Acting since he was an 11-year-old in shows such as Brassed Off at the Wolverhampton Grand and a long stint on Nativity!, the unstoppable Alexander Hogg has now written a four-part drama podcast series, For King and Country. And he’s still only 19!

When you conjure up images of a child star, you’re not imagining Alexander. There’s no ego or entitlement, just a desire to do great work, all while studying for a degree in Musical Theatre at the University of Chichester Conservatoire. For King and Country is a comedy drama about a group of friends from the Midlands who inadvertently sign up for National Service and explores how they cope.

A story of friendship, family and relationships, the series has been a real community effort. It was recorded at the Mushroom Studios in Birmingham with an entirely local team. Alexander says: “Championing my beloved home and bringing people together by using my characters is something I’ve tried to do throughout the series and I hope it feels like a warm hug to people across the Midlands and further afield.”

JUGGLING ACT

Alexander feels it’s important to tell stories through a genuine local Midlands lens as it can feel like we sometimes get left behind in the media. He says: “Having worked very closely with iconic Midlands-based writers such as BAFTA and international Emmy winner Debbie Isitt (Nativity!) and Oscar winner Rachel Shenton (All Creatures Great and Small), I’ve had a chance to learn from the best.” Balancing writing, acting and studying is a juggle that Alexander is learning how to manage. University lecturers are supportive and if Alexander needs time to work on a job, they give him that flexibility. It’s old hat for Alexander as he was balancing school with performing throughout his three years on Nativity!

I always imagine child actors to come from thespian parents but not so for Alexander. He says his parents were encouraging but not from that world. He used to put on little shows for them at home and eventually his parents found a suitable acting class and an agent. Sparked by an advertisement in a newspaper promoting auditions for Brassed Off at Wolverhampton Grand, Alexander went along and got the part.

He says: “Everything snowballed from there. I then toured the UK with Nativity! I was one of the original cast and toured with them for three years. It gave me a lot of confidence.” Much of Nativity! was improvised but Alexander says that’s only possible if you really know your character.

Alexander’s heroes are largely comedy performers/writers like Miranda Hart, Scott Paige and Oscar Conlon-Morrey as well as David Jason and Ronnie Barker who were always on the telly at his grandad’s house. He says: “They make it look off-the-cuff, but actually it is meticulously planned. The precision is impressive.”

ANYTHING’S POSSIBLE

Like many people, the pandemic gave Alexander the space and time to think about what he wanted. He says: “I’d just finished Nativity! and the world shut down. There were no theatres to perform in. Through my agent I did some screen work – I remember shooting a commercial in Belgium but Covid also allowed me to focus on writing. I had the time.” Going forward Alexander would love to balance acting and writing enabling him to take control of his own career.

He says: “I don’t want to be put in a box. I want to drive the narrative. People in power can say yes or no at the flip of a switch, so I’d like to take control. Anything’s possible.”

Under his artist name ‘PBN’, Dr Harpreet Jandu has developed his career as an independent artist and producer, releasing multiple albums and singles collaborating with artists and performing for audiences around the world. PBN’s music has reached millions of listeners globally, with more than 100 million views and streams. Alongside Harpreet’s work in music, he has also been involved in projects across theatre, TV and film, contributing creatively to storytelling across different mediums.

Now, through Playback Creates, he’s giving back. The not-for-profit platform is dedicated to developing talent, celebrating culture and creating pathways into the creative industries. He says: “Everything I’ve achieved today comes from those early grassroots beginnings, and it’s why I remain passionate about supporting emerging talent and helping create platforms that give the next generation of artists the same opportunities to grow. It’s what I do.”

OPENING DOORS

Playback is about opening doors creating opportunities for artists to develop their skills, gain confidence and access the industry through mentoring, live showcases and collaborative projects. Harpreet says: “Through my role I lead the development of creative projects, talent programmes, and cultural platforms that support emerging artists and storytellers, particularly from underrepresented communities.” He adds: “For the people we work with, it’s often about more than just music or performance. It’s about support, guidance and creating pathways that help the next generation of talent grow and be seen.”

When Harpreet started out, he found he was figuring things out as he went along without much guidance, structure or a platform to work with. He says that through Playback Creates, he wants to change that for other youngsters and that means creating programmes, partnerships and opportunities that genuinely help creatives move from grassroots beginnings into sustainable careers.

