The Proclamation of King Charles III outside of the Library of Birmingham in Centenary Square - Sunday 11th September 2022

Queen Elizabeth II sadly died aged 96 on the 8th September 2022 at Balmoral Castle in Scotland. Her son automatically became King, taking the regnal title of Charles III. After the Accession Council at St James's Palace on the 10th September, and Proclamation, a day later in Birmingham, the Lord Mayor read it out at 1pm in front of the Library of Birmingham in Centenary Square.

Sunday 11th September 2022

Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth II died aged 96 on Thursday 8th September 2022, after a 70 year reign as Queen of the United Kingdom. Charles, Prince of Wales automatically became King. Taking the title of King Charles III.

The Accession Council met at St James' Palace on the morning of Saturday 10th September 2022 to officially proclaim King Charles III. And the Proclamation was read out there.

The following day, Sunday 11th September 2022, the Proclamation was read out in Town's and Cities across the UK and the Commonwealth. Including here in Birmingham.

The venue was outside of the Library of Birmingham in Centenary Square. In the 20th Century, Victoria Square outside of the Council House was used, but was obviously unavailable due to PoliNations.

The City of Birmingham Brass Band was playing around 12:30pm, and by 1pm the Lord Mayor of Birmingham and other dignitaries came out. Including the Bishop of Birmingham and Deputy Leader of Birmingham City Council Brigid Jones. Lawrence Barton from Southside was also there to introduce the proceedings.

 

Westside BID has posted and article with a link to a video HERE.

 

11 photos below taken by Elliott Brown. Full gallery of 30 photos on his Facebook page HERE.

 

dndimg alt="Charles III" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Proc%20CIII%20Centenary%20Sq%2011092022%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Charles III" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Proc%20CIII%20Centenary%20Sq%2011092022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Charles III" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Proc%20CIII%20Centenary%20Sq%2011092022%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

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dndimg alt="Charles III" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Proc%20CIII%20Centenary%20Sq%2011092022%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Charles III" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Proc%20CIII%20Centenary%20Sq%2011092022%20(6).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Charles III" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Proc%20CIII%20Centenary%20Sq%2011092022%20(7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Charles III" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Proc%20CIII%20Centenary%20Sq%2011092022%20(8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Charles III" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Proc%20CIII%20Centenary%20Sq%2011092022%20(9).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Charles III" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Proc%20CIII%20Centenary%20Sq%2011092022%20(10).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Charles III" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Proc%20CIII%20Centenary%20Sq%2011092022%20(11).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photography by Elliott Brown

Birmingham Bus Bash at Birmingham Moseley Rugby - 4th September 2022

The Birmingham Bus Bash for 2022 was held at Birmingham Mosely Rugby, at Billesley Common, on Sunday 4th September 2022 (near Yardley Wood Road). Elliott popped along on Sunday afternoon around half an hour before it finished for the day. Not as many buses here like the 2017 Bus Bash at Cannon Hill Park. Was also free bus rides to The Transport Museum, Wythall. 

This is the first Bus Bash I have been to since the Birmingham Bus Bash 2017 at Cannon Hill Park. The 2022 Bus Bash was the first one since 2019 to be in person (2020 and 2021 was online only during the pandemic). This bus bash seemed a bit smaller with less buses than before. But still had a prescence from National Express West Midlands / Coventry and The Transport Museum, Wythall. Was the usual free bus rides towards the museum from Birmingham Moseley Rugby (Billesley Common) and back.

 

National Express West Midlands / National Express Coventry

In the field in front of the pitch of Birmingham Moseley Rugby (while a women's rugby game was on). There was line up of modern National Express West Midlands and National Express Coventry heritage livery buses. Plus a Hydrogen and Electric bus (not heritage livery).

From left to right: National Express West Midlands 4780, 4535, 1834, 2102, 4722, 4679. National Express Coventry 4453 and 875. National Express West Midlands 4651 and National Express West Midlands Hydrogen H1013. National Express Coventry Electric E038.

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Midland Red West

I'd only see Midland Red West about 6 days before at The Transport Museum, Wythall on the August Bank Holiday Monday. But saw it again from the Maypole on Alcester Road South. I'd caught a 50 down to the Maypole to pop to the Starbucks Coffee Drive Thru, and was thinking of catching a no 2 bus to Billesley on Maypole Lane, but then remembered the 2 doesn't run to the Maypole on Sunday's, so walked back to Alcester Road South to catch a 50 to Wheelers Lane. And then would walk to Birmingham Moseley Rugby via the back entrance road.

