Thousands Complete Birmingham Half Marathon
Congratulations to the thousands of people who completed last weekend’s Birmingham Half Marathon. Several of my good friends managed to complete the 13-mile course from the city centre out to Bournville and back. I went along to cheer them on and also check out the IAAF World Championships, which took place beforehand. There was a great atmosphere as the winner of the men’s race, Eritrea’s Zersenay Tadese received his medal.
Special congratulations to Liberal Democrat Councillors Karen Hamilton and Ray Hassall who both completed the distance – especially to Karen who only decided to take part a few days before the race!
Some local media focused on complaints from local residents. My view is one day of inconvenience should be acceptable for the benefits of hosting an event like this. Firstly it increases Birmingham’s growing reputation for hosting major sporting events. Secondly it inspires and motivates all sorts of people from the city to get fit enough to run the 13-mile distance, encouraging long-term positive lifestyle changes.
There are undoubtedly things that could be done better next time, so hopefully the organisers will take note. If anyone city centre based has any concerns about how the race was handled, including communications of road closures and alternative arrangements, please do contact me and I will pass on your concerns.
Spring Hill Library
Earlier this week I attended a meeting for the Cardinal Newman Heritage Project at Spring Hill Library, one of the stakeholders. Although I have passed it many times, I had never been inside.
Just a few minutes walk from the Jewellery Quarter, Central Ladywood and Summerfield, the impressive building housing Spring Hill Library is well worth a visit. Inside you'll currently find a series of displays celebrating Black History Month, such as one on Barack Obama (pictured). The library also offers books in Urdu, Punjabi, Hindi, Gujerati and Bengali as well as free internet access. You can book a free one-hour internet taster session.
Although early on a Monday morning, it was good to see the library busy. Spring Hill Library is a great resource for the people of Ladywood and Hockley and long may it continue!
I will be running an exhibition on the Cardinal Newman Heritage Project at Spring Hill Library on the afternoon of Thursday 28th October, so please do stop by to find out more about the project and to take a look around the library.
Reclaim the Night in Ladywood
Birmingham Feminists are holding their first Reclaim The Night march on Saturday 17th October 2009 on the streets of Ladywood.
From their website:
"The march will take us from the top of the city to an area that we feel needs to be ‘reclaimed’ from its reputation as a ‘no go’ area for the women of Birmingham. This event will unite women across the Midlands with women from out of area, to march and take a stand against violence against women, and particularly against the myth that a victim of sexual violence is somehow responsible for their victimisation if they walked home alone at night, or wore revealing clothing, or talked to a man at a bar."
"This is a women only march. We define this as any person who self-defines as a woman. We do feel that men are an extremely important part of the movement. However, there is a symbolism to a women only march for Reclaim The Night that separates it from marches for other causes. This is a HUMAN problem, but it is the collective voice of WOMEN that needs to be heard."
"The march will be followed by a rally with speakers from the Anawim Project, the Women of Allen’s Croft and Sandwell Rape Crisis among others. This rally is free to enter and is a gender mixed event. We will then be holding a fund-raising after party in the city centre with proximity to travel options (also mixed)."
Launch of Cardinal Newman Project
Last week I attended the launch of the Cardinal Newman Project at the Norman Power Centre in Ladywood. The project seeks to investigate the impact of Cardinal Newman and his work on the Ladywood area of Birmingham. It also aims to promote intergenerational learning. As well as obtaining information from elderly residents of Ladywood using techniques such as reminiscence, the children from the Oratory Primary School will be filming the various events and visits to produce a DVD of the project.
I was honoured to meet Father Sebastian and Father Anton from the Birmingham Oratory. Despite being openly secular in my beliefs, both were keen to hear about my involvement in the project and in particular my views on the area. I also met several parishioners of the Oratory and residents and management of the Norman Power Centre.
As part of the project steering group I have set up a simple website for the project to promote the work and events that are taking place. The site should make it easy for members of the steering group to give updates and for residents to contribute.
There was a lot of excitement about the potential visit to Birmingham of Pope Benedict XVI in 2010. If confirmed, the visit will bring a whole new meaning to the project and hopefully result in many more people benefiting from the project's work.
The Electric in October
If you've never been to the Electric Cinema before you are missing a real gem, right in the heart of Birmingham city centre. The Electric is the UK's oldest working cinema (opened in 1909) and now boasts two screens, one of which has sofa seating and waiter service!
I enjoyed the latest Harry Potter film there a few months ago from one of the comfy sofas - accompanied by a gorgeous tub of Just Rachel's Butterscotch and Orange Liqueur ice cream - and I can heartily recommend it!
The October/November programme contains the usual mix of hits such as District 9 and quirkier smaller films. There's also a strong line-up of stand-up as part of the Birmingham Comedy Festival. Some interesting looking films include:
The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus, which tells the tale of a travelling show where audience members are asked to choose between light and joy or darkness and gloom
Morris: A Life with Bells On, a comedy about an avant-garde Morris Dancer, Derecq Twist, and his fight to modernise Morris Dancing. Watch the trailer!
Enjoy!
Bloco Louco – Samba Beats in Ladywood
One of my personal highlights of ArtsFest this year was stumbling across a samba group as I wandered through St. Paul's Square. The sounds may have been Brazilian, but these folk come from the heart of Ladywood!
