalised, so when I saw this one part of the mask was lying on the plinth (they kept having to repair them). July 2015.

dndimg alt="Alf owl" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Big Hoot Victoria Square Alf the Penguin Owl (July 2015).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

In July 2017 the Spock bear was near the top of Victoria Square. The artists were Maria Shrigley and Patricia Shrigley and the sponsor was Greater Birmingham Chamber of Commerce. Based on Spock from the Star Trek Franchise, originally played by the late Leonard Nimoy. As Spock appeared in Star Trek: The Original Series from 1966 - 1969 (Nimoy returned for the first six movies from 1979 to 1991). There has been new versions of Spock in the Star Trek Kelvin timeline movies (2009 - 2016) and more recently in season 2 of Star Trek: Discovery (2019).

dndimg alt="Spock bear" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Big Sleuth Victoria Square Spock (July 2017).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Birmingham Cathedral (St Philip's Cathedral)

There was many owls around the grounds of St Philip's in July 2015. One of them was called Clash by the artist Damien Jeffery. The sponsor was KPMG.

dndimg alt="Clash St Philip's" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Big Hoot St Philips Cathedral Clash (July 2015).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

As with 2 years before, there was loads of bears to be found around Birmingham Cathedral. Seen in July 2017 was Sweet William by the artist Caroline Jariwala: Mango Mosaics. The sponsor was LDC.

dndimg alt="Sweet William at Birmingham Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Big Sleuth Birmingham Cathedral Sweet William (July 2017).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

New Street

Ozzy Osbourne had his very own owl. Seen during July 2015 was Ozzy's Owl by the artists Ozzy Osbourne and Graham Frank Wright. The sponsor was Retail Birmingham. It was close to the Midland Metro extension to New Street Station. Paving at the circle near the Corporation Street junction with Stephenson Place was being done at the time.

dndimg alt="Ozzy's Owl New Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Big Hoot New Street Ozzys Owl (July 2015).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Two years later in July 2017 you could find the bear based on William Shakespeare. Shakesbear was by the artist Donna Newman. The sponsor was Vodafone. Based on William Shakespeare, the Bard from Stratford-upon-Avon (1564-1616). By this point the Midland Metro line to Grand Central Tram Stop was up and running.

dndimg alt="Shakesbear New Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/New Street The Big Sleuth Shakesbear (July 2017).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

St Paul's Square, Jewellery Quarter

Heading over to the Jewellery Quarter, seen near St Paul's Church in St Paul's Square during July 2015 was Bejewelled Owl by the artist Claire Scully. The sponsor was Jewellery Quarter BID. In the middle of lavender.

dndimg alt="Bejewelled Owl St Paul's Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Big Hoot St Pauls Square Bejewelled Owl (July 2015).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Two years later in July 2017, the bear here was called Peabody by the artist Tory Allen. The sponsor was again Jewellery Quarter BID. Again surrounded by the lavender that is there each summer.

dndimg alt="Peabody St Paul's Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Peabody The Big Sleuth St Pauls Square (July 2017).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Golden Square, Jewellery Quarter

While The Jewellery Quarter Festival was on during July 2015, I saw Jewellery Owl in Golden Square. The artist was Sue Guthrie. The sponsor was Birmingham City University.

dndimg alt="Jewellery Owl Golden Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Big Hoot Golden Square Jewellery Owl (July 2015).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Two years later in July 2017 was Gummy Bear by the artist Deven Bhurke. The sponsor was Jewellery Quarter BID.

dndimg alt="Gummy Bear Golden Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Gummy Bear The Big Sleuth Golden Square (July 2017).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

The Hyatt Hotel over the last decade

I've taken various photos over the years of the Hyatt Hotel either from Broad Street / Centenary Square or Gas Street Basin. Can also see it on the skyline from certain parts of the city. I again missed the sky high visit, but I'm always going up the Library of Birmingham for views, and they can get a bit boring taking the same views again and again. I've never been inside.

The Hyatt Hotel was built in the late 1980s opening in 1990. Located at 2 Bridge Street in Birmingham next to Broad Street. A link bridge was built connecting the hotel to The ICC and Symphony Hall (you usually see politicians using it when party conferences are in town).

This view of the Hyatt taken from Broad Street near Centenary Square during April 2009. The House of Sport was still in the former Register Office building to the left (demolished in 2015).

dndimg alt="Hyatt Hotel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hyatt Hotel Centenary Square (April 2009).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This Gas Street Basin view of the Hyatt Hotel from taken during May 2010. Probably from the footbridge over Worcester Bar.

dndimg alt="Hyatt Hotel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hyatt Hotel Centenary Square (Feb 2010).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This view taken in June 2010 from Gas Street Basin. The crane from when the Library of Birmingham was first getting built.

dndimg alt="Hyatt Hotel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hyatt Hotel Centenary Square (June 2010).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Skipping to September 2013 and when the new Library of Birmingham was first opened. This view from the Secret Garden. Arena Central had yet to start, and the redevelopment of Centenary Square was about 4 years away.

dndimg alt="Hyatt Hotel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hyatt Hotel Centenary Square (Sept 2013).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

By May 2016 the hotel had a new name: Hyatt Regency Birmingham. Again the view from the Secret Garden at the Library of Birmingham.

dndimg alt="Hyatt Hotel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hyatt Hotel Centenary Square (May 2016).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

More recently in July 2019 from Centenary Square when the reflective pool had opened. Giving a reflection of the Hyatt and other buildings.

dndimg alt="Hyatt Hotel" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hyatt Hotel Centenary Square (July 2019).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

View of the Hyatt Regency Birmingham with Arena Central from Gas Street Basin during August 2019. Including 1 Centenary Square (HSBC UK), 3 Arena Central and Holiday Inn Express. The footbridge at Worcester Bar always has nice views of the changes. Not forgetting the Alpha Tower. 

dndimg alt="Hyatt Gas Street Basin " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hyatt Hotel (August 2019) Gas Street Basin.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Hyatt Regency Birmingham sign seen from the corner of Bridge Street and Broad Street during June 2009.

dndimg alt="Hyatt sign" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hyatt Regency Birmingham (sign June 2009).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The old Hyatt sign up top seen during December 2009.

dndimg alt="Hyatt sign" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hyatt Regency Birmingham (sign Dec 2009).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The new Hyatt Regency sign seen during May 2016. Now saying Hyatt Regency.

dndimg alt="Hyatt sign" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hyatt Regency Birmingham (sign May 2016).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

In December 2016 saw some workmen over the side of the Hyatt Regency I assume servicing the sign (or cleaning windows?). It's a long way up there!

dndimg alt="Hyatt sign" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hyatt Regency Birmingham (sign Dec 2016).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The main entrance to the Hyatt Regency Birmingham Hotel from Bridge Street seen during August 2019. Politicians and celebrities alike would arrive here. Also sports stars. 

dndimg alt="Hyatt Bridge Street entrance " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hyatt Hotel (August 2019) Bridge Street.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Late September 2018 from the Library of Birmingham. And preparations were underway for the Conservative Party Conference, which has been held in the city at The ICC and Symphony Hall about every 2 years. The main politicians usually stay in the Hyatt. Viewed from the Discovery Terrace at the Library of Birmingham. The marquees were where the new reflective pools are now.

dndimg alt="Con Conf 2018" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hyatt Regency Birmingham (Conservative Conf Oct 2018) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The area around the Hyatt was ringfenced off with a lot of security at the time. So work on Centenary Square and the West Midlands Metro extension had to stop that week.

dndimg alt="Con Conf 2018" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hyatt Regency Birmingham (Conservative Conf Oct 2018) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

In this February 2014 view from the Edgbaston Reservoir near the Icknield Port Loop, you can see the Library of Birmingham, Alpha Tower and Hyatt Hotel. The NIA / Barclaycard Arena (now Arena Birmingham) is on the left of the picture. Near the Alpha Tower is the Rotunda (on the left). And Three Brindleyplace was visible in front of the Hyatt.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston Reservoir" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/LoB Alpha Tower and Hyatt from Edgbaston Reservoir.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Hyatt is also visible from Tysely Station and the DMU depot of West Midlands Railway. In this skyline view from March 2019 you can see (from left to right): The Cube, The Sentinels (Cleveland tower and Clydesdale Tower), the Hyatt Regency Hotel, Holiday Inn Express (the TETRIS building at Arena Central), Beetham Tower (Radisson Blu Hotel), Alpha Tower, Dandara and the Centre City Tower.

dndimg alt="Tyseley skyline" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham skyline Tyseley (March 2019).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Sports grounds around Birmingham viewed from the Library of Birmingham

While I've missed all of Birmingham We Are's Sky High visits, it's not like I've missed out when I keep going to the Library of Birmingham since it opened in 2013. The best views from the Secret Garden. This post with views of The Hawthorns (WBA), St Andrew's (BCFC), Villa Park (AVFC) and Edgbaston (Warwickshire CCC).