BIGGEST LESSON

One of the biggest lessons Harpreet learned and one that he’s keen to pass on, is the importance of understanding the business side of the industry. He says: “When you first start out, you’re focused on the music, the creativity and performing, which is how it should be, but over time you realise how important it is to understand things like ownership, publishing, and the long term value of the work you create.”

Of the creative scene in Birmingham, Harpreet says: “The city has always felt full of energy and diversity. One of the things I’ve always loved about it is the mix of cultures and how that naturally feeds into the creative scene. There’s a real sense of community here, and so much talent across music, arts, and culture.” Harpreet’s work has been recognised by the University of Wolverhampton which awarded him an honorary doctorate of music which he describes as humbling.

FULL CIRCLE MOMENT

“For someone who started out through grassroots community initiatives and local platforms, it felt like a full circle moment. What makes it even more special is knowing that moments like that can inspire others from similar backgrounds to believe that their work and their voice can be valued at the highest level too.”

Even when Harpreet has a bit of down time, he’s likely to be immersed music. He says: “When I get a bit of downtime, I like to step away from the pace of work and reset. Music is obviously a big part of my life, but interestingly one of the ways I relax is by listening to completely different genres and discovering new sounds. It helps clear my head and often sparks new ideas.”

Nizlopi’s Luke Concannon and John Parker have been playing together since they were 13, and when JCB Song – a song about five-year-old Luke and his dad – climbed the charts two decades ago, it was a remarkable moment. A completely independent band run from a room in Luke’s parents’ house in the Midlands, the folk band were always about integrity and community-based values rather than chasing the dollar. Luke now lives in the US with his wife Steph and their son, who has focused Luke’s mind in terms of making his music matter.

Twenty years after JCB Song, the world is a different place with much to feel concerned and angry about. Luke strikes us as someone who feels deeply and being a father has changed the way he approaches life and music to an extent. On fatherhood he says: “It’s just really beautiful. I’ve less time do things, so you just have to make these things count. It condenses life into what’s important. It also makes me show up more in music.”

PASSIONATE AND PUNCHY

Luke feels the ‘apocalyptic nature of these times’ and the ‘lunacy in the world’ deeply and finds speaking up through his music, crucial. He says: “There’s so much dark stuff happening in the world, so much injustice, so there’s lots of challenging stuff on Midnight Bloom.”

Midnight Bloom is Luke’s latest solo album and while there are joyful elements, it’s passionate and punchy – a response partly to the dark political times we find ourselves in, but also a prolonged period of illness and a diagnosis of IBS that left him fatigued and burnt out. He says he was at 50 per cent health for some time and lost his creative spark.

Moving to the US and building a life with Steph has been wonderful, but also hard work. The pair have literally built a home on a plot of land in Vermont which at times meant sleeping in a one-man tent while they completed a more permanent and comfortable structure. Luke says he’s become very handy with a chainsaw.

SUPERFAN ED

When we chatted to Luke he was travelling with his brood on the Holyhead ferry to Dublin for the last show of Ed Sheeran’s tour, on which Nizlopi opened for the star. This isn’t as random as it sounds. They go way back to when teenage Ed was front row at every Nizlopi gig and even interned for the band.

After a Shepherd’s Bush gig in 2006, a young Ed Sheeran contacted the band on Myspace to ask if they had any work experience opportunities. Luke asked him to send a video which blew the band away. Ed went on to open for Nizlopi and they’ve kept in touch ever since. Ed has regularly cited Nizlopi as a massive inspiration and chose one of their tracks, Flooded Quarry, as the one he’d save during his Dessert Island Discs interview. Ed said: “Basically everything from my live set – the way I control my voice, the way I control the audience, the way I play the guitar even and use beatbox and stuff – this comes from this band.”

When we talked, Luke was looking forward to getting home to Vermont where life now seems pretty idyllic. He’s thrown himself into the music scene and runs a Second Sunday Session at the Guildford Country Store for local musicians and storytellers. He’ll be booking gigs for next year, getting some music in the diary and ideally enjoying some peace and clarity.

Will Venner kicked off his career in hospitality as a part-time kitchen porter aged just 16. He wasn’t dreaming of a career in food at the time, in fact he was a fussy eater as a boy and cheffing had never crossed his mind. Despite that, he worked his way from kitchen porter to the grill at Miller and Carter where he started out.

