Back to backs 20th anniversary visit

by Damien Walmsley 03/08/2024 03/08/2024

When visiting the Back to Backs in Birmingham, your booking includes an hour and a half tour of the premises. The buildings were built with speed and were cheap to both buy and live in. In 1870, Birmingham was undergoing tremendous change as people were coming into the city looking for work. The backs to backs were quickly put up to accommodate the increasing population. The buildings now blend into the modern landscape around this area of Birmingham known as Southside.

Our National Trust guide was Dick, who met us outside on Hurst street and after an introductory talk of the background to the Back to Backs led us into the buildings. We started in the yard and this was followed by the inside tour of the Back to backs known as Court 15. The rooms are small and negotiating the staircases between the properties is challenging. As we progressed through the 4 houses that make up the Back to Backs, Dick kept us entertained and informed about how life would have been. Through his descriptions of the people, we began to understand what living in these cramped houses meant and learnt how these humble residences were much loved family homes.

Pictures from the Yard of Court 15

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There is a bike, skateboard, a pram and other games that would be part of life.

There are four houses to visit and the first one is an early reproduction of life in the 1870’s. The second house exemplified life of a large family. There were 11 children and often a couple of lodgers were taken in. They all lived in the same place. Space was so scarce that the chest of drawers doubled up as a cot for the baby. Birmingham was known as the City of a 1,000 trades and in this house, the family were proficient at glass work and in particular glass eyes. The properties changed hands at a regular rate yet the occupants of the third property lived in the Back to Backs for most of their lives. This house illustrated how electricity was introduced and there were other comforts such as a radio.

Court 15 is unusual in that it survived the demolition that took place all around the area. The City removed the back to backs and replaced them with flats and other houses. The reason that these Back to backs survived, is likely to have been the businesses that were associated with them. The National Trust have recreated a tailor’s shop in the final property. George Saunders came from St Kitts and after a variety of jobs set up his tailor’s shop in Court 15. He was an enterprising man and his made to measure suits were sought after by the local clientele. The shop’s position near to the Hippodrome assisted with much of the business in this area.

We started and finished in the communal yard where we visited the communal washhouse. At the end of the tour, I asked Dick if he would be part of my 100 strangers project and he agreed. The picture is taken around the outside toilets which gives an insight to the conditions that people had to endure in the Back to Backs.

There were many details in the Back to backs that caught my eye. The yard has many angles and props that bring the place to life. There are old prams, bottles, skittles to name a few. Each house is a treasure trove of differing objects including chamber pots and mini work tops where craftsmen worked. The living rooms contained items that would have been commonly used by the family. These rooms have been photographed many times before and I am adding to the many records. For myself the journey was fun as much of it reminded me of my own childhood when I was sitting in family houses around Manchester looking up at the pictures on the walls and the pieces of China on the mantlepiece.

The layout of the living quarters were not that dissimilar. The accompanying guidebook is a good companion to your visit to the Back to Backs and beings out more details about the life and times of the people who lived in these unassuming buildings. This year is the 20^thanniversary of the renovation of the Back to Backs by the National Trust and I was pleased to be able to visit after passing them so many times in my walks through Birmingham.

If you enjoyed this blog on the Back to backs then please visit my visits to other National Trust properties on my blog. Just search National Trust. I have added one link but there are many more.

Packwood House and Baddesley Clinton – Two houses that are ready for Christmas

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The brutal beauty of Exchange Square

by Damien Walmsley 25/07/2024 25/07/2024

Exploring Birmingham in the early morning is a great pastime and the city opens up for many different photographic opportunities. One morning in July, I moved towards the law courts with no particular plan other than to take some street photography pictures. My eye always finds something that looks different and as I looked down towards Birmingham Crown Court and the Maclaren building, I noticed a metallic structure in the form of a triangle. I set off to investigate. I discovered a new square amongst all the newly built office blocks and student residences.

The architecture of the square may simply be described as brutal. Lots of concrete pavements and to one side, someone has “planted” three metallic trees with pointed branches that reach up to the sky seeking a sun above the concrete. This is a wonderful place for photography and I took many pictures with both my iPhone and Fujifilm x100vi camera. People stop in the square, taking a seat whilst waiting for their bus to arrive on the Priory Queensway. There is a restaurant on one side of the square that may look out of place but a search on the web shows that it has received good reviews. There is a bleak passageway that leads onto the Masshouse residential buildings. These flats were built around 10 years ago but are now looking a touch tired. A lone Palestinian flag hangs from one of the building balconies. The metal triangle that first caught my eye, is some form of decorative cover which adds to all the sharp angles and hard brutal feel to the square.