Villa Park: Aston Villa Football Club

This view of Villa Park looking towards Aston was taken from the Secret Garden at the Library of Birmingham during March 2017. On a clear day you can also see the M6.

dndimg alt="Villa Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Villa Park from the Library of Birmingham (March 2017).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Hawthorns: West Bromwich Albion Football Club

This was the first stadium I was able to take from the Library of Birmingham, during January 2017. My notes from the times says I took it from the Discovery Terrace, but I'm thinking now it was more likely from the Secret Garden. There is an area round the back of the Discovery Terrace, but it's only Level 3, compared to the Secret Garden on Level 7. Looking towards West Bromwich in Sandwell.

dndimg alt="The Hawthorns" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Hawthorns from the Library of Birmingham (Jan 2017).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

St Andrew's: Birmingham City Football Club

Located in the Small Heath area of the city, this view beyond the Rotunda was taken from the Secret Garden at the Library of Birmingham during January 2018. That was the area of the city where the Peaky Blinders were based in.

dndimg alt="St Andrew's" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/St Andrews Birmingham City from the Library of Birmingham (Jan 2018).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Edgbaston: Warwickshire County Cricket Club

My first view of Edgbaston Cricket Ground was taken during April 2016 from the Secret Garden at the Library of Birmingham. No games on that day.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Cricket Ground from the Library of Birmingham (April 2016).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

My most recent view of Edgbaston from the Secret Garden was taken in August 2019, when England were playing Australia in the 1st Ashes test. This was on day 3 of 5. Fortress Edgbaston as they called it. But England ended up loosing the Test to Australia. So the Aussies go into the 2nd test at Lords 1-0.

dndimg alt="Edgbaston" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Edgbaston Cricket Ground from the Library of Birmingham (August 2019).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Coventry Evening Telegraph van for the Birmingham Mail

Most of the time I see the Coventry Evening Telegraph van used by the Birmingham Mail at Aston University during the weeks that they have graduations on. Such as in April or July. I once also saw it over at the Tyseley Locomotive Works during an open day I went to. Reg no: H1 CET. Bonus photo at the end of a Birmingham Mail van once spotted in the Austin Village, Northfield.

I first noticed the Coventry Evening Telegraph van for the Birmingham Mail at Aston University during July 2017. That week was the graduation week, where they put up a marquee on the lawn, and have Johnsons coaches to take graduates and their families to Birmingham Town Hall.

dndimg alt="CET Birmingham Mail van" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Coventry Evening Telegraph Birmingham Mail Aston University (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Graduates can get a copy of the paper and their name in the Birmingham Mail of the list of Aston University graduates. This was also July 2017.

dndimg alt="CET Birmingham Mail van" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Coventry Evening Telegraph Birmingham Mail Aston University (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

In the years since, keep seeing it on campus, and kept resisting taking more photos of it. Took a new photo of it during the July 2019 graduation week. On the hottest July day of the year so far! Was hitting 33°C as I went through the campus.

dndimg alt="CET Birmingham Mail van" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Coventry Evening Telegraph Birmingham Mail Aston University (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

I've also see it at the Tyseley Locomotive Works. This was during the September 2018 open day, when Vintage Trains was celebrating 50 years of the museum and works being open. Here the Birmingham Mail were giving out goody bags.

dndimg alt="CET Birmingham Mail van" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Coventry Evening Telegraph Birmingham Mail Tyseley Locomotive Works.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Bonus photo taken during April 2012 in the Austin Village near Northfield. When I saw this old The Birmingham Mail van. For G. & H. Purcell Newsagents & Tobacconists. Licence plate no: HPG 98.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Mail van in the Austin Village" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Mail van Austin Village.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

The Shire Country Park from the Stratford Road to Scribers Lane in Hall Green / Yardley Wood

This hidden parkland with walking paths is between Hall Green and Yardley Wood. Named after JRR Tolkien's The Shire from The Hobbit. The route takes you past Sarehole Mill. Then eventually through The Dingles and Trittiford Mill Pool. You don't have to do it all in one go. Even good for winter walks. Plenty of wildlife around too!

Greet Mill Meadows

The River Cole with it's waterfall seen in the Greet Mill Meadows section of the Shire Country Park during April 2009. Seen from the road bridge. This is on the no 6 bus route, also the no 1 and now 1A passes over this part of the Stratford Road. The Millstream Way heads along the River Cole towards Sarehole Mill.

dndimg alt="River Cole Greet Mill Meadows" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/River Cole Greet Mill Meadow Shire Country Park.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The flooded ford of the River Cole that crosses Green Road in Hall Green. Seen during March 2018. There is a footbridge for pedestrians. Cars though have to drive through the river. When flooded, they sometimes get stuck here! This is between the Greet Mill Meadows and the Sarehole Mill Recreation Ground.

dndimg alt="Green Road flooded ford" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Green Road Hall Green flooded ford.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Sarehole Mill Recreation Ground

This view of the Sarehole Mill Recreation Ground during March 2018 with new gravel footpath. The path leads towards Green Road and the flooded ford. The other direction leads to Sarehole Mill and Cole Bank Road (on the 11A / 11C and no 5 bus routes). On the Moseley / Hall Green border.

dndimg alt="Sarehole Mill Recreation Ground" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Sarehole Mill Recreation Ground.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

John Morris Jones Walkway

Seen during January 2011 from the Brook Lane end, this path leads towards the Cole Bank Road in Hall Green. That winter I found the path too muddy, so I didn't walk all the way. Usually better along here during the spring and summer months. It follows the path of the River Cole.

dndimg alt="John Morris Jones Walkway" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/John Morris Jones Walkway.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Dingles

This section of the Shire Country Park goes from Brook Lane towards Highfield Road on the Hall Green / Yardley Wood border. Seen here during a sunny March 2012. The River Cole and the Chinn Brook both flow through this area. When you get to Highfield Road, you have a choice: either head through the Chinn Brook Recreation Ground, or go around the Trittiford Mill Pool.

dndimg alt="The Dingles" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Dingles Shire Country Park.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Trittiford Mill Pool

The perfect place for a Christmas Day morning was was the Trittiford Mill Pool. Near Highfield Road and Priory Road in Yardley Wood. This was on the 25th December 2013. You can walk all the way around the lake, going past the River Cole. Many bird species to see. The usual gulls, swans, geese, ducks etc. The footpath was resurfaced in 2016. I even popped along when there was snow here during December 2017 (looked quite wintery).

dndimg alt="Trittiford Mill Pool" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Trittiford Mill Pool Shire Country Park.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Scribers Lane

Beyond the Trittiford Mill Pool is Scribers Lane. This section seen during a walk in May 2016. Scribers Lane starts at the end of the Mill Pool, then heads towards Slade Lane alongside the River Cole. Beyond is more parkland that follows the Shakespeare line south of Yardley Wood Station, but I'm not sure if you can walk through the overgrowth, but it leads to Colebrook Road over in Solihull.

dndimg alt="Scribers Lane, Shire Country Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Scribers Lane Shire Country Park.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

BRUM! at the Cotswold Motoring Museum in Bourton-on-the-Water, Gloucestershire

Do you remember watching BRUM! back in the 1990s (if you were a kid back then like I was). The little car BRUM! travelled in the episodes from the Cotswold Motoring Museum in Bourton-in-the-Water in Gloucestershire towards the Big Town (aka Birmingham). You would see Centenary Square and Brindleyplace as they were in the '90s! I went to Bourton back in August 2014.

Back in August 2014, had a day out in Bourton-on-the-Water in Gloucestershire, and that including a must see visit to the Cotswold Motoring Museum, the home of Brum!

BRUM is seen inside the museum where he starts his journey in each episode heading to the Big Town! (as in Birmingham). Eyes lit up.

dndimg alt="BRUM!" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BRUM Cotswold Motoring Museum (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

He got up to many advetures in the Big Town. Objects may end up inside him!

dndimg alt="BRUM!" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BRUM Cotswold Motoring Museum (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

They had a clip of the title sequence on the TV behind BRUM.

dndimg alt="BRUM!" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BRUM Cotswold Motoring Museum (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Getting BRUM from many angles. There was other full size cars in here too.

dndimg alt="BRUM!" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BRUM Cotswold Motoring Museum (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

BRUM from the back.

dndimg alt="BRUM!" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BRUM Cotswold Motoring Museum (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The museum from the outside. This view might be familiar to viewers of BRUM!. The bridge that BRUM! drives over in the title sequence. The view of the museum and bridge with the River Windrush. The bridge is Grade II listed and dates from the 18th century.

dndimg alt="Cotswold Motoring Museum" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Cotswold Motoring Museum Bourton on the Water (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Closer up to the Motor Museum from the bridge on the River Windrush.. At the time was various classic cars outside including some Mini's.

dndimg alt="Cotswold Motoring Museum" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Cotswold Motoring Museum Bourton on the Water (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

"Home of Brum". This sign confirms that I was at the right place. Areas of the museum include "Car Heaven", "Memory Lane" and a "Toy Collection".

dndimg alt="Cotswold Motoring Museum" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Cotswold Motoring Museum Bourton on the Water (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

In the show, BRUM would driver out of the museum this way, then cross the bridge to the right on the way to the Big Town (Birmingham). More of those classic cars on display back in August 2014.

dndimg alt="Cotswold Motoring Museum" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Cotswold Motoring Museum Bourton on the Water (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This balloon outside celebrating BRUM being on TV for 20 years. BRUM was first shown on CBBC in 1991 in it's original run. There was 5 series between 1991 and 2002 (not every year). It's now 28 years since BRUM first started on the BBC. It was developed by Ragdoll Productions. The museum owner Mike Cavanagh the real life museum owner was a character in the show (usually at the beginning and end of the show). He owned the museum until 1999.

dndimg alt="BRUM balloon" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Cotswold Motoring Museum Bourton on the Water (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Fountains around Birmingham (past and present)

There has been many fountains and water jets in the City Centre. Not all are still on or working. With the new one in Centenary Square going on. Time to look at other Birmingham fountains. When they were working (some of them are now off for a variety of reasons). Some got replaced and others went into storage.