Bloco Louco is a community samba percussion group who hold weekly workshops at the Ladywood Arts & Leisure Centre. They were formed in 2007 and attract members from a wide cross-section of the community. They practice every Tuesday from 7.15 to 9.45pm. No prior experience is necessary so please do pop along if you're interested in learning more about samba.
Jewellery Quarter – Slum of Tomorrow?
I’m very disappointed at Conservative City Cabinet member for Housing John Lines’ comments that Jewellery Quarter apartments are the “slums of tomorrow”.
I think it’s clear to all that some developers are struggling to sell all their units, while some are struggling to even finish building them. Some have apparently approached the Council hoping to do a deal to make them available to Council tenants – but Councillor Lines has said no.
I strongly disagree with his view that these apartments are “not good enough for our people”. Whilst I agree they are not necessarily suitable for families, that doesn’t mean that individuals or young couples wouldn't be perfectly happy living in them.
I live in the Jewellery Quarter and I am not alone in being insulted by Cllr Lines’ comments. The Jewellery Quarter has a fantastic community spirit thanks to the incredible work of the Jewellery Quarter Neighbourhood Forum and its partnership working with others including the Regeneration Partnership, JQ Association and others. Branding its potential future in this way will not help future investment or the bid for World Heritage Status at all.
Of course, high quality family homes should be built across the city and I am pleased with the progress being made in that regard. But we should not ignore housing stock that is available now – and that includes apartments. In the middle of a recession we need to find sensible, good value solutions to all our problems.
What we must do though, is ensure any future developments are put through a thorough planning process that scrutinises the quality alongside current demand and potential future demand - before planning permission is given for any more apartments.
ArtsFest 2009 – Sunday in the Jewellery Quarter
As on Saturday, the Jewellery Quarter throws open its doors with open days at Key Hill Cemetery, the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, St. Paul's Church, St. Paul's Gallery, the Pen Room and the RBSA. In addition, check out the following...
SUNDAY - 11AM, 12PM, 2PM - GUIDED CEMETRY WALKS
Key Hill Cemetery
Looking at those buried in the cemetery from Birmingham's past including the Bird family, Joseph Chamberlain and Robert Lucas Chance.
SUNDAY - 3.00PM - VOICES OF CITY OF BIRMINGHAM CHOIR
RBSA 2nd Floor Gallery
Mini-Concert
SUNDAY - 3.00PM - THIS BEAUTIFUL THIEF
St. Paul's Gallery
Intelligent indie pop.
ArtsFest 2009 – Sunday in the City Centre
The highlight of Sunday will be sets from Reverend & The Makers, Athlete and Birmingham's own Johnny Foreigner, all live in Centenary Square. Also worth checking out is "The Fear of Queer", a performance exploring homophobia from the Pink Space Theatre Company, ahead of November's SHOUT Festival.
SUNDAY - 2.30PM - BELLY DANCE ELEMENTS
The Flapper
Release the Goddess within. Bellydancing with a Bollywood mix!
SUNDAY - 3.35PM - THE NATIONAL SAXOPHONE CHOIR OF GREAT BRITAIN
Birmingham Conservatoire - Adrian Boult Hall
Sax to the Max. Auditory and visual saxophonic treat.
SUNDAY - 4.00PM - PINK SPACE THEATRE COMPANY
The Library Theatre
The Fear of Queer. An explosive, contemporary, theatrical exploration of homophobia, intolerance and prejudice through a fusion of physical theatre, movement, dance, music, lyrics and performance poetry.
SUNDAY - 4.30PM - RAINBOW VOICES
The Flapper
Birmingham's LBGT Community Choir.
SUNDAY - 5.50PM - JOHNNY FOREIGNER
Centenary Square Stage
Birmingham's own indie heroes.
SUNDAY - 8.45PM - REVEREND & THE MAKERS
Centenary Square Stage
Indie / funk / electro from Sheffield's finest.
SUNDAY - 9.45PM - ATHLETE
Centenary Square Stage
Award-winning indie-rock.
ArtsFest 2009 – Saturday in the Jewellery Quarter
ArtsFest continues its weekend in the Jewellery Quarter, combining with Heritage Open Day Weekend events. The Museum of the Jewellery Quarter is open for tours, you can see work from Birmingham's contemporary artists at the RBSA Open Exhibition, visit The Pen Room, or have a wander around St Paul's Church and enjoy a BBQ!. Plus don't miss the latest work from Stan's Cafe at the A.E. Harris factory - "Giant Steps".
SATURDAY - 11.00AM - GUIDED CEMETERY WALK
Key Hill Cemetery
Looking at those buried in the cemetery from Birmingham's past including the Bird family, Joseph Chamberlain and Robert Lucas Chance.
SATURDAY - 1.00PM - MDCC THEATRE COMPANY
Key Hill Cemetery
The Hamlet Globetrotters. Comedy sketches based on Shakespeare.
SATURDAY - 2.15PM - SOMEONE-AT-THE-DOOR SAMBA BAND
St. Paul's Church
Brazilian-style Samba music.
SATURDAY - 4.00PM - THE LIGHTS
St. Paul's Gallery
Indie pop: imagine Elvis Costello writing for ELO fronted by James Dean Bradfield's younger siblings!
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