In summary another brutalist concrete jungle with the ironic touch of metal trees. The square makes for great photographic opportunities although I am not sure I would wish to live and work in the area.

Web link – if you like concrete then you will enjoy this blog entry.

For the Love of Concrete – Part 2

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HS2 gathers pace at Curzon Street

by Damien Walmsley 16/07/2024 16/07/2024

HS2 progress, Curzon Street, Birmingham 2024

The HS2 construction is transforming the landscape around the Curzon Street building. Once this was a sleepy backwater and a relatively quiet part of Birmingham. However first came Millennium Point and then the ThinkTank museum. Then HS2 rolled into town. Birmingham City University also moved location so that they were near to the station. This series of pictures provides a construction update of the area and the viaducts that will carry the trains into the station which are starting to appear. The area around the Birmingham canal allows a view of the enormous construction taking place.

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A few interesting stories developed whilst I was taking pictures. I added to my 100 strangers project whilst I was walking around the perimeter of the HS2 development works. As I was taking pictures over the canal bridge looking towards the new viaducts for the trains, I met Mace who was from London. He was on a stopover in Birmingham on his journey to Scotland. He immediately engaged me in conversation and was a lively personality. After discussing the state of play of the HS2 and Birmingham, he willingly posed for my 100 strangers’ project. (More of this photographic project at a later date). The sun was out creating lighting difficulties so I asked Mace to stand under the shade. In the portrait, Curzon street is to the right and the view is down towards the ThinkTank museum and Birmingham City University. The new Curzon Street station is further down the road.

Another interesting finding was that to my surprise I found a narrowboat moored up on the other side of the Curzon Street railway bridge near to the Birmingham Gun Barrell proof house. It is a rare sight to see canal boats on this stretch of the canal. However as the area starts to receive more investment then it is likely that such occurrences will be more frequent.

One of my photography projects is to photograph the changes occurring in other places of the HS2 development. You may wish to view the changes to 16 acre wood near Berkswell.

The continuing story of HS2 and 16 Acre wood

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The Icons walk from Five ways to Victoria Square with IgersbirminghamUK

by Damien Walmsley 14/07/2024 14/07/2024

The IgersbirminghamUK Icons walk started with a torrential downpour of rain. We met at the Five ways roundabout where we managed to shelter from the rain until we were brave enough to walk down Broad Street. The rain had created many excellent photographic opportunities including people with umbrellas concentrating on avoiding the large puddles.

The underpass at Five Ways is a busy thoroughfare with both people and delivery bikes moving around. If you stay still then you immediately look suspicious. There was a brief plan of where our walk would take us. The idea was to walk down Broad Street to Centenary Square with a short detour to Oozells Square. From then on we would visit two more squares, Chamberlain and Victoria with our final destination being the Colmore where we could discuss our photographs over a well-earned drink. I have grouped my pictures into several themes.

People

Broad street is always great for street photography with pedestrians undertaking different activities. They may be waiting for the trams or making their way to the theatres and concert halls. There is always the odd surprise such as the suited and booted men on scooters. Surprisingly they were not wearing helmets! Even the cyclist, I captured was not wearing one. The health and safety part of me has seen the results of people not wearing crash helmets. One of my favourites photographs was the picture of two women outside the Library of Birmingham practicing their hip hop dance moves in the window reflections. Other people looked very glum about the weather.

Signs

Letters are everywhere and a few caught my eye. Popworld was hosting a party and Ozzie was getting wet. There were signs of the cost of living crisis with unopened cans of food left on a bench. A story within a story, as the unopened cans sit on a bench near to the luxury five ways hotel where people can take a Rockstar taxi into the city. Head over to #igbk_meet_icons where one of our photographers focused on the lettering he encountered during our walk.

Icons

There are so many icons on the route and the Black Sabbath bridge over the Birmingham Canals is deserving of your attention. In Centenary Square, there was the obligatory shot of the golden boys statue. The Birmingham family holds a central position in the square and divides popular opinion. My picture shows that the overriding message is about love. The Iron:man by Antony Gormley regularly gets photographed as it is placed at the intersection of many walkways including the tram stop and Town Hall. Finally the Birmingham icon, Benjamin Zachariah, is the subject of an exhibition of his life and works. The pictures and living history of this influential poet and writer are set up near to the New Street entrance to Victoria Square. Biodiversity bear has also taken up residence in the same area. This is a busy place with the trams passing by in their distinguished blue livery.