Fast forward a few years and heaps of experience and Will is now working as a junior sous chef at the brilliant Michelin-starred Simpsons restaurant where he’s reveling in the creativity and endless possibilities of a high-end kitchen. Securing the job at Simpsons is a big career highlight for Will as well as being named as a finalist in the prestigious Young Chef of the Year awards in 2019.

THANKS DAD!

Despite his fussiness as a child, Will remembers enjoying helping his dad in the kitchen rustling up a Sunday roast or a full English breakfast. He says: “Without knowing it, I suppose my dad inspired me to cook.” For Will, cheffing was a slow burn that really took off when he decided university wasn’t for him. He came back from Southampton where he’d been studying and started working as a commis chef at local gastro pub The Boot Inn in Lapworth where he worked his way up to junior sous chef. Will recalls: “This was my first time cooking fresh food and I quickly found a passion for it.”

Will moved from The Boot to the Eden Collection’s Mallory Court which is a very different beast. Shifting from a fast-paced, high-cover gastro pub environment to a fine dining kitchen where consistency and precision are key was a challenge but one that Will embraced. Under Simon Haigh’s tutelage, Will began honing a classical French style. He says “Simon is more than just a mentor but also a good friend. He gave me my first opportunity in fine dining and taught me a lot which I will be forever grateful for. He is also someone I can always rely on for advice and guidance which is always helpful in this industry.”

WORLD CLASS

After two years at Mallory Court, Will moved to country house hotel Buckland Manor in Broadway before returning to the city to the Simpsons kitchen under the guidance of Luke Tipping. Arriving as a chef de partie in 2024, Will has been promoted to junior sous chef. The kitchen at Simpsons consistently produces world class dishes that excite and wow thanks to a bunch of chefs bursting with creativity and obsessed with flavour and detail.

Will is enjoying the challenge and the opportunity to create. Ultimately he says his ambitions are like most chefs: “To have my own restaurant but aside from that, it would probably be cooking and serving food that excites me and that I’m proud to serve. Most of all it is making people happy when they eat my food.” Will’s excited by the food scene in Birmingham generally. We asked him where he eats when he’s not working and it’s a neat little list that’s worth noting.

Of Stirchley, Will says: “There seems to be a growing food scene developing here but my standout restaurant has to be Eat Vietnam. It’s relaxed, laid back but the food is tasty. It gets better every time I go!” In the city centre, Will raves about Bonehead: “In my opinion it has the best fried chicken in Birmingham. The Nashville hot chicken burger really hits the spot!” For bao buns, Will heads to Tiger Bites Pig: “Whether it’s a couple of bao buns or a rice bowl, it’s always delicious.” And in China Town, Will loves the unassuming, unfussy Peach Garden with its hanging Cantonese meat in the window. He says: “It never disappoints.”

Actor John Leader has enjoyed a sparkling career. His first job after graduating was in the acclaimed War Horse and since then, it’s been one long list of brilliant roles. This month, John’s heading back to his roots in the Midlands to take on the beloved role of Roald Dahl’s iconic BFG adapted by Tom Wells. A collaboration between the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC), Chichester Festival Theatre and the Roald Dahl Story Company, the show has a 10-week run in Stratford which John is delighted about.

Having grown up in Birmingham and studied at Stratford College, John describes coming back to the Royal Shakespeare Theatre as a ‘full circle moment’. Of the role as the BFG, he says: “I’m absolutely thrilled to be playing such an iconic character who means so much to so many people. Everyone has their own picture of the BFG, so it’s really exciting to help bring him to life on stage. It’s a real joy to be collaborating with Daniel (director) and such a talented team of creatives on this story.”

ESSENTIAL PART

The show’s director, Daniel Evans says John’s casting was an essential part of the puzzle and praises his warmth and humility as well as the show’s incredible puppetry designed by Toby Olié. John’s had experience of working alongside puppetry thanks to his stint in War Horse and offers some insight into what that’s like. He says, “You have to treat them like they’re human and look them in the eyes as if they’re actors. They’re so alive, so real and not just part of the set, they’re actors. The puppeteers have the scope to react to what’s happening on the stage. It’s magic.”

Growing up, John was into sport rather than drama and hadn’t considered a career on the stage. It wasn’t until he was doing his A-Levels that the acting bug struck. A friend suggested reading a script which he agreed to and which had a big impact on him. John recalls: “It was like a bomb going off!” His teachers opened his eyes to the possibilities and John went on to study acting in Stratford. Fresh from college, the War Horse job was a dream first gig of which John says: “I was really fortunate. I’ve had a career I could have only dreamed of.”