Centenary Square

The new Centenary Square was officially opened on the 3rd July 2019, along with a big area with water jet fountains. Which people can walk into or have fun in. I popped along on Sunday 7th July 2019 to see what all the fuss was about! Along with the new lighting columns, the various buildings are reflected in the water.

This view: Symphony Hall, The ICC, The REP and Library of Birmingham.

dndimg alt="Water jet fountains Centenary Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Water jet fountains Centenary Square (July 2019) (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This view of The REP, Library of Birmingham, Baskerville House and the Hall of Memory towards Paradise Birmingham.

dndimg alt="Water jet fountains Centenary Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Water jet fountains Centenary Square (July 2019) (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This isn't the first time a water jet fountain has been in the square. From about 1991 to 2009, the Spirit of Enterprise fountain by Tom Lomax. Seen below during April 2009. It was removed to storage and is still at the Birmingham Museums Collections Centre. Unlikely to ever return, which is sad.

dndimg alt="Spirit of Enterprise (April 2009)" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Spirit of Enterprise Centenary Square 2009 (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

It was such a nice fountain. This view towards Symphony Hall and The REP. This is now the site of the Library of Birmingham Amphitheatre. I believe there used to be another fountain in the gardens that preceded the 1991 Centenary Square, but not sure what happened to that. It didn't end up in the Peace Garden like the Colonnade did.

dndimg alt="Spirit of Enterprise" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Spirit of Enterprise Centenary Square 2009 (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Victoria Square

The remodelling of Victoria Square which was opened in May 1993 by the late Diana Princess of Wales included the bronze sculpture everyone knows as the Floozie in the Jacuzzi. But officially called River and Youth. They were made by Dhruva Mistry. Seen in November 2010 in one of the periods when the Council got the fountain working. This view looking up to the Council House.

dndimg alt="Floozie fountain Victoria Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie fountain Victoria Square Council House (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

But in recent years, there has been a leak that they have been unable to repair. So by 2015, the Council had plants and flowers put here instead. This view towards Chamberlain Square when Birmingham Central Library still stood (closed in 2013, demolished in 2016).

dndimg alt="Floozie fountain Victoria Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie fountain Victoria Square Council House (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Chamberlain Square

The Chamberlain Memorial in Chamberlain Square also has it's own fountain. Seen below during April 2009, when Birmingham Central Library and Paradise Forum were still open. In the late 1960s, the pools around the fountain were removed, but in 1978, to celebrate their Diamond Jubilee, The Birmingham Civic Society designed and paid for the pools to be reinstated. The Portland stone spire underwent a major clean in 1994. Expect the area to change when Paradise Birmingham eventually reopens the square in the future.

dndimg alt="Chamberlain Memorial" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chamberlain Memorial Chamberlain Square (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Close up of the pool in front of the Chamberlain Memorial with the small water jet fountain (this was also April 2009). Lets hope that this is opened up again sooner rather than later (at this rate the early to mid 2020s?).

dndimg alt="Chamberlain Memorial water jet fountain" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chamberlain Memorial water jet fountain pool (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Close up taken during February 2010. Obviously the original pools before the 1960s redevelopment was much bigger, and this replacement was much smaller. Will Paradise Birmingham have room to have the Chamberlain Memorial back to it's 1880s glory? Only time will tell.

dndimg alt="Chamberlain Memorial water jet fountain" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chamberlain Memorial water jet fountain pool (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Brindleyplace

The water jet fountains seen in Central Square, Brindleyplace back in May 2009. Near Three and Two Brindleyplace. You can walk down the steps towards the Central Cafe (Costa Coffee). This fountain is still on, and regularly maintained by the Brindleyplace Estate.

dndimg alt="Water jet fountains Central Square Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Water jet fountains Central Square Brindleyplace (May 2009) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

This view towards Two Brindleyplace and Six Brindleyplace with Costa Coffee to the right. It is still like this over 10 years later.

dndimg alt="Water jet fountains Central Square Brindleyplace" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Water jet fountains Central Square Brindleyplace (May 2009) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Bullring

There used to be a Three Cubes fountain sculpture in the Bullring from about 2003 (when the Bullring reopened) until about early 2011 (before the Spiceal Street redevelopment took over this part of the Bullring). This view from April 2009, looking towards Borders and Starbucks Coffee (both no longer there, but there is now a Starbucks further around to the right).

dndimg alt="Three Cubes Bullring" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Three Cubes fountain Bullring (April 2009).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

By December 2010, got this nightshot of the Three Cubes. Borders had been replaced by Jamie's Italian (they have recently closed down due to Jamie's Italian going into administration). The Spiceal Street redevelopment resulted in a new fountain near the new steps.

dndimg alt="Three Cubes Bullring" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Three Cubes fountain Bullring (December 2010).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The Three Cubes was replaced by this artwork when the new Spiceal Street development opened in late 2011. Seen here in August 2013. Heading up the step from St Martin's Square towards the statue of Horatio Nelson. Quotes here include "Warms the walls of our city. And will do again".

dndimg alt="Bullring Spiceal Street fountain" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bullring Spiceal Street Brummie quotes fountain (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading up the steps during July 2019. The water trickling down the wall is a bit more clear here. More quotes include "Thrums to a different beat beneath our feet".

dndimg alt="Bullring Spiceal Street fountain" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bullring Spiceal Street Brummie quotes fountain (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Eastside

Another lost fountain. This one was near Millennium Point in Eastside close to Jennens Road. I would say that it was probably built in 2001 when Millennium Point was went up. These views from September 2009. Years later it was switched off. And the site was later used to build the new Birmingham Conservatoire for BCU (now the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire).

dndimg alt="Millennium Point fountain near Jennens Road" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Millennium Point fountain Jennens Road (September 2009) (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

It was only a small fountain, but had water jets and a small waterfall. If you go there now you will only see the Conservatoire, and the path leading to the rear entrances of Millennium Point. Aston University is still on the other side of Jennens Road (in 2009 the student residences were still under construction).

dndimg alt="Millennium Point fountain near Jennens Road" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Millennium Point fountain Jennens Road (September 2009) (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Eastside City Park opened in 2012 and it included fountains. Near Millennium Point and the Parkside Building of Birmingham City University was this fountain canal. Seen during April 2013, before it got rusted for the water jets being continually on. The Parkside Building wa under construction at the time.

dndimg alt="Eastside City Park fountain canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Eastside City Park fountain canal (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

In this nightshot view from December 2014, the fountains down here were already showing signs of rust on the white walls. More recently on my walks through the park, and out of Millennium Point, I've noticed that this has been turned off, and no water in the canal.

dndimg alt="Eastside City Park fountain canal" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Eastside City Park fountain canal (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

There was one more fountain in Eastside City Park, on this area near The Woodman pub. This view from June 2013. Used to see kids playing in these jets. But more recently it has been turned off (perhaps when the Big Wheel was here last Christmas). Normally see a group of skateboarders doing tricks around this area.

dndimg alt="Eastside City Park water jet fountains" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Eastside City Park fountain water jets (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

In this April 2014 view you can see the water jets towards The Woodman pub and Curzon Street Station. With the viaduct on the railway lines into Birmingham New Street Station. This was similar to what we now have in Centenary Square, but on a much smaller scale.

dndimg alt="Eastside City Park water jet fountains" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Eastside City Park fountain water jets (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Aston University

We will finish off here with Aston University. I see this one in the lake at Lakeside most days of the week. It's the Peace sculpture by William Pye, made in 1985. This view from May 2009 towards what is now the Matthew Boulton Campus of Birmingham Metropolitan College (formerly Matthew Boulton College). You would usually see Canada geese around this area.

dndimg alt="Aston University fountain" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Aston University fountains (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Near the main building at Aston University is Tipping Triangles by the sculptor Angela Conner. Commissioned in 1987, started to be made in 1989, then unveiled in 1994. Stainless steel. This view from March 2014. I'm not sure if this is fountain or not as I've never seen water coming out of the sculpture, but obviously the pool below has water.

dndimg alt="Aston University fountain" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Aston University fountains (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Closer to the main entrance to Aston University if this fountain / water jets. Looks like flowers spitting water out in every direction! Observed during April 2017. There is a regular water jet behind the two sprouting flower fountains.

dndimg alt="Aston University fountain" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Aston University fountains (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Cricket World Cup 2019 at Edgbaston, Birmingham

There are 5 games at Edgbaston for the Cricket World Cup 2019 here in Birmingham. Banners have gone up in the City Centre, as well as in Edgbaston at the Cricket Ground. Was very sunny and hot when I was back in Birmingham and Edgbaston. Fans can get trains to Birmingham New Street or Moor Street and a bus down to Edgbaston (the 501 on matchdays I think). 10 photos in this gallery.