Midland Red West 544 was taking visitors for free from Birmingham Moseley Rugby (venue of the Birmingham Bus Bash 2022) to The Transport Museum, Wythall.

I later saw it again on leaving the Bus Bash, this time it was on Yardley Wood Road and Brook Lane in Billesley (but was in a bus stop waiting to catch an 11A, and it was raining).

dndimg alt="Midland Red West" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MRW%20544%20Alcester%20Rd%20S%20Maypole%2004092022%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Midland Red West" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MRW%20544%20Alcester%20Rd%20S%20Maypole%2004092022%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Midland Red West" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MRW%20544%20Alcester%20Rd%20S%20Maypole%2004092022%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Yellow Buses

At the Bus Bash, I saw this pair of yellow buses. The first on the left was the Midland Red Towing bus. To the right of that was the Children's Party Bus. Piccadilly Whip ice cream van was to the right of the Party Bus. I'd previously seen the Midland Red Towing bus at The Transport Museum, Wythall over the August Bank Holiday Monday.

dndimg alt="Bus Bash" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Yellow%20bus%20BBB%2004092022%20(1).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Bus Bash" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Yellow%20bus%20BBB%2004092022%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

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Birmingham City Transport and coaches

It's Birmingham City Transport 2222 again. I once caught that from Snow Hill Queensway to the Birmingham Museum Collection Centre back in September 2018 (four years ago). Next to the BCT bus was two coaches including: National Express XC 262 and Mighty Travels. I saw BCT 2222, JOJ 222 one last time from the bus stop on Yardley Wood Road (opposite Billesley Community Fire Station). Didn't get a photo, but it was raining, and I was in the bus stop waiting for the 11A at the time. I think it went back to Acocks Green Bus Garage.

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WMPTE / NXWM / TWM

Next up we see WM Travel 2462, National Express West Midlands 669 and Travel West Midlands 313. I'd last saw WM 2462 on car park shuttle bus duties at The Transport Museum, Wythall on the August Bank Holiday Monday, but have seen it at previous bus garage open days as well.

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dndimg alt="Bus Bash" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMT%20TWM%20BBBB%2004092022%20(2).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Bus Bash" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMT%20TWM%20BBBB%2004092022%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Timesaver

Waiting for my bus to go home, I saw the blue Timesaver bus again. It was heading from Yardley Wood Road onto Brook Lane around the island. Was in the bus stop opposite Billesley Community Fire Station, so did not get a new photo of it. Here's one from 2013, when I rode it from Acocks Green to Yardley Wood bus garages on the Open Day.

dndimg alt="Timesaver 900 2018" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Timesaver%20900%20Yardley%20Wood%20Bus%20Garage%202018%20(3).jpg" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos by Elliott Brown

 

Miniature Railway Wythall operated by Elmdon Model Engineering Society at The Transport Museum, Wythall

It wasn't just heritage buses at The Transport Museum, Wythall. On the August Bank Holiday Mondat 29th August 2022, visitors could pay to go on the Miniature Railway Wythall operated by Elmdon Model Engineering Society. The locomotive in use was called Blanche from the Penrhyn Railway. Kids seemed to have enjoyed it.

Miniature Railway Wythall operated by Elmdon Model Engineering Society

Shortly after getting off the car park shuttle bus at The Transport Museum, Wythall, I saw the station Elmdon Halt from the Miniature Railway Wythall.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MRW%20Elmdon%20TMW%2029082022%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The first time I saw the miniature railway in action, was while looking at various heritage buses parked up. Was a grassy bank, and saw the miniature steam train Blanche come around.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MRW%20Elmdon%20TMW%2029082022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

I was in The Power Hall, and briefly popped out when I saw this footbridge, shortly afterwards saw the miniature train heading around on the tracks. It went past the heritage buses, as well as a picnic bench area with bouncy castle and slides for kids.

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dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MRW%20Elmdon%20TMW%2029082022%20(8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

I was later in another bus garage on site, near the milk float collection, popped out and saw this tunnel. I did not wait around to see if the miniature steam train would come out of it. So back to the milk floats and buses it was.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MRW%20Elmdon%20TMW%2029082022%20(9).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Before leaving, and after coming back to Wythall from a free bus ride, and ice cream. Saw the miniature steam train at Elmdon Holt, before we got back on the car park shuttle bus, to return to the Phoenix Group car park.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MRW%20Elmdon%20TMW%2029082022%20(10).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos by Elliott Brown

Visit to The Transport Museum, Wythall over the August Bank Holiday Monday 2022

On previous Bank Holiday weekends, I'd seen heritage buses from the collection of The Transport Museum, Wythall on the Alcester Road (south of the Maypole in Hollywood) or at Bristol Street or Suffolk Street Queensway (near The Alex Theatre, but CAZ stopped that). Finally went on the August Bank Holiday Monday 2022, plus rode a bus on a loop via Earlswood.