HUMAN CONNECTION

John last worked with the RSC in The Merry Wives of Windsor and The School for Scandal in 2024 and previous credits include Wuthering Heights and Peter Pan at the National Theatre, A Monster Calls at the Old Vic and The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe at the Bridge Theatre. While theatre has formed the lion’s share of John’s career, he also enjoys working in TV and film and says he has a deep love for both. Having said that, he admits there’s something magical about performing to a theatre audience. John explains: “Theatre is special. Phones are turned off and audiences are completely tuned in. It’s an industry so grounded in human connection, shared experience.”

In terms of dream roles, John says he’s a big believer in mustering up that dream job feeling in every role. He says: “That way each job feels special – you find that sense of excitement and joy in everything you do.” If there was ever a match made in theatre heaven, it feels like John Leader playing the BFG is it.

We’ve not much to thank Covid-19 for however it represented a new dawn for many people who had time to really think about what they wanted from life. Sandra Palmer was one of those people. She was under the strictest of lockdowns due to a health issue which meant she was even more isolated than most.

Having entered lockdown making and selling lingerie around the world, Sandra emerged as an artist. She began taking photos of flowers in the garden and creating surreal collages using the photos alongside images of some of Birmingham’s iconic architecture. Black and white photos juxtaposed with the vibrancy of the of the flowers produced striking results.

STORY TELLING

Sandra says: “I wanted my art to be relatable, memorable and tell a story. I needed to make art about being happy and positive. People mock Birmingham but there’s beauty out there.” Sandra remembers Birmingham in the eighties when the city had a brutalist energy: “Prince Charles came here and said Birmingham was a concrete city which prompted the council to try to make it more green. Now I think there’s beauty all around.” Influenced by the candid photography of Terry O’Neill and the floral collages of 17^th century artist Mary Delaney, Sandra’s art celebrates the beauty of the everyday.

For Sandra, growing up in Birmingham in the seventies and eighties was all about playing out until it got dark, hopscotch, cycling miles on your bike and using two paper cups and a piece of string as a mobile phone and her art feels a bit nostalgic. Lockdown in many ways provided the simpler way of life that mirrored childhood. Sandra slowed down focusing on meditation, art and walks. She says: “I liked the slow pace of life. In some ways it was good emotionally. You could hear the birds tweeting in the city. Things were simpler.”

Sandra tries to strike a balance now. She takes every Sunday off completely in order to relax and reset learning from previous business experience. She used to feel she had to post on social media every day, but she’s cut it down to three times a week. Her focus is trying to get more people to her website as well getting more representation in the city. Sandra’s now selling through Owen De Vissier’s Lux Gallery and has some pieces exhibited at newly opened Society Brum along with another Brummie favourite, Cold War Steve.

CHALLENGING NOTIONS

Sandra completed a course earlier in the year with art historian and author Ruth Millington essentially about how to get into galleries. We’ve heard so many times when interviewing artists based in Birmingham that the scene is incredibly supportive which warms the cockles. Ruth Millington’s name comes up time and again as someone who champions artists and brings them together. Over the summer Sandra exhibited at Belongings, a group exhibition featuring the work of 20 local artists exploring themes of identity, journey, heritage and multiculturalism organised by Ruth. Challenging notions that we only belong to one space, the exhibition celebrated layered stories and memories, multiple senses of self and the idea of physical and emotional ‘belongings’.

Sandra also took part in Open Studios – a wonderful project organised by Owen from Lux which allows artists and craftspeople to display their work from their own homes or studios. This year a whopping 170 artists over 86 venues took part. Sandra displayed her work at Moseley Exchange.

WHAT’S NEXT?

Sandra has begun creating custom collages – personalised pieces centred around a photo from a client that’s given the Brummy Artist collage treatment. Christmas gift anyone? She’d like to sell into museum shops, exhibit more, get more representation and ultimately Sandra would love to hang some pieces in The Grand Hotel. If anyone at the hotel is reading this…

Chloe Chan is one of the country’s top riders in her age group winning numerous titles which has placed her firmly on Team GB’s radar and saw her long listed for the European Championships in the summer. She attended one of Team GB’s training camps earlier in the year with pony Ruby, to which a long list of just 20 riders were invited.

That number was whittled down to 10 for a final day of trials which included Chloe. Her speciality is eventing which incorporates three disciplines – dressage, show jumping and cross country. Of the three, Chloe’s favourite (and she says most nerve wracking) is cross country.