The Cricket World Cup 2019 is being held in England & Wales from the 30th May to 14th July 2019. The 12th edition of the Cricket World Cup. It is the fifth time the tournament has been held in this country, following the 1975, 1979, 1983 and 1999 World Cups.

Matches at Edgbaston are on the following dates:

19th June 2019: South Africa vs New Zealand.

26th June 2019: New Zealand vs Pakistan.

30th June 2019: England vs India.

2nd July 2019: Bangladesh vs India.

11th July 2019: the 2nd semi final between Qualifier 2 and Qualifier 3.

First 5 photos taken in Birmingham City Centre on the 22nd June 2019.

Leaving the Bullring and heading towards Birmingham New Street Station. This banner on St Martin's Queensway. Directions for fans to the taxis, Birmingham New Street and Birmingham Moor Street.

dndimg alt="Cricket World Cup 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CWC19 Bham City Centre (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Banners on Navigation Street, including the #CWC19 hashtag.

dndimg alt="Cricket World Cup 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CWC19 Bham City Centre (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Looking up Hill Street towards Big Brum, BM & AG and Victoria Square. Banners here include the Cricket World Cup trophy and the #CWC19 hashtag.

dndimg alt="Cricket World Cup 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CWC19 Bham City Centre (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Most of the banners on Navigation Street near Grand Central and Birmingham New Street Station. This view from the top of Brunel Street near Suffolk Street Queensway.

dndimg alt="Cricket World Cup 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CWC19 Bham City Centre (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading down Hill Street with more banners. I then went onto Station Street and caught a no 45 bus to the Pershore Road in Edgbaston. The Crown pub was covered in graffiti (it's been closed down for years).

dndimg alt="Cricket World Cup 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CWC19 Bham City Centre (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Got off the no 45 bus on the Pershore Road. There is many banners lining this road, but is easier to see if you get off the bus. Just a matter of walking up the Edgbaston Road, checking out the Cricket Ground (opposite Cannon Hill Park).

Second bunch of 5 photos on a sunny and warm 22nd June 2019 in Edgbaston. Lets hope the remaining games has this weather, and not get rained off!

The blue Edgbaston Suite has the main ICC Cricket World Cup 2019 banners including the #CWC19 hashtag. Seen from Edgbaston Road.

dndimg alt="Cricket World Cup 2019 Edgbaston" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CWC19 Edgbaston Cricket Ground (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The new stands and the suite were built in 2011. Including the South Stand and the West Stand. On match days I think the road will be closed (I think the 1 and 1A buses maybe able to get through on those days).

dndimg alt="Cricket World Cup 2019 Edgbaston" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CWC19 Edgbaston Cricket Ground (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Eric Hollies Stand near the River Rea. Another #CWC19 hashtag here, well two.

dndimg alt="Cricket World Cup 2019 Edgbaston" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CWC19 Edgbaston Cricket Ground (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A peak into the stands on the other side at the City End. Now called the R.E.S. Wyatt Stand. With the spire of the Church of St Mary and St Ambrose behind.

dndimg alt="Cricket World Cup 2019 Edgbaston" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CWC19 Edgbaston Cricket Ground (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The training ground up Edgbaston Road and Cannon Hill Road is now covered by these banners. Same ones along the car park on the Pershore Road as well.

dndimg alt="Cricket World Cup 2019 Edgbaston" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CWC19 Edgbaston Cricket Ground (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

If you are a regular bus user, then get the 1, 1A, 35, 45, 47, 61 or 63 National Express West Midlands buses to the game. Out of town fans, I expect will probably get the 501, or coaches. It is possible to walk from the City Centre. Or get a taxi.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Birmingham suburban floral trails in previous years

In previous years there was a Floral Trail in Kings Heath. One year they had a display on Longbridge Island. And in Olympic and Paralympic years, they had pieces in Cannon Hill Park. Am not aware of any this summer though! 

You won't find any of these Floral features around the Birmingham suburbs now in 2019. They were there in past years. Kings Heath used to have its own Floral Trail from its BID team. Acocks Green is in Bloom most spring and summers each year. Cannon Hill Park looks lovely with its displays of flowers in the warmer months. Items similar to the former City Centre Floral Trails of past summers. Some had even previously been in the City Centre before! 

Guitars on York Road in Kings Heath during Summer 2012. Was where the Kings Heath Walk of Fame would have been. Cash Convertors was in the building which used to be the Ritz Ballroom. But a fire there in 2013 led to its demolition and a replacement building has yet to be built there. 

dndimg alt="Kings Heath guitars" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Kings Heath Floral Trail Guitars 2012.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Enjoy Kings Heath was in Kings Heath Village Square in the Autumn of 2012. A few years later they moved it to the corner of Howard Road and Alcester Road in 2015. It was still there in 2018.

dndimg alt="Enjoy Kings Heath " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Enjoy Kings Heath Village Square 2012.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Cannon Hill Park has had Olympic and Paralympic inspired pieces during the summers of 2012 (London) and 2016 (Rio). 

Olympic Breeze was in Cannon Hill Park near Edgbaston during the summer of 2012. It won Gold at the RHS Tatton Flower Show in 2012. Inspired by Sir Ben Ainslie. At the time a 4 time Gold medal winner at the Olympics. Seen on a rainy day. 

dndimg alt="Olympic Breeze " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Cannon Hill Park Olympic Breeze Birmingham 2012.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Was a lot of Olympic / Paralympic inspired pieces in Cannon Hill Park during the Summer of 2016. This was called One Small Step. Was Birmingham City Council's entry to the Chelsea Flower Show in 2016. Cofton Nursery had recycled some Wicker pieces from 2012. Including their Usain Bolt sculpture. 

dndimg alt="One Small Step " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/One Small Step Cannon Hill Park 2016.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

During the Summer of 2013 Birmingham was taking part in Entente Florale Europe. At Longbridge Island was this Mini and yellow flowers. Near Bournville College. Was before Austin Park and Longbridge Town Centre opened. 

dndimg alt="Longbridge Island Mini" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Longbridge Island 2013 Mini Entente Florale.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Whistles on the Acocks Green Village Green during 2015. A temporary sculpture, its not there now. But a permanent Acocks Green Village sign is now in the middle. 

dndimg alt="Whistles Acocks Green " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Acocks Green Whistles on the green 2015.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

Birmingham City Centre Floral Trail features in Victoria Square 2010 - 2019

A look at the Birmingham City Centre Floral Trail features in Victoria Square over the years outside of the Council House. From 2010 to 2019. There used to be a Floral Trail in the City Centre every year. Now just the odd piece. Including the Council's Gold winning Chelsea Flower Show displays. 

2010

In 2010 was a Spitfire in front of the Birmingham Council House. It had been on display at the Chelsea Flower Show. 

dndimg alt="Spitfire 2010" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Victoria Square Spitfire floral trail 2010.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2011

In 2011 a Chinook RAF twin bladed helicopter was in front of the Council House. It was from the Council's 2010 Chelsea Flower Show Gold winning display the Road to Recovery. 

dndimg alt="Chinook 2011" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chinook Birmingham Floral Trail 2011 Victoria Square.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2012

Usain Bolt Wicker sculpture from the London 2012 Olympic Games. Jamaica trained that summer at the University of Birmingham. While the USA was at the Alexander Stadium in Perry Barr. 

dndimg alt="Usain Bolt Victoria Square 2012" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Usain Bolt London 2012 Victoria Square Birmingham.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2013

Another Spitfire in 2013,  part of Enlightenment. The rest was in Centenary Square before the Library of Birmingham opened. Was there since Armed Forces Day 2013.

dndimg alt="Enlightenment Spitfire 2013" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Enlightenment Birmingham City Centre Floral Trail Victoria Square 2013.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2014

The 100th anniversary of the start of World War 1 was marked by this display with Trenches and biplanes. It was at the Chelsea Flower Show that year. 

dndimg alt="Trenches Victoria Square 2014" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Trenches WW1 Victoria Square 2014.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2015

While The Big Hoot 2015 was on with painted owl sculptures. Kind of marked the end of the annual floral trail. But they were still putting out displays in the city centre. Again Biplanes and Trenches like the year before. Marking the 2nd year of the First World War 100 years later. 

dndimg alt="Biplanes and Trenches 2015" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Biplanes and Trenches Victoria Square 2015.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2016

Just a flower basket in Victoria Square outside the Council House during 2016. I don't think I saw anything else here that year. Was a trail of painted benches around in 2016 for The Big Read 2016.

dndimg alt="Flower Basket 2016" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Victoria Square flower basket 2016.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2017

Didn't see a Floral feature outside the Council House in 2017. But in May 2017 was this bunch of flowers for the Manchester terror attacks. That was the year of The Big Sleuth 2017 of painted bear sculptures. 

dndimg alt="Flowers for Manchester 2017" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Victoria Square flowers for Manchester 2017.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2018

Was the Empire Windrush in 2018 outside of the Council House in Victoria Square. As usual it won Gold for Birmingham City Council at the Chelsea Flower Show. The train is recycled from previous years Floral Trails. Such as in Centenary Square outside the Library of Birmingham. Another year it was outside of Birmingham Snow Hill Station (2 years in a row I think). 

dndimg alt="Empire Windrush 2018" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Empire Windrush Birmingham Victoria Square 2018.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2019

Not far from the view of the Knife Angel is Floellas Future. It won Gold for the City Council at the Chelsea Flower Show. Supported by Baroness Floella Benjamin. There is a turtle sculpture on here and palm trees. 

dndimg alt="Floellas Future 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floellas Future Victoria Square 2019.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

10 years on Flickr and photos published in the Birmingham Post & Mail

I joined Flickr in June 2009 and have been a member of the Birmingham Post & Mail Flickr group since then. In that time I have had hundreds of photos published in the Birmingham Mail Flickr page. And sometimes in the Birmingham Post! Here a small selection of my photos used in the newspaper! 