Architecture

Birmingham is noted for its brutalist history and love of concrete. The start of our walk at the Auchinleck walkway provides an example of this. However spirits are raised when walking towards Field Marshall Auchinleck’s statue and down Broad Street. The high rise living apartments dwarf the street level buildings and lights. Older buildings fight for space with the newer blocks of architecture. Oozells Square still has presence, even though it is most famous for two weeks of the year when the cherry trees blossom. The reflective pool in Centenary Square was clear of any activity and with the recent rain, the classic picture of the Rep, Library and Hall of Remembrance was taken. A new icon, the Octagon, is rising in the background. The approach to Chamberlain square has a certain grandeur as the buildings on either side guide you to the Council House with the Chamberlain clock and the 103 Colmore Row skyscraper in the background. The security were kind to us and we were able to take photos on this privately owned part of Birmingham without hassle. Reaching Victoria square there is a mixture of construction and exhibitions taking place. Local Brummies will quip, “Birmingham will be good when it is finished”.

At the Colmore, we had great discussions about our pictures including those that got away. As we left the pub on our way home, the night was coming down allowing the neon lights to feature more in our pictures. The big wheel by the Cathedral invited us to take a few final pictures and then we caught the train home.

If you liked these pictures and want to know more about IgersbirminghamUK then please follow us on Instagram. Here is a previous blog describing another of our recent Birmingham walks.

From Square to Park – an IgersbirminghamUK instameet

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The closing of the Floodgate in Digbeth

by Damien Walmsley 06/07/2024 07/07/2024

The Closing of the Floodgate, Digbeth, July 2024

The Floodgate featured in one of my favourite pictures which was taken in Floodgate street during the early hours of morning. Although I had never been inside the venue, I have passed the front entrance on many occasions during my photographic visits to Digbeth. When I heard that The Floodgate was closing then I knew that I had to photograph the place before it closed. On a Friday afternoon, which was the penultimate day of the venue being open, I ventured into the place and brought a drink at the bar. I asked the staff whether I could take photographs of the inside and they kindly said that I could go ahead. So a big thank you to them for this blog.

The Floodgate is one large games entertainment venue with curling, baseball, table golf and model car racing amongst the sports that punters can take part in. I met Beth who worked in the Floodgate. Beth explained that the Floodgate was closing due to the sky-high rent. When Beth told me the figures that they were being charged for rent then it is no surprise that independents are struggling. Digbeth is undergoing changes and the early success of independents has attracted larger businesses who want a slice of the action. Digbeth is becoming a very popular part of Birmingham (if it was not popular already). There are plans for several high rise residences to be built in the vicinity. Many of the old warehouses and industrial units are being earmarked for demolition with a complete revamp of the area planned. Already the Boxpark franchise will be pumping 5 million pounds under the nearby railway arches that will create bars and restaurants. The independents have difficulty in matching this sort of investment.

The Floodgate had only just opened for the evening and apart from a few customers playing curling, I had the place to myself for taking pictures. The Floodgate has one large bar area situated in the main warehouse. Table tops are in the form of baseballs and colourful murals adorn the walls. There are baseball cages and an impressive model car racing track. The latter has a set of seats complete with steering wheels where people can control the model cars they see in front of them around the track.

Leading off from the main warehouse, there are two games areas . The walls are covered with colourful graffiti art that glows in the UV light. The area is a psychedelic experience and the Jimi Hendrix song Purple Haze came to mind. I enjoyed taking pictures with both my cameras, the Fujifilm x100vi and my iPhone. This is where the new Fujifilm with IBIS worked well. Such pictures taken in low light with this camera would have been impossible without a tripod in the past. The iPhone is well known for its low light photography, The curling lanes were surrounded by lights and a ceiling of springs. The table golf set up looked impressive when set against the graffiti. The area was a little spooky with no people present. Beth did tell me that there were stories about ghosts in the warehouse and occasionally I felt a presence as I wandered around the darkly lit areas of the table golf rooms.

The outside area has more curling lanes and baseball cages that are set against a backdrop of the towering railway arches. The cameras now had to deal with strong light and harsh shadows as for once it was not raining.