PEACEFUL AND CALM

Since the first time Chloe sat on a horse aged just four-years-old, she has loved riding. She says she finds horses ‘quite peaceful and calming’ and adds: “I loved it immediately and was lucky enough to be offered a pony on loan.” Chloe describes the pony, Poppy as cheeky but credits her with teaching her to ride. Eventually Chloe bought Poppy and her entry into the competitive world of horses began.

Chloe began competing aged nine in the Working Hunter class which is jumping. She started working with renowned local trainer Niki Horsley-Gubbins and once she’d outgrown Poppy, moved onto a bigger more appropriate pony for her size and ability. This happens fairly regularly as young riders outgrow their ponies. On choosing a pony, Chloe says you just know when you’ve found the one. She says: “You ride some ponies and you just don’t click.”

SUPPORT NETWORK

Having just navigated her GCSE year, Chloe credits her parents and school with helping her to successfully juggle exams with training and competing. She says: “I get a lot of help from mum and dad.” She adds that her mum is ‘on it’ with all things horse-related organising the logistics of getting Chloe and her pony where they need to be.

Bromsgrove School has a long day that finishes at 5.15pm, but Chloe is able to leave at 4pm to train. She’s thankful the school has offered lots of extra support and she says she managed GCSE revision in part, by working during down time at competitions. Chloe has stayed at Bromsgrove School for her sixth form years which will be more intense than GCSEs, but with her work ethic and support, they’re making it work.

Chloe’s headmaster Michael Punt says of her achievements: “From her very first outings to now competing at international level, Chloe has balanced her training with her GCSE studies, showing impressive determination both in and out of the saddle.” We marvel at how Chloe has time for anything else, but she also plays hockey for the school which gives her the team element that you don’t get with an individual sport like eventing.

LIVING THE DREAM

For the next two years Chloe is focused on going to Junior U18 and Young Riders U21. Beyond that, she would love to ride the top five events including Badminton and Burghley in the UK as well as the international events that make up the top five spots.

Ultimately, Chloe would like to make it to the Olympics one day and it’s hard to see a world in which she doesn’t achieve that. She says: “It’s a childhood dream really.”

It’s no secret that the textiles industry is a big polluter and for young designers starting out, sustainability isn’t just a buzzword, for some it’s non-negotiable. Birmingham City University (BCU) Fashion Design graduate, Megan Ginn is a great example of that.

The focus on sustainability and biomaterials at her interview with BCU lecturers is one of the reasons Megan chose to study in Birmingham – a focus she didn’t feel was prominent at other universities she visited. Megan’s mission is to design conscious fashion pieces that focus on custom made biomaterials, reducing the need for fossil fuel derived synthetics.

For instance, Megan has developed an algae-based biomaterial that acts as a bonding agent for wool and fabric. While there are clear environmental advantages over synthetic adhesive, it has functional pluses too. It can be reheated and reshaped allowing for garments to adapt over time encouraging longevity and durability.

CULTURAL HERITAGE

As well as the clear focus on renewable, sustainable fashion, Megan’s designs are stunning. She combines her Celtic cultural heritage using traditional knitwear techniques with her cutting-edge biomaterial honouring tradition while successfully meeting today’s environmental challenges.

Her designs were part of the BCU Presents: 1000 Threads fashion show, which is a fresh take on what used to be BCU’s graduate fashion week. Megan says: “Lecturers felt there’d be more opportunity for students at a larger event with a bigger profile.”

Oozells Square in Brindleyplace provided the perfect open-air backdrop for an event that incorporated 10 talented students from a variety of disciplines including textiles, jewellery and fashion with industry contacts, press and supporters of the university watching on. An after-party with a live DJ set from Pussycat Dolls’ Kimberley Wyatt was a bonus.

NEXT GENERATION

At the event Megan received a design excellence award from designer, Phoebe English. Phoebe is one of Megan’s inspirations, so it felt extra special. Another of Megan’s inspirations is Alice Potts who creates crystals out of human sweat among other things and has collaborated with the likes of Gucci. While collecting sweat doesn’t sound appealing, the results are mind-blowing with the jewel-like crystals adorning caps and shoes.