The Transport Museum, Wythall is located at Chapel Lane, Wythall, Worcestershire, B47 6JA. On the Event Days of the August Bank Holiday weekend, Sunday the 28th and Monday the 29th August 2022, visitors could park their cars at Phoenix Group and get a free shuttle bus to the museum. Visitors could also get a free bus from the Maypole or from Wythall Station. As it was an Event Day, there was also free bus rides around the area. They used to also have buses going towards The Alexandra Theatre, but I'm unsure if they still do this since the Clean Air Zone came into force in 2021.

 

Car Park Shuttle buses

Bus route 758 from Phoenix Group to The Transport Museum, Wythall. We went on Travel West Midlands 4001 both ways, from the car park to the museum and back later that day. It was the first low floor bus in the fleet, also had seats to lift up for wheelchairs and pushchairs.

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dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/TWM%204001%20TMW%2029082022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

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Other buses on the Car Park Shuttle route 758 included West Midlands Travel 4613, National Express West Midlands 4321 and West Midlands Travel 2462. I'd earlier seen NXWM 4321 passing the Becketts Farm Flower Field on shuttle bus duties. And later saw it coming back on a Midland Red bus from a half hour bus ride to Earlswood and back.

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dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CPS%20TMW%2029082022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

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dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/CPS%20TMW%2029082022%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Midland Red

This Midland Red bus was no 1902 with Mercian branding. Was parked next to a Birmingham City Transport bus, no 486.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midland%20Red%20TMW%2029082022%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Midland Red West 544 was one of the buses used for free bus rides on the Event Day.

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dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midland%20Red%20TMW%2029082022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midland%20Red%20TMW%2029082022%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Midland Red 4255 was in a new exhibition. The Barn Find Exhibition. Buses and old milk floats found in barns, and left unrestored, as they were as they were discovered.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midland%20Red%20TMW%2029082022%20(5).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

More Midland Red buses in the garage to the north west of the site. No 5399, plus a couple of others to the left.

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As we exited the milk float exhibit, saw this Midland Red bus, for route M33 Malvern Link.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midland%20Red%20TMW%2029082022%20(7).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

In the repair shed was some familiar buses. An unidentifed Midland Red bus on the left and to the right, one destined for Gloucester on the X72.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midland%20Red%20TMW%2029082022%20(8).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Time for a free bus ride. The 13:15 was supposed to go to Beoley via Alvechurch, but the driver did not know the route. So the bus we went on went from Wythall towards Earlswood and back on a half hour journey. It was Midland Red 5767.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midland%20Red%20TMW%2029082022%20(9).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midland%20Red%20TMW%2029082022%20(10).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

On leaving Wythall on the car park shuttle, saw from the top deck, Midland Red 5656, originally the Birmingham London Motorway Express on route ME1.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Midland%20Red%20TMW%2029082022%20(11).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Birmingham City Transport

Seen inside of The Power Hall was these Birmingham City Transport buses. You could sit in 0-9926 and have your photo taken with it.

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Seen outside of the engine repair shed was this pair of Birmingham City Transport buses 3009 and 486. Out so people could have bus rides on them.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BCT%203009%20TMW%2029082022.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Birmingham City Transport 486 later spotted on Chapel Lane, heading back towards the museum. From the Midland Red bus we were on, which was on Hill Lane at the time. Our bus on the half our round trip towards Earlswood and back to Wythall via the A435.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BCT%20486%20TMW%2029082022.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

It's been almost four years since I've seen Birmingham City Transport 2548. Inside the repair shed, licence plate missing at the front.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/BCT%202548%20TMW%2029082022.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

West Bromwich Corporation

This West Bromwich Corporation bus was one that you could go inside. And was parked up next to a Birmingham Fire Engine, in The Power Hall.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMC%20TMW%2029082022.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WBC%20TMW%2029082022%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Walsall Corporation

Bus no 56 from Walsall Corporation was inside of the repair shed.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WalC%2056%20TMW%2029082022.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Bus no 116 was in the Midland Red repair shed. This is the first time since I last saw it at the Birmingham Bus Bash in Cannon Hill Park in 2017. I previously caught it on the road in Bromsgrove back in 2013. Some of it's wheels was off.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WalC%20116%20TMW%2029082022%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WalC%20116%20TMW%2029082022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WalC%20116%20TMW%2029082022%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Wolverhampton Corporation