To date I have had over 140 photos published in the Birmingham Mail Flickr page over the last 10 years. So here I will show you around 11 of the best (link below to my album on Flickr). In the Birmingham Post it's less frequent so around 20 photos in 10 years! On Flickr I have a Pro account where I have had over 140 million views on my photos! Occasionally some may end up on Flickr Explore. Flickr is now owned by SmugMug and has just moved servers. Former owner was Yahoo! You can add about 5 photos to the Birmingham Post & Mail group on Flickr a day, and one of the groups admins will choose photos to be used in the paper (if they have space). Sometimes photos posted to the group months or years ago maybe chosen!

You can see my album of photos published in the Birmingham Mail here Published in the Birmingham Mail.

2009

My first photo published in the Birmingham Mail was of this June 2009 photo of the Boulton, Watt & Murdoch statue from the back on Broad Street. Used during early July 2009. I actually saw it in the Birmingham Mail Extra (at the time a free newspaper that you got through the door).

dndimg alt="Boulton Watt & Murdoch" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Boulton Watt Murdoch Bham Mail 2009.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

2010

My 7th photo used in the Birmingham Mail Flickr page was of this photo of The Cube taken and then used during July 2010. The year that The Cube opened!

dndimg alt="The Cube" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Cube Bham Mail 2010.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

2011

My 9th photo in the Birmingham Mail. In the first few years it was not as frequent as it is now. The Public was a free arts venue in West Bromwich. I visited during early April 2011 (getting the Midland Metro to West Bromwich Central from Birmingham Snow Hill). It was in the Birmingham Mail Extra in the middle of April 2011.

dndimg alt="The Public West Bromwich" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Public West Bromwich Bham Mail 2011.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

2012

There used to be this shark sculpture above a scuba diving shop (no longer there now) on the Haslucks Green Road in Shirley, Solihull. Taken April 2012. Was used in May 2012 in the Birmingham Mail and was my 12th photo in the paper. Each day a Flickr photo was in the middle of the readers letter page of the paper. This continued for a few years until the admin from the Birmingham Mail Flickr changed. If you go past this shop now, you would just see a blank space!

dndimg alt="Shark burster Shirley" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Shark burster Shirley Bham Mail 2012.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

2013

The first time I got photos of abseilers going down Selfridges was during March 2013. Back then the building wasn't missing any discs. I assume that they were cleaning the discs? But this is a regular occurance now. These days I wonder if they are removing discs or replacing discs (when will the missing discs be replaced?). My 17th photo in the Birmingham Mail (within the letters page) used during April 2013.

dndimg alt="Selfridges disc cleaners " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Selfridges disc cleaners Bham Mail 2013.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

2014

The first Sunday of the month was free entry so visited Blakesley Hall in Yardley at the beginning of August 2014. This was The Little Parlour. Photo number 26, it was in the Birmingham Mail during October 2014, in the readers letters page.

dndimg alt="Blakesley Hall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Blakesley Hall Birmingham Mail 2014.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

2015

Suit of armour drummer seen at Fair Deal Music on Smallbrook Queensway during March 2015. They have since moved to Holloway Head. Was my 33rd photo in the Birmingham Mail (in the readers letters page) during July 2015.

dndimg alt="Suit of armour " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Suit of armour drummer Birmingham Mail 2015.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2016

My visit to Kidderminster during September 2016, and I saw a guitar on the statue of Sir Rowland Hill, near Kidderminster Town Hall. Was photo no 45 in the Birmingham Mail Your Flickr photos page during October 2016.

dndimg alt="Sir Rowland Hill guitar" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Rowland Hill Kiddermister Bham Mail 2016.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2017

The Bear Grill pub sign in Stafford during a visit to the town in March 2017. Was in the Birmingham Mail Your Flickr photos page during April 2017 and was my 55th photo in the paper. It was a replica made in 1972, based on the original from before 1793.  It was carved by Kenneth Thompson. The original bear being over 200 years old, rotted away and smashed to pieces in 1970.

dndimg alt="The Bear Grill Stafford" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/The Bear Grill Stafford Bham Mail 2017.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2018

Kenilworth Station opened at the end of April 2018, and I visited the newly opened station during early May 2018. this was photo no 108 in the Birmingham Mail Your Flickr photos page during late May 2018. At the time they originally had Class 153 single carriage trains from Leamington Spa to Coventry. The line now has Class 172/0 trains from Leamington Spa through to Nuneaton via Coventry!

dndimg alt="Kenilworth Station" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Kenilworth Station Bham Mail 2018.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

2019

Been a bit of a dry spell in the Birmingham Mail Flickr page for me during 2019. But have had some in the page, but not as much as previous years. Tulips seen from the Warwick Road in Acocks Green outside of St Mary the Virgin Church during April 2019. Was photo no 146 in the Birmingham Mail Your Flickr photos page in May 2019.

dndimg alt="Tulips Acocks Green Church" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Tulips Acocks Green Church Bham Mail 2019.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown.

My Flickr is here ell brown.

Birmingham Pride 2019: rainbow signs, balloons and flags etc

I wasn't too interested in getting photos of the crowds during Birmingham Pride 2019 (not a fan of taking photos of people). And didn't want to travel into the City Centre the weekend Pride was on, but during May 2019, there was plenty of rainbow flags, signs and balloons etc around the city centre. Even bus stops were changed! Photos from around the the 4th to the 24th May 2019.

St Martin's Queensway outside of Birmingham New Street Station, on the 4th May 2019.

Multicoloured bus stop NS1 for the 23 and 24 bus routes.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 St Martins Queensway (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Bus stop NS2 on St Martin's Queensway for New Street Station, for the bus routes 61, 63, X20, X21 and X22.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 St Martins Queensway (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The no 47 bus in rainbow colours for Birmingham Pride. 4905. The bus down the Pershore Road. Seen on St Martin's Queensway outside of the Bullring on the 11th May 2019. Be proud of who you are.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 St Martins Queensway (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

The media eye on Birmingham New Street Station facing the Bullring near St Martin's Queensway on the 23rd May 2019. This digital displays keeps changing too quickly!

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 New St Station media eye St Martins Queensway (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

On this view "HSBC UK | Pride: Proud supporters of Birmingham Pride".

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 New St Station media eye St Martins Queensway (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

"Holding Hands".

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 New St Station media eye St Martins Queensway (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Totem pole seen on New Street on the 4th May 2019 in rainbow colours for Birmingham Pride. Towards Victoria Square, also left to Lower Temple Street and right to Temple Street.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 New Street (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Birmingham Pride 2019 banner seen at the top of New Street on the 9th May 2019 from Victoria Square. There was other banners like this further down.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 New Street (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Connecting Communities - this multicoloured rainbow heart seen on a bus stop on Colmore Row near Birmingham Cathedral on the 9th May 2019.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 Colmore Row.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Banners seen outside of Birmingham Snow Hill Station in the Snow Hill Square close to Colmore Row, between 1 and 9 Colmore Row. Directly opposite the Great Western Arcade. Spotted on the 9th May 2019.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 Snow Hill Square Colmore Row.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Birmingham Bullring Bull seen in it's 2019 Pride rainbow outfit on the 24th May 2019. For more Bull outfits follow this link to this post The many outfits of the Birmingham Bullring Bull!.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 Bullring Bull.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading down Smallbrook Queensway towards Hurst Street. Saw this Parcel Force Worldwide van outside of Subway and Herbal King on the 24th May 2019. "Delivering with pride". I've seen Parcel Force Worldwide vans like this before in the city centre (such as around the Steelhouse Conservation Area, on Corporation Street), but this was the first time I managed to get a photo of one of their vans! Apt that it was close to the Gay Village / Quarter!

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 Smallbrook Queensway (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Pair of multicoloured LGBT flags outside of SNOBS on the corner of Smallbrook Queensway and Hurst Street.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 Smallbrook Queensway (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

All photo below taken on Hurst Street on the 24th May 2019, the day before the weekends events. Preparations were well underway as I went past!