Studying in Birmingham was a positive experience which Megan says she found supportive and open-minded with a real sense of community. She’s moving back to her hometown of Northampton to find her graduate feet and expects life will be one of job applications and networking for the foreseeable future. With a portfolio of work that’s brimming with innovation, talent and authenticity we don’t think she’ll be job-hunting for long.

Dan Mousley picked up a cricket bat aged just three years and has never wanted to do anything else. That rare single-mindedness meant that by the age of eight he knew he wanted the game to be more than a hobby and believed wholeheartedly he would become a professional cricketer.
He’s been at the Bears since he was 10 and at the ripe old age of 23 is an integral part of the team and their success as well as joining England in their recent ODI and T20 campaigns. Next up, Dan will play an important part in a Birmingham Phoenix team whose sights are set on lifting The Hundred trophy which Dan reckons is achievable with the talent they have on the team.

PACKED HOUSE

If you’ve attended one of The Hundred games at Edgbaston, you’ll know the buzz and joy around the ground. Pulling in big crowds, the explosive nature of The Hundred attracts die-hard cricket fans as well as new followers of the game wowed by the excitement and the atmosphere. Dan says: “Every player looks forward to The Hundred. It’s brilliant playing to a packed house and you see so many team shirts and caps in the crowd. It really feels like you’re inspiring the next generation.”
It’s also an opportunity to learn from other players on the team. He says: “It’s a month of learning – youngsters learning from the more experienced players and vice versa and playing at Edgbaston is always brilliant for players.”

FAMILY AFFAIR

Generations of Dan’s family have played cricket. His parents were heavily involved in their local club, Nether Whitacre Cricket Club, while his uncle and dad played the game. Dan loved cricket immediately making some of his best mates through the sport who still play at the club. Like all the sports stars we’ve interviewed, there’s a support network – generally parents – behind the scenes ferrying their kids to away games and providing encouragement and opportunities to excel. Dan says he was spoilt on this front with his parents making sacrifices and taking him everywhere.
When cricket became a job rather than a hobby, it was a bit of a shift in mindset for Dan. He says: “I absolutely love cricket so I know I’m very lucky, but there are different pressures – so much time spent abroad, time away from family, more scrutiny, but I love it.”

CHILDHOOD DREAMS

The highlight of his career so far is playing for England in their ODI and T20 campaigns. He loves the short form game but equally enjoys red ball cricket and feels there’s room for both saying they require different skill sets that ultimately make you a better cricketer. On playing for England, Dan says: “To get the call to play for England is something I dreamed of as a kid and when it happened it was pretty special.”

He adds: “It was about enjoying it as much as I could, the boys are different level, their skills, how cleanly they strike the ball. It was a great opportunity to learn. For me it was a chance to understand what international cricket is all about. How well the team operates as a unit, everyone knows their own and each other’s games, it was really impressive.”

Dan’s ultimate ambition is to play test cricket for England which he says would be ‘awesome’. We reckon is not too far away.

As the old saying goes, there’s nothing like a team player. And Bears Women captain Georgia Davis is certainly that. Georgia’s journey with the Bear started at Under-10s and the club’s youth pathway. Now, 15 years on, she has made it to the top of the senior tree, skippering the side in its historic first season. She truly does have the Bears in her blood!

You might think that Georgia has spent every minute of every day practising, training and generally devoting her life to cricket – and there’s no doubt she has been, and is, hugely committed to the sport. However, her journey into professional cricket has been anything but conventional.

Until 2023, she was combining a working life as a West Midlands Police officer with her time at the Edgbaston Indoor School as she pursued her dream of being a professional cricketer. Georgia said: “It was tough, balancing being an officer with my passion for cricket. I watched The Bill on TV growing up and wanted to be a police officer, but coming off a night shift into a game or training was particularly hard. I think the worst bit was probably having to use all my annual leave on games, so I ended up having no off time to myself.”

DEDICATION AND PRIDE

Bears Women are fighting for trophies on three fronts this season in the Vitality Blast T20, Metro Bank One Day Cup, and for the first time a knockout competition featuring sides from all three tiers of the national system.

It’s been tough in the Metro Bank One Day Cup after a positive start and a couple of wins, including a thumping victory against Essex and a draw with Hampshire, the Bears lost three matches on the spin. But Georgia’s been on good form with both bat and ball and will hope to end the season well when it finishes in July.

At the time of writing, the Bears were about to feature in their first home Vitality Blast T20 in a double header with the men against Durham Cricket at Edgbaston – a fantastic opportunity for the girls to shine in front of a big, new audience of cricket fans.