My final shot was of Beth and other staff in the bar area. It is sad to see such places closing but I guess this is progress. The early charm of Digbeth with venues taking advantage of the old industrial warehouses is slowly disappearing. The Floodgate is an example of creating different types of entertainment. Such places will disappear and be replaced with new shiny establishments that will cater for most of the new residents that will be entering Digbeth.

If you enjoyed this blog then please take a look at my other Digbeth entries starting with Digbeth Art from July 2020

Digbeth Art

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From Square to Park – an IgersbirminghamUK instameet

by Damien Walmsley 09/06/2024 10/06/2024

Square to Park, IgersbirminghamUK Instameet walk, May 2024

With the long summer nights upon us, the IgersbirminghamUK team came up with the idea for a photowalk that started at St Paul’s Square and finished at St Philip’s Cathedral. Along the way we could photograph interesting views of Birmingham. The walk went down Ludgate Hill, over the Pedestrian Bridge towards Church Street finally arriving at St Philip’s Square affectionately known by locals as Pigeon Park. The call went out a week before on social media and on the evening a group of photographers assembled outside St Paul’s Church. A list of some interesting places and buildings had already been circulated on our social media channels. Many of these suggestions were taken up by our band of photographers. I usually have my iPhone and my Fujifilm x100vi on any city walk. I just find these two cameras so useful to tell the story of the streets as they are easy to carry and use. They also take good pictures.

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The walk started with lovely warm sunshine and St Paul’s Square looked good in the evening light. As we moved down Ludgate Hill towards the Birmingham Canal, the sky clouded over but it did not stop us taking pictures of our favourite Brummie locations.

The canal passes underneath the BT tower. There is graffiti and concrete posts yet the canal locks blend in well with the surroundings. Further along, the pedestrian bridge is always a favourite photography location. The light was dimming so it was possible to practice a few long exposures of the traffic passing underneath.

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As we approached St Philip’s Square along Church Street, we could see the recently installed Big Wheel lit up against the late evening light. Then came the rain. Just as we reached the square, the heavens opened and we got very wet. Some of us were fortunate as we had brough a water proof coat or umbrella. Others were less lucky. We first thought that this was going to be a miserable end to a good evening of photography. After the initial heavy downpour, we saw that the rain had created reflections on the surrounding pavements. The Big Wheel was lit up in different colours, and the resulting images with the reflections gave a range of interesting effects. Also people were walking past with umbrellas casting their shadows in the puddles. The picture opportunities were unending. After a while no one minded the rain or the fact that they were soaked through.

Those of us that were left behind after braving the rain finished our walk at the Wolf pub on Constitution hill. During our well deserved refreshments, the IgersbirminghamUK team planned our next adventure.

This are my own pictures from the @IgersbirminghamUK walk. If you want to see the pictures of all the other talented photographers that took part then follow the link #igbUK_meet_sq2park

The walk back from the Wolf pub to Snow Hill station was short but interesting and here is a set of five pictures showing how the light and reflections after the rain can create a wonderful range of colours.

If you have got down to here then there are other IgersbirminghamUK meetings to read about on my blog. Enjoy reading about our activities. The team at IgersbirminghamUK look forward to seeing you at one of their future meetings.

Visiting Bournville Village Trust with IgersbirminghamUK

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Aurora Borealis as seen from my back garden

by Damien Walmsley 11/05/2024 12/05/2024

So I have been to Iceland but did not see the Aurora Borealis as it was too cloudy. I did fly from Portland, Oregon to Reykjavík and saw the lights somewhere over the Northern Territories and Greenland. My next Aurora Borealis experience was a recreated one in Birmingham City Centre. This event was really cool even though it was man made.

The chances of seeing a full blown Northern Lights show anywhere outside of Iceland or Norway were going to be low. Friday 10^th May and the Aurora watch said chances were high but I was out for dinner and I was thinking of an early Saturday start to photograph the end of the bluebells season.

When we got back home, I went out in the garden and looked North as the BBC news channel instructions stated. Sandy said I had North wrong and I should look more to my right. I stayed out past 11.30pm and took a few pictures. At first nothing seemed to be showing, possibly there was a faint green glow. My camera showed some streaks on the right. I reorientated myself to the North East view and took a picture. At first I thought the camera was having a problem. There were lines on the picture. I took some more and as you will see there were some amazing rays showing up. I looked with the naked eye and there was a white glistening cloud passing over the house. The camera was recording pictures of an intense part of the electromagnetic storm that was passing overhead.