Rainbow bunting outside of Glamorous Cabaret Bar.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 Hurst Street (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Rainbow Union Jack flags seen outside of Equator Bar on Hurst Street in the Gay Village.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 Hurst Street (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

"Welcome to Birmingham Pride" banner on Hurst Street. In the distance was The Village Inn.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 Hurst Street (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The Missing Bar with it's own rainbow flags next to the "Welcome to Birmingham Pride" banner.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 Hurst Street (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Southside Hurst Street totem pole in rainbow colours at the Bromsgrove Street junction, near this fish & chips shop.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 Hurst Street (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

At the end of Hurst Street near Sherlock Street I saw this van / float with rainbow flags and balloons.

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 Hurst Street (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

On closer look it was sponsored by Manchester Airport for flights to Los Angeles with Virgin Atlantic! "Take off with Birmingham Pride with Manchester Airport".

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 Hurst Street (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The other side of the van / float on Sherlock Street (bottom end of Hurst Street). Did Birmingham Airport not think to sponsor Birmingham Pride?

dndimg alt="Birmingham Pride 2019" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Birmingham Pride 2019 Hurst Street (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown (over 1000 followers!).

Knife Angel in Coventry and Birmingham

The Knife Angel by Alfie Bradley was in Coventry for around 2 months. During March and April 2019. It was located outside of Coventry Cathedral. It has now moved to Birmingham and is in Victoria Square for the duration of May 2019 until the beginning of June 2019.

The Knife Angel by Alfie Bradley was made out of over 100,000 knives that were handed over in 2015/16. He made it at the British Ironworks Centre in Oswestry and is a memorial to those affected by knife crime. It is 27ft high. In 2018 it began it's tour of the UK outside of Liverpool Cathedral. It has also been shown in Hull.

Knife Angel in Coventry

Seen outside of Coventry Cathedral at the end of March 2019. I got the train down from Birmingham New Street to Coventry to see it. At the time, wasn't aware that it would be moving to Birmingham in May! There was a crowd of people in front of it, so I took these from a distance, close to the Herbert Art Gallery & Museum. On the left is Epstein's sculpture of St.Michael and Lucifer. It was in Coventry from the 14th March to the 7th May 2019.

dndimg alt="Knife Angel Coventry" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Knife Angel Coventry Cathedral (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Zoom in's of the Knife Angel outside of Coventry Cathedral.

dndimg alt="Knife Angel Coventry" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Knife Angel Coventry Cathedral (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It's position in Coventry meant you couldn't fully see the wings behind, but you can in Victoria Square, Birmingham!

dndimg alt="Knife Angel Coventry" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Knife Angel Coventry Cathedral (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There was some kind of event on at the Coventry Cathedral ruins on the 30th March 2019, and I saw all these coaches and buses parked near the cathedral. I'm not sure if they were there for the Knife Angel, for some other event. I think I saw a VIP car parked close to Coventry University as well.

dndimg alt="Coaches and buses at Coventry Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Coaches and buses at Coventry Cathedral.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Knife Angel in Birmingham

The Knife Angel was moved to Victoria Square in Birmingham in front of the the Town Hall during early May 2019. First shown to the public on the 8th May 2019, it will be in Birmingham until at least the 5th June 2019. Details from Birmingham City Council here Birmingham welcomes the Knife Angel as city works to tackle knife crime.

As with Coventry, when I got to Victoria Square, found a crowd of people in front of the Knife Angel. So I took a zoom in from distance. I think it's better to take photos of it from a little bit far away!

dndimg alt="Knife Angel Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Knife Angel Victoria Square Birmingham (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A zoom in of the Knife Angel in front of the Town Hall.

dndimg alt="Knife Angel Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Knife Angel Victoria Square Birmingham (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A comparison of the Knife Angel with the statue of Queen Victoria and the Chamberlain Memorial in Chamberlain Square. Two and One Chamberlain Square to the right as well.

dndimg alt="Knife Angel Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Knife Angel Victoria Square Birmingham (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Looking to Chamberlain Square. The location in Victoria Square, means that you can now see the wings of the Knife Angel from behind (that wasn't possible in Coventry). One Chamberlain Square to the left and the Council House to the right.

dndimg alt="Knife Angel Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Knife Angel Victoria Square Birmingham (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

View of the wings from the right side towards the Council House. Most people viewing the Knife Angel from the front.

dndimg alt="Knife Angel Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Knife Angel Victoria Square Birmingham (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The wings fully from the back of the Knife Angel. Statue of Queen Victoria to the right. Crane for 103 Colmore Row to the left.

dndimg alt="Knife Angel Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Knife Angel Victoria Square Birmingham (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The view from the bottom of the steps of the Knife Angel with the Chamberlain Memorial. Backed by the Town Hall, Two Chamberlain Square and One Chamberlain Square.

dndimg alt="Knife Angel Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Knife Angel Victoria Square Birmingham (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Seen with the Floozie in the Jacuzzi. And can you see Queen Victoria in the Floozie's lap?

dndimg alt="Knife Angel Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Knife Angel Victoria Square Birmingham (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Let's hope that Anthony Gormley's Iron:Man returns soon, although that's unlikely by the time the Knife Angel leaves Birmingham for it's next destination! This is just a mock up. The Iron:Man is still in storage, at least until the Westside Metro Extension near the Town Hall is completed!

dndimg alt="Knife Angel Birmingham" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/IronMan Knife Angel Vic Square.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

If anyone wants their Knife Angel photos in a gallery, please send them to Daniel or Deb who I'm sure will produce a gallery of your photos! I recommend doing a Coventry and Birmingham gallery in one.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown (over 1000 followers!).

Jurassic Kingdom 2017 and Ice Age: The Lost Kingdom 2019 at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens

Two events with animated creatures at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens on Westbourne Road in Edgbaston. Jurassic Kingdom was held during May 2017, while Ice Age: The Lost Kingdom was held during April 2019. A gallery of 10 photos of the dinosaurs from 2017. And 10 photos of the extinct ice age animals from 2019. They make noises with sound (see my YouTube links for examples).

Jurassic Kingdom

This event was on at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens from the 20th May to the 4th June 2017. There was loads of life sized animated dinosaurs here to see! A selection of 10 photos below.

T-Rex in the car park near the entrance!

dndimg alt="T-Rex" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Jurassic Kingdom 2017 Bham Botanical Gardens (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Carnotaurus

dndimg alt="Carnotaurus" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Jurassic Kingdom 2017 Bham Botanical Gardens (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Small Triceratops.

dndimg alt="Small Triceratops" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Jurassic Kingdom 2017 Bham Botanical Gardens (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 Pterosaur

dndimg alt=" Pterosaur" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Jurassic Kingdom 2017 Bham Botanical Gardens (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Tyrannosaurus Vs Spinosaurus!

dndimg alt="Tyrannosaurus Vs Spinosaurus!" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Jurassic Kingdom 2017 Bham Botanical Gardens (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Velociraptor Vs Apatosaurus!

dndimg alt="Velociraptor Vs Apatosaurus!" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Jurassic Kingdom 2017 Bham Botanical Gardens (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Brachiosaurus

dndimg alt="Brachiosaurus" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Jurassic Kingdom 2017 Bham Botanical Gardens (7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Spinosaurus

dndimg alt="Spinosaurus" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Jurassic Kingdom 2017 Bham Botanical Gardens (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Parasaurolophus

dndimg alt="Parasaurolophus" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Jurassic Kingdom 2017 Bham Botanical Gardens (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Euoplocephalus

dndimg alt="Euoplocephalus" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Jurassic Kingdom 2017 Bham Botanical Gardens (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Video here on my YouTube Channel. Jurassic Kingdom, YouTube.

Full album of Jurassic photos over on my Flickr (with some video clips) Jurassic Kingdom, Flickr.

Ice Age: The Lost Kingdom

This event was held at the Birmingham Botanical Gardens from the 6th to 28th April 2019. I think from the same organisers as Jurassic Kingdom from 2 years before. I got in on the first morning on a 40% off early bird ticket! A selection of 10 photos below.

Smilodon populator (Sabre-Toothed Cat)

dndimg alt="Smilodon populator (Sabre-Toothed Cat)" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ice Age The Lost Kingdom 2019 Bham Botanical Gardens (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Coelodonta antiquitatis (Woolly Rhinoceros)

dndimg alt="Coelodonta antiquitatis (Woolly Rhinoceros)" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ice Age The Lost Kingdom 2019 Bham Botanical Gardens (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Mammuthus (mammoth)

dndimg alt="Mammuthus (mammoth)" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ice Age The Lost Kingdom 2019 Bham Botanical Gardens (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Mastodon (being hunted by cavemen)

dndimg alt="Mastodon" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ice Age The Lost Kingdom 2019 Bham Botanical Gardens (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Miracinonyx (American Cheetah) and Elasmotherium (Siberian Unicorn)

dndimg alt="Miracinonyx (American Cheetah) and Elasmotherium (Siberian Unicorn)" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ice Age The Lost Kingdom 2019 Bham Botanical Gardens (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Daeodon. Meaning 'dreadful tooth' also known by Dinohyus ('terrible pig')

dndimg alt="Daeodon." dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ice Age The Lost Kingdom 2019 Bham Botanical Gardens (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Marcrauchenia patachonica

dndimg alt="Marcrauchenia patachonica" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ice Age The Lost Kingdom 2019 Bham Botanical Gardens (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Doedicurus clavicaudatus

dndimg alt="Doedicurus clavicaudatus" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ice Age The Lost Kingdom 2019 Bham Botanical Gardens (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Teratornis merriami

dndimg alt="Teratornis merriami" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ice Age The Lost Kingdom 2019 Bham Botanical Gardens (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Glyptodon

dndimg alt="Glyptodon" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ice Age The Lost Kingdom 2019 Bham Botanical Gardens (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Video here on my YouTube Channel Ice Age: The Lost Kingdom, YouTube.