This trolley bus was from Wolverhampton with overhead pantograph. The conductor would have to move it with a pole. It was seen in The Power Hall.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WolvC%20TMW%2029082022%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WolvC%20TMW%2029082022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

West Midlands Travel

This West Midlands Travel bus no 4527 was parked outside on the Event Day.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/WMT%204527%20TMW%2029082022.JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Various including Midland Red, Birmingham City Transport etc

A variety of different buses from around the West Midlands in this garage, including several Midland Red buses, Birmingham City Transport, West Midlands Travel and Travel West Midlands. The no 47 bus stood out for me, no 2811, as I may have ridden this bus back in the 1990s or early 2000s. The Metrobus was withdrawn from service in 2010.

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MR%20BCT%20WMT%20TMW%2029082022%20(1).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MR%20BCT%20WMT%20TMW%2029082022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MR%20BCT%20WMT%20TMW%2029082022%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Transport Museum Wythall" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/MR%20BCT%20WMT%20TMW%2029082022%20(4).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

Photos by Elliott Brown

Victoria Square - View from 103, Key to the City

In June 2022, Elliott was gifted the Key to the City by the lady behind the 103 Colmore Row Twitter and Instagram accounts. He visited 103 Colmore Row for views from the 18th floor balcony four times between June and August 2022. Here are the changing views of Victoria Square. Including during the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games.

Having missed the February 2022 meet at 103 Colmore Row, Elliott was promised to get the key to 103 Colmore Row. He was gifted it by the lady who runs the 103 Colmore Row Twitter and Instagram accounts.

Between June and August, he went up four times. Usually as the view of Victoria Square kept changing. He always went on Saturday's.

Every time you arrive, you show your key to one of the Key to the City volunteers. The wait in the foyer could be anywhere between 20 minutes and 50 minutes (especially near the end of the Commonwealth Games). You would get a slot of 10 to 15 minutes to go up the fastest lift to the 18th floor, for views from the balcony.

It was an opportunity to get views of Victoria Square. When street art was painted ahead of the games, Elliott went twice on two Saturday's in July. And one final time in August on Super Saturday, while the 60th Jamaican Independence Day was being celebrated.

 

11th June 2022

General views down to Victoria Square from the 18th floor balcony of 103 Colmore Row.

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dndimg alt="Victoria Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Vic%20Sq%20V103%2011062022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

River and Youth aka the Floozie in the Jacuzzi was flowing again.

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dndimg alt="Victoria Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie%20V103%20KtC%2011062022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

dndimg alt="Victoria Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Floozie%20V103%20KtC%2011062022%20(3).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Hew Locke reimagined the Queen Victoria statue as an artwork called Foreign Exchange (with the IKON Gallery). It would remain here for two months (until the middle of August 2022). Sir Antony Gormey's Iron: Man statue seen to the left.

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dndimg alt="Victoria Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/Hew%20Locke%20QV%20V103%2011062022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Council House from above.

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dndimg alt="Victoria Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/V103%20Council%20House%2011062022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

Victoria Square House from above.

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dndimg alt="Victoria Square" dndsrc="../uploadedfiles/V103%20Vic%20Sq%20Hse%2011062022%20(2).JPG" style="width: 100%;" />

 

The Town Hall from above.

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16th July 2022

Second visit to the 18th floor balcony, to see the artwork being painted called Connections by the artist Anjuli McKenna, in Victoria Square. It was half complete at this point.

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Hew Locke's Foreign Exchange artwork with Iron: Man as it was meant to be seen.

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The Town Hall again, this time with a Perry the Bull banner on Beneficial House behind.

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23rd July 2022

One week on, and the Victoria Square Fan Zone was almost complete, several days before the start of the Commonwealth Games. Also to see the Connections street art in Victoria Square fully complete. There was now a stage in the square, and would be the finish point for the Birmingham Marathona week later. The West Midlands Metro trams were also now running all the way between Wolverhampton St George's and Edgbaston Village.

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West Midlands Metro trams passing Victoria Square and stopping at Town Hall Tram Stop, in both directions.

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See more of that day here Riding trams in Zone 1.

 

6th August 2022

Super Saturday, and the final weekend of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, and the City Centre was very busy. It was also the 60th anniversary of Jamaican Independence which was being celebrated in Victoria Square at the time. This would be my final visit to 103 Colmore Row, before Key to the City ended the following day.

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Thank you to 103 Colmore Row, the Key to the City volunteers, to Fierce and Yale Locks.

 

Next up is PoliNations in September 2022, but will have to get views from Victoria Square itself.

 

Photography by Elliott Brown