The storm moved over the house from the East to the West. I continuously took pictures with my iPhone and occasionally used my Canon D5mkIV. The patterns were changing and at times the scene over the house looked like rays being emitted from a heavenly body.

When I posted the pictures around midnight, I found the Socials were going mad. Many of my photographic friends were posting pictures of the Aurora and I was entering a massive chatroom as everyone exchanged their views on photographs that had been taken.

Reflections. I never thought that I would see the Northern Lights from my back garden and that it would be so spectacular. I was so pleased to have the chance to see it and photograph the light show. I never made it to the Bluebells fields the next day!

Technicalities. All iPhone pictures were taken on a tripod which gave lots of detail. Settings for the Canon were f/2.8, s15 secs and initially ISO1600. The light was so intense that I dropped the ISO to 400 on subsequent photographs. The colours from both cameras were different with the Canon picking up a richer red colour to the lights.

If you want to see my Northern lights from a plane, I have a link.

Window seat please – photographing volcanoes and the northern lights

Then there is Borealis, a recreation of the northern lights by the artist Dan Acher which was held in Birmingham.

Borealis: bringing the northern lights to the Bullring in Birmingham

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Visiting Bournville Village Trust with IgersbirminghamUK

by Damien Walmsley 04/04/2024 05/04/2024

IgersbirminghamUK, Selly Manor, Bournville Village Trust. March 2024

Birmingham has a long and rich history and the names of George and Richard Cadbury are linked with the story of the City Their success in creating Cadbury’s Chocolate led to the building of their factory in Bournville. The brothers created a Garden Village around the factory to cater for their employees. Sadly Richard died before seeing the project completed although this spurred on George Cadbury to complete the project. Bournville village is now run by a Trust and is a legacy which is enjoyed by both residents and visitors to the area.

IgersbirminghamUK, Bournville Village Trust. March 2024 — The Rest House which is at the centre of Bournville Village.

IgersbirminghamUK organised their first photographic Instameet of 2024 at Selly Manor which is part of Bournville Village Trust. Selly Manor also has a long story. The original building “Smythes Tenement” dated back to 1476. Over time, the building deteriorated and was split into separate dwellings called the “Rookery”. The house was saved from demolition by George Cadbury who brought the property in 1907 and relocated Selly Manor from Selly Oak to Bournville Garden Village. The House was rebuilt next to the Chocolate Factory in 1916 and opened as a museum.

Nearly 30 photographers arrived at the Museum on a bright sunny Saturday morning. We received a welcome from staff member, Daniel, who gave us an overview of the house and then encouraged us to visit the rest of the area. We were given a leaflet of the heritage trail that takes in all the notable buildings in the Bournville village. We have some excellent photographers in the IgersbirminghamUK ranks as evidenced by the pictures that emerged on Instagram. You can follow the pictures and reels from the day with the following tags and I have provided links to the relevant pages. Please take some time to visit the pages and see the wonderful pictures. Thanks to the other members of the IgersbirminghamUK team for their organisation and help with the meeting Nicky Warwickshire, LenaMac77 and James_never_Jim.

The following is a selection of my pictures from the Selly Manor and Bournville Village Visit.

Further reading on Selly Manor and the Bournville Village Trust.

Following on from Selly Manor some photographers moved onto the Bournville Quaker meeting House where one of the Quakers, Anne, was most kind and showed us around inside. The outside of the church does have a fairy castle feeling. Inside the large hall was impressive with light streaming through the windows. There is a raised platform with chairs and table from the Selly Manor museum. This, as Anne pointed out, is not used for worship as Quakers sit around in circles in the centre of the hall usually with a table. Anne then took us up to the balcony to see the organ and from here we were able to take pictures down into the hall. I was even fortunate that Anne agreed to be in my 100 Strangers project.

IgersbirminghamUK, Selly Manor, Quaker Meeting House, Bournville Village Trust. March 2024 — Bournville Quaker Meeting House.

There is much more to see in and around the Bournville Village Trust and those photographs will have to wait till another day. I spend much of my time talking to other Instagrammers during an Instameet and do not get the opportunity to take that many photographs. Catching up with others and seeing what they have photographed is a bonus with such Instameets. After the meeting we headed off to the Glass House brewery by the canal in Stirchley. We had a good catch up including talking about that elusive picture that got away!