Full album of Ice Age photos over on my Flickr (with some video clips) Ice Age: The Lost Kingdom, Flickr.

Photos taken by Elliott Brown

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown (over 1000 followers!).

Circuses in Birmingham

Occasionally a circus might come to down and pitch up in one of the cities parks, or in a nearby field. Here we will look at some of the circuses that have been in Birmingham in recent years. Such as the Chinese State Circus at the Sheldon Country Park, Uncle Sam's American Circus to a field in Hollywood near the Maypole, and a some others! Zippos have been around multiple locations!

Zippo's Special Christmas Circus - Star City Birmingham, 2010

Held in the car park at Star City near the M6, Junction 6 (Spaghetti Junction) (also near Nechells) from the 16th December 2010 to the 2nd January 2011.

dndimg alt="Zippo's Circus" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Zippos Circus Star City 2010 (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Zippo's Circus" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Zippos Circus Star City 2010 (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Zippo's Circus" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Zippos Circus Star City 2010 (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Zippo's Circus" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Zippos Circus Star City 2010 (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Zippo's Circus" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Zippos Circus Star City 2010 (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Zippo's Circus - Swanshurst Park, 2011

This circus was held at Swanshurst Park in Moseley / Billesley from the 17th to 22nd March 2011. They return every year. Is usually nice views from the other side of the Moseley New Pool (the parks lake).

dndimg alt="Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park 2011 (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park 2011 (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park 2011 (3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park 2011 (4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

While Swanshurst Park is near Kings Heath, it is not in Kings Heath. It's located between Moseley and Billesley (Swanshurst Lane, Yardley Wood Road and Brook Lane).

dndimg alt="Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park 2011 (5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Zippos Circus - Swanshurst Park, 2017

I last saw Zippos at Swanshurst Park during April 2017. This time it was held from the 20th to the 25th April 2017. Had a better camera than the time I previously saw the circus there in 2011!

dndimg alt="Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park 2017" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park 2017 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park 2017" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park 2017 (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park 2017" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park 2017 (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park 2017" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park 2017 (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Again they were still calling Moseley as Kings Heath! Billesley was fine though! Although you do head up the Swanshurst Lane / Yardley Wood Road towards Kings Heath!

dndimg alt="Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park 2017" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Zippos Circus Swanshurst Park 2017 (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Chinese State Circus - Sheldon Country Park, 2017

This circus was held from the 9th to 14th May 2017. Close to the Coventry Road entrance in Sheldon.

dndimg alt="Chinese State Circus Sheldon Country Park" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chinese State Circus Sheldon Country Park (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Chinese State Circus Sheldon Country Park " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chinese State Circus Sheldon Country Park (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Chinese State Circus Sheldon Country Park " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chinese State Circus Sheldon Country Park (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Chinese State Circus Sheldon Country Park " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chinese State Circus Sheldon Country Park (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Chinese State Circus Sheldon Country Park " dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chinese State Circus Sheldon Country Park (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Uncle Sam's American Circus - The Maypole, 2018

It was held in Hollywood near Sainsbury's Maypole from the 10th to 14th October 2018. In a field that usually has horses in it! Also not far from Druids Heath.

dndimg alt="Uncle Sam's American Circus near the Maypole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uncle Sams American Circus Hollywood Maypole (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Uncle Sam's American Circus near the Maypole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uncle Sams American Circus Hollywood Maypole (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Uncle Sam's American Circus near the Maypole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uncle Sams American Circus Hollywood Maypole (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Uncle Sam's American Circus near the Maypole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uncle Sams American Circus Hollywood Maypole (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Uncle Sam's American Circus near the Maypole" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Uncle Sams American Circus Hollywood Maypole (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown (over 1000 followers!).

Moseley Bog from my December 2012 and September 2016 visits

Moseley Bog is not that far away from me, just catch the 11C up the Swanshurst Lane and get off the bus on the Yardley Wood Road near Swanshurst Park. The main entrance to Moseley Bog is on Yardley Wood Road. This photo gallery ahead of a proposed Birmingham We Are group visit to the bog! Part of the Shire Country Park. Another entrance / exit is on Pensby Close.

A gallery of 20 photos. The first 13 from my visit in December 2012. The last 7 from my visit in September 2016. It is easy to get lost in here! Best to start from the main entrance on the Yardley Wood Road in Moseley.

The bus routes here are the 11A / 11C (bus stops on Yardley Wood Road near Swanshurst Park). Or the 2 or the 3 from the city centre or Yardley Wood. You could also get the 5 to Wake Green Road, close to where JRR Tolkien used to live as a child, when Sarehole was a hamlet.

You could also get the train to Hall Green Station and then walk down Cole Bank Road past Sarehole Mill (or catch the 11C down the hill if you want to). Trains from Birmingham Snow Hill / Moor Street or Shirley down to Stratford-upon-Avon.

Birmingham City Council sign for Moseley Bog and Joy's Wood Local Nature Reserve seen on Yardley Wood Road.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog sign" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The sculpted entrance gate to Moseley Bog from the Yardley Wood Road entrance. Small car park here.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog Yardley Wood Road entrance" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Welcome to Moseley Bog - this sign was near the Yardley Wood Road entrance, with a map of the area.

dndimg alt="Welcome to Moseley Bog" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Decking all around now, so your shoes are less likely to get muddy, but it could still be wet if it's rained!

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog (December 2012). Decking." dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (4).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

More decking to walk around.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog (December 2012). Decking." dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (5).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Around to the right past the trees.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog decking" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (6).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Which way, left or right, it's up to you!

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog decking" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (7).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Narrow planks if you go this way.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog decking" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (8).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A sign to stop and read close to this corner decking stop point.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog decking" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (9).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

There is steps here to go down to the dirt track.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog decking" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (10).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Heading down the steps.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog steps down" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (11).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Take these steps to the exit onto Pensby Close. A cul-de-sac. Head out via that road then onto Thirlmere Drive, then you get to Wake Green Road near Sarehole Mill.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog steps" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (12).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Not all the routes are decked out. Are some dirt paths to follow as well.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog dirt path" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (13).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The next 7 photos from a return visit in September 2016.

Somehow didn't get photos of the bog itself until 2016! Different conditions in different seasons.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog the bog!" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (14).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Can see other members of Birmingham We Are enjoy taking photos of this from different angles!

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog the bog!" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (15).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Someone had made a camp site in Moseley Bog. Perhaps Cubs or Scout groups or school parties use the bog?

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog camp site" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (16).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Several fallen trees. Was looking a bit muddy underneath.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog fallen tree" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (17).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Another fallen tree, this one above a pool of water.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog - fallen tree and pool of water" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (18).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A muddy stream with logs in it.

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog muddy stream" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (19).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Those steps again that I used in 2012. In 2016 I entered via Pensby Close, and had hoped to find my way to the Yardley Wood Road entrance / exit. But it is easy to get lost, and ended up going back to the Pensby Close entrance / exit again instead! Would GPS / a compass help me / us find a route out?

dndimg alt="Moseley Bog those steps again" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Moseley Bog (20).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown

Follow me on Twitter here ellrbrown (over 1000 followers!).

A look back at Chinese New Year 2018 the Year of the Dog

As Chinese New Year 2019 the Year of the Pig gets underway, a look back at the festivities in Birmingham a year ago in 2018. I'm not sure yet if I'll be able to get anything this year, so here's a look at my photos from last year! I mainly saw the yellow Chinese dancing dragon / lion around St Philip's Cathedral. By the weekend main event in the Chinese Quarter.

The Bullring bull had a Chinese New Year mask in 2018 (from what I've seen online they reused the same mask for 2019).

This is the black and white filtered version with a splash of colour! Mostly the reds and yellows!

dndimg alt="Bullring bull Chinese New Year bw filter splash colour" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/chinese bull.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The colour versions back and front! These views were from the 15th February 2018.

dndimg alt="Bullring Bull Chinese New Year 2018 outfit" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bullring bull Chinese New Year 2018 outfit (1) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Bullring Bull Chinese New Year 2018 outfit" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bullring bull Chinese New Year 2018 outfit (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Bullring Bull Chinese New Year 2018 outfit" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Bullring bull Chinese New Year 2018 outfit (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

One lunchtime on the 16th February 2018, saw a yellow dancing dragon or lion going around St Philip's Cathedral.

dndimg alt="Chinese New Year 2018 yellow dancing dragon St Philip's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chinese New Year 1 160218.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Chinese New Year 2018 yellow dancing dragon St Philip's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chinese new year 2 160218.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Chinese New Year 2018 yellow dancing dragon St Philip's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/chinese new year 3 160218.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Graham Young from the Birmingham Post & Mail was there, as well as Jas Sansi!

dndimg alt="Chinese New Year 2018 St Philip's Cathedral yellow dragon lion" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chinese New Year 2018 St Philips (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Chinese New Year 2018 St Philip's Cathedral yellow dragon lion" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chinese New Year 2018 St Philips (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Was also some drumming.

dndimg alt="Chinese New Year 2018 drumming St Philip's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/chinese new year 4 160218.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Drumming alternate angle - Chinese New Year 2018 St Philip's Cathedral" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chinese New Year 2018 St Philips Cathedral drumming.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The festivities over in the Chinese Quarter over the weekend of the 17th and 18th February 2018.