Georgia said: “As my cricket progressed from a love and passion to a potential career, with the women’s game expanding, I knew there was an opportunity and one I needed to dedicate all my focus on to succeed. I’m quite proud of the fact I was able to sustain a full-time job for three years which required shifts and still perform at the level I did. I look back now and don’t know how I did it!”

Georgia called time on her police career in 2023 as she stepped into full time cricket and a pro contract with the former regional side Central Sparks. “My goal was always to get as far as I possibly could with cricket. I look back at my time with the police with fond memories… but I’m extremely happy with my choice to turn professional,” she said. “It was a dream to be able to have the opportunity to play cricket for a living, and something I never take for granted.”

ENGLAND CAP

The spinning all-rounder was the leading wicket taker in the 2023 Rachael Heyhoe Flint Trophy, she made it to the Hundred final with Welsh Fire last summer, and took two wickets on debut for England in a ODI last September. She said: “Last year was a great year and topping it off with my first England cap was a pretty special moment for myself and my family who have supported me in whatever I have chosen to do.

“This year is an exciting one and being able to call Warwickshire my home again is something very special. I’ve played for Warwickshire since I was 10 and played 100 senior games, so to continue doing this but as a professional now is amazing for me.

“We’ve got a young and talented squad of Bears Women, so it’s going to be very exciting to see what we can achieve over the next few years.”

Cricket has always been in the blood of Amu Surenkumar – from the very early days as a small child playing bat and ball in the garden with her dad through to her realising her dream of becoming a professional cricketer for Warwickshire.

The youngest member of the Bears Women squad is looking forward to the challenges ahead by making a major contribution with bat and ball to the team’s success this season after making her debut at Edgbaston last month.

Despite having only just turned 18, Amu knows all about facing challenges and overcoming them. As a 10-year-old fledgling bowler, she suffered a stress fracture to her back. But she managed to turn the fact her bowling was temporarily limited into a positive as it meant she spent more time practising her batting. And that allowed her to develop into the all-rounder she has become today.

WORLD CUP

There was also the challenge of being a girl growing up in what until relatively recent years was a predominately boys’ sport. That has all changed now, but Amu admits it was probably the hardest thing she had to overcome as she pursued her dreams as a young teenager.

Amu underlined her promise alongside fellow Bear Davina Perrin with a strong showing at the Women’s Under-19s World Cup at the turn of the year. Taking three wickets for just 17 runs proved crucial in securing England’s group stage win against Pakistan U19s as she dismissed both openers.

That game was played in Johor, Malaysia and the following month Amu was back in class for her A-Levels in History, Politics and Economics. “Balancing school and cricket has certainly kept me busy, especially since I’m in my final year,” she said. “However, being a boarder at Rugby School does help and they have been very supportive, allowing me time to train and play, as have the Bears in giving me additional study time.

BRILLIANT BEARS

“The World Cup in Malaysia was amazing, a great experience and an opportunity to test myself against the best up-and-coming players in the world. I’m happy with how I performed. I’ve learned things and benefited from some excellent coaching, things I can bring back with me to the Bears. I will be doing whatever I can to help the team have a good first season.”

Amu was part of Sunrisers’ Academy from 2021-23 before making her senior debut in July 2023 and signing for Bears Women last year. “I’ve loved being a Bear so far,” added Amu, who plans to study law at university alongside her cricket commitments. “The team has a great group of girls, and it has created a really fun atmosphere to be a part of.

“There is a big ethos driven by the coaches to ensure that sessions are done with a purpose so that made pre-season super productive, and I am eager to get stuck into the season. It’s a new team with a lot of great players, so it’ll be about finding my role within the squad and performing to the best of my abilities.”

Without sounding glib, Marlo is someone with the world, literally, at his feet. Each year one highly rated student is selected from Elmhurst Ballet School’s graduates to become an apprentice to Birmingham Royal Ballet. This year that honour went to the Birmingham-born dancer who gets to tour and perform with the Company – he was dancing in Cinderella in Sunderland when we interviewed him.

As well as soaking up all the incredible experiences and opportunities along the way, at the end of the year-long ‘apprenticeship’, all things being well, Marlo hopes to be offered a full-time contract by BRB. Truly, the dream come true.