If you are interested in the @IgersbirminghamUK Instameets then I have other accounts on my blog with the one below as a starting point.

Autumnal colours at Birmingham Botanical Gardens lights up IgersbirminghamUK Instameet

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Disco powers the beating heart of Birmingham

by Damien Walmsley 22/03/2024 22/03/2024

Our beating heart, Snow Hill Square, Birmingham, March 2024

A big, revolving, mirrored heart has appeared in Snow Hill square accompanied by lights and seventies disco music. Quite a combination when you think about it. Such retro art installations catch my imagination. “Our beating Heart” is a pop-up show sponsored by Colmore Business District and is free to view.

I hurried along after a meeting at the MAC to see the latest art installation that Birmingham has on show. Snow Hill was quiet, sparsely populated with commuters heading home. In the middle of the square was the heart slowly revolving and lit up by lights. The 11,000 mirrors reflected the light around the darkened buildings of the square. The effect was pleasing and mesmerising as shards of coloured light gave a snowfall effect on the buildings. The music was very much retro. Whilst I was there taking pictures, songs from my youth were blasted out into the night. Heart of Glass by Blondie and Saturday Night Fever by the Bee Gees are two examples of the disco style music. This an open-air disco and luckily there was no rain.

Just to emphasise the fun of the evening two people were dressed up in multicoloured swap-shop jackets and were ready to engage in conversation with passers-by. The installation was Instagram friendly and I was not alone in taking photographs. Some serious picture taking was happening and a look at the socials shows how everyone wanted to have a piece of the action. The heart was not the easiest object to photograph, very bright lights against the dark is tricky at the best of times. My humble offering of photographs may not be the best but they give a flavour of the atmosphere. There is much more information on the Colmore Business District web site and the pity is that the heart is only around for a few nights. There was a board, where you could post supplied stickers saying how the heart made you feel. I enjoyed seeing the heart but left bemused that a disco light shaped as a heart with retro hits has captured everyone’s imagination. But that is what good art does by making you give an opinion. My advice go and visit as the heart is worth seeing just for the picture taking.

More information on the Beating heart designed by Studio Vertigo and the Colmore Business District.

Light Is Coming: Our Beating Heart

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Birmingham goes green for St Patrick’s Day

by Damien Walmsley 18/03/2024 19/03/2024

St Patrick's Day Parade, Digbeth, Birmingham, March 17th, 2024

Initially the weather forecast for St Patrick’s Day was rain but someone must have had a word with heaven. The rain stopped and the sun started to show itself from behind the clouds. Bradford Street in Birmingham is as straight as a die and runs parallel to Digbeth High street. At the top of the hill by Trinity Church, the floats, dignitaries and people were congregating.

The entry code was you had to wear something green and St Patrick was there overseeing the proceedings. The Peaky Blinders were behaving themselves and they had brought their own police force. Irish dancers and marching bands were adding to the entertainment. There were a group of dancers who had flown in from Bolivia. Their costumes contributed to the colourful noise around them. The scooters were polished so well that you got blinded by the reflections from the chrome work and mirrors. The floats were being loaded up and the Lord Mayor and the Lady Mayoress were greeting everyone and having their picture taken. With so many photographers around it was not long before the West Midland Mayor, Andy Street made an appearance. Everyone was so friendly and the atmosphere was one of excitement and merriment.

Then the parade was due to start so we rushed down the street to St Anne’s church. People were lining the barriers as you went down the hill towards the city centre. Even the dogs were dressed up in the Irish tricolour flag. The parade was long and varied, stopping every so often to let the marching bands and the Irish dancers demonstrate their skills. People waved towards the floats and people in the floats waved back. Everyone was so happy.

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Some of the big names in construction were there including Murphy’s and Mahoney’s. The Irish came over to Birmingham and contributed to making the city an industrial powerhouse. The parade reflected this contribution and everyone reacted to celebrating the rich history of Birmingham. These pictures are my own interpretation. At an event such as the St Patrick’s Day parade every type of photographer is out and about. BBC teams and local newspapers, amateur photography organisations and the casual mobile phone snapper were in their element. Everyone wants their photograph taken.

The BBC coverage is the best starting point for a record of the day’s events although a quick search of St Patrick’s Day Parade, Birmingham will open up many more.

The next parade in Birmingham will be Pride 2024 and here is my account from last year.

Joy and happiness at Birmingham Pride 2023

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