"Happy Chinese New Year 2018 Year of the Dog". This sponsorship on a digitial billboard was seen on Ladywell Walk near Chung Ying Cantonese Restaurant.

dndimg alt="Chinese New Year 2018 on Ladywell Walk" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/chinese new year 180218 (1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A small fun fair was set up along Ladywell Walk towards Hurst Street. Near the Mapstone building.

dndimg alt="Chinese New Year 2018 on Ladywell Walk" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chinese New Year (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This side of Ladywell Walk from near Hurst Street. Another look at the fun fair and market stalls that were on the street at the time.

dndimg alt="Chinese New Year 2018 Ladywell Walk fun fair" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chinese New Year 2018 Ladywell Walk funfair.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The stage on Hurst Street being set up. The next day it was full of people enjoying the entertainment!

dndimg alt="Chinese New Year 2018 on Hurst Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hurst Street stage for Chinese New Year parade 170217.jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

A day later and performances were taking place on the stage, and there was a crowd full of people there to enjoy the entertainment!

dndimg alt="Chinese New Year 2018 Hurst Street stage" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Chinese New Year 2018 Hurst Street stage.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown.

Famous movie cars spotted in Birmingham

I'm a big fan of the Back to the Future, Ghostbusters and Batman movie franchises. So when I heard that the famous movie cars were coming to Birmingham, I had to see them! The DeLorean from the Back to the Future Trilogy, Ecto 1 from Ghostbusters and Ecto 1A from Ghostbusters 2. Even the Batmobile from Batman (1989) has been to the city!

The Back to the Future DeLorean

The Acocks Green Village BID held an event in the village on the 1st August 2015 called the Alien Invasion of Acocks Green. And this is when the Back to the Future DeLorean visited. Seen near some shops on the Warwick Road. This appears like the famous movie car as it was in the hit movie Back to the Future Part II (released in 1989). You also see it hover converting at the end of the classic 1985 movie!

dndimg alt="BTTF DeLorean in Acocks Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BTTF DeLorean Acocks Green (1)(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 A Marty McFly impersonator was on site dressed like Marty was in the second movie. With the colourful baseball hat and the self drying jacket! The movie went to 2015 with hoverboards, flying cars etc. But none of this technology happened by the time we were in 2015!

dndimg alt="BTTF DeLorean in Acocks Green" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BTTF DeLorean Acocks Green (2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

BTTF DeLorean at MCM Birmingham Comic Con

The second DeLorean I saw from Back to the Future was at the MCM Birmingham Comic Con, held at the Birmingham NEC. I went to the comic book convention in November 2016. Don't usually go to things like this much, and this was the only MCM Comic Con I've been to. I've not been back since. This DeLorean also resembled the version from BTTF Part II. And this time was an man dressed as Doctor Emmett Brown, aka the Doc!

dndimg alt="BTTF DeLorean MCM Birmingham Comic Con" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BTTF DeLorean MCM Birmingham Comic Con Nov16 (1) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Along side the car was various skateboards and hoverboards based on those used in the movie. Including the Pit Bull used by the bad guy Griff Tatten. While Marty McFly used a Mattel Hoverboard!

dndimg alt="BTTF DeLorean MCM Birmingham Comic Con" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BTTF DeLorean MCM Birmingham Comic Con Nov16 (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Front view of the DeLorean at the MCM Comic Con at the NEC. Gull wing door open and and some of the hats from the second movie.

dndimg alt="BTTF DeLorean MCM Birmingham Comic Con" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BTTF DeLorean MCM Birmingham Comic Con Nov16 (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Also seen behind was an image of Twin Pines Mall from the first movie. Doc used Plutonium to power the DeLorean and when it hit 88 miles per hour it went back or forward in time! By the end of the first movie and into the second, the Doc had replaced the power source with rubbish (or garbage as Americans like to call it, or trash!). In the Mr Fusion reactor at the back! The camcorder that Marty used to record the first time travel experiment on the 26th October 1985 at 1:21am.

dndimg alt="BTTF DeLorean MCM Birmingham Comic Con" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BTTF DeLorean MCM Birmingham Comic Con Nov16 (4) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Ecto 1A - Ghostbusters II - Navigation Street

This one was completely random and unexpected. Seen on Navigation Street close to The Mailbox (on the 14th March 2015) was this wedding hire car that looked like the Ecto 1A from the movie Ghostbusters II (released in 1989). It was one of the first movies I saw a as child during the Christmas season of 1989 (Vigo the Carpathian was scary for an 7 year old). The car headed under the underpass below Suffolk Street Queensway, before turning back around. It had the distincitive two fingers Ghostbuster logo on the car.

dndimg alt="Ecto 1A - Ghostbusters II on Navigation Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ecto 1A Ghostbusters car Navigation Street (1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

If there's something strange, in the neighbourhood, who ya gunna call? Reports of a ghost on the loose at The Mailbox was a false alarm. They were now seen heading in the direction of Birmingham New Street Station. At the time a movie was in production for 2016, which turned out to be an all female reboot. Recently another movie in the original Ghostbusters movie timeline has been announced for summer 2020.

dndimg alt="Ecto 1A - Ghostbusters II on Navigation Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ecto 1A Ghostbusters car Navigation Street (2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The car does look pretty cool don't you think? Seen here going past Sainsbury's Local near the Orion Building, stuck in traffic. Bustin' makes me feel good! Two in the box, ready to go, we be fast and they be slow!

dndimg alt="Ecto 1A - Ghostbusters II on Navigation Street" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ecto 1A Ghostbusters car Navigation Street (3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Ecto 1 from Ghostbusters at Broadway Plaza

Another Ghostbusters car made an appearance at Broadway Plaza near Ladywood Middleway (outside the casino and what was the former entrance to the ex Children's Hospital) on the 23rd July 2016. I think this was while the Ghostbusters (2016) movie was in cinemas (also known as Ghosbusters: Answer the Call). The car is the Ecto 1 from the original Ghostbusters from 1984.

dndimg alt="Ecto 1 from Ghostbusters at Broadway Plaza" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ecto 1 from Ghostbusters at Broadway Plaza (1) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

This is obviously based on the car from the first Ghostbusters movie, as it has the original Ghostbusters no ghosts logo on it. Rumour of a ghost on the loose at the former Children's Hospital was a false alarm! Although maybe Broadway Plaza spotted Slimer flying around, and slimming people?

dndimg alt="Ecto 1 from Ghostbusters at Broadway Plaza" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ecto 1 from Ghostbusters at Broadway Plaza (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

From where the Ghostbusters car was, you can head up the path to the Odeon cinema. It used to be an AMC until 2012. Last year in 2018, Odeon turned it into an Odeon Luxe. In January 2019 it was announced that a new Ghostbusters movie will be made for a summer 2020 release set in the original Ghostbusters movie universe.

dndimg alt="Ecto 1 from Ghostbusters at Broadway Plaza" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Ecto 1 from Ghostbusters at Broadway Plaza (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Batmobile from Batman (1989) at Broadway Plaza

Just over a year later on the 26th August 2017, the Batmobile from the movie Batman (released in 1989) was seen in the same spot as the Ecto 1 the year before. A version of it was also used in Batman Returns from 1992. Like all the cars here, this is a replica and not a screen used car.

dndimg alt="Batmobile from Batman (1989) at Broadway Plaza" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Batmobile 1989 at Broadway Plaza (1) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

It was Superhero Day at Broadway Plaza, although I didn't see Batman around, just his car!

dndimg alt="Batmobile from Batman (1989) at Broadway Plaza" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Batmobile 1989 at Broadway Plaza (2) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

My first Batman movie at the cinema was Batman Forever in 1995. I was too young when the first two movies came out (later saw them on TV). I've seen all live action Batman movies (of all incarnations) at the big screen since.

dndimg alt="Batmobile from Batman (1989) at Broadway Plaza" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Batmobile 1989 at Broadway Plaza (3) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

The most recent appearance for Batman was in Justice League that came out in 2017, and before that Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice in 2016. There was also the Lego Batman Movie which would have been more suitable for young kids. I wasn't aware of Broadway Plaza having a movie car like this there in 2018, as I didn't see anything on their social media accounts. Then again I stopped going to Odeon Broadway Plaza when they turned it into a Luxe. I prefer my cinemas to have normal seats, so I now go to either: Odeon New Street, Cineworld Broad Street or Empire Great Park Birmingham (Rubery).

dndimg alt="Batmobile from Batman (1989) at Broadway Plaza" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Batmobile 1989 at Broadway Plaza (4) .jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos taken by Elliott Brown