BALLET BROTHERS

He first started dancing through the Company’s Dance Track programme before joining Elmhurst Ballet School, where he won the Elmhurst Dance Award in 2020 and 2022. Dance Track had seen potential in Marlo and his brothers. His older brother Oscar also dances with BRB. Marlo says their parents weren’t into dance, so it was all a bit of a surprise for them how it panned out with their boys!

He admits he didn’t love it immediately – it was more of a slow burn. He says the experience of being a day pupil at Elmhurst was intense but brilliant and that the teachers were incredible. “We were taught about mental strength as well as physical strength, technique, and skills,” he explained.

“We were taught to keep going. It’s more of a case of doing things for yourself when you get into a company. The corrections I was taught at Elmhurst, I will carry on forever and will continue to work on, but the mindset that Elmhurst instils in you gets you through it.”

THE PLACE TO BE

Of the process of being chosen to join BRB for the year he said: “It’s very competitive as there’s only one spot – but as we’re all striving for the same goal actually everyone’s really supportive of one another at the same.” And settling into life with BRB hasn’t been that difficult.

“I’m lucky that I’ve got my brother in the Company. Because of him, I already knew and had a social circle with some of the Company members, so I was already aware of people, and they were aware of me, so it was a smooth transition into the Company.

“I started dancing because of BRB and their Dance Track programme. Everything I knew about ballet was down to BRB, so it’s always been a place that I aspired to be. And now I’m here.” Marlo says he is already enjoying touring with the Company. “It’s been nice to dance on different stages, get to see more of the country and perform to different audiences,” he said.

DREAM ROLES

Looking forward, Marlo is part of BRB2, Birmingham Royal Ballet’s second company who will be performing for the very first time at Birmingham Hippodrome on 6 May with Carlos Acosta’s Ballet celebration. And once his year is complete, Marlo says he has only one goal – to be offered a full contract at the end of the season. As for dream roles, he says he’s always wanted to do Trepak and also play the Prince in The Nutcracker as well as be Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake. But he admits that his ambitions “change all the time.”

Ahead of Mahtab’s exhibition at Ikon Gallery, we’re shining a light on the artist’s thought-provoking work which highlights the richness of the British Muslim community and the artist’s strong connection to Birmingham. The exhibition explores the fine line between photographic documentation and surveillance culture by addressing the intelligence sites established to monitor the Muslim community.

To give the work some context, in 2010 West Midlands Police and Birmingham City Council were forced to apologise over a network of cameras installed in two predominantly Muslim areas. Titled Project Champion, the scheme monitored Sparkbrook and Washwood Heath with 216 cameras including covert devices installed in the street to track the residents’ cars and capture and store data.

Implemented largely without formal consultation, the initiative was revealed to be a counter terrorism project based on racial profiling and paid for by the Terrorism and Allied Matters fund. The handful of councillors who were consulted say they were led to believe the scheme’s aim was to tackle anti-social behaviour and were not made aware it was paid for by the Terrorism and Allied Matters fund. The cameras were dismantled in 2011.

CELEBRATNG COMMUNITY

Mahtab’s new exhibition, What Did You Want To See? explores the impact of Project Champion and prejudice more widely. Commissioned by Ikon and international photography platform, Photoworks, the exhibition will include a series of installations creating a communal space in the gallery fostering inclusion and intercultural dialogue.

For instance, one space will include portraits displayed within a prayer room alongside a video of five prayer sequences that visitors can observe or join in. Another room will be set up as a surveillance hub, with more than 200 cameras installed making the viewer feel watched and potentially uncomfortable. Additional videos take a look at the Muslim experience in the UK by celebrating community while also reflecting on Mahtab’s experience growing up in Birmingham.

CHALLENGING STEREOTYPES

One element of the exhibition is Mahtab’s documentation of 160 mosques in Birmingham. Mahtab began taking photos of the city’s mosques in the summer of 2023 resulting in a collection of images highlighting the diversity of architecture from the iconic minarets of Birmingham’s Central Mosque to the Arts & Crafts designs of terraced houses and yellow brick churches. Collectively, the photographs underscore the pervasive act of data collection and classification.

The exhibition also includes a series of black and white portraits highlighting the city’s vibrant Muslim community embracing their individuality and snubbing stereotypes like the photograph of Daddy Shaf in his mechanic’s clothing, pictured. There is clearly an irony in Mahtab using photography as a medium to highlight the misuse of cameras and infringement of people’s rights, however, he combats this by talking to his sitters one to one about their shared experiences and his creative process. He also uses consent forms and strives to create something the sitter would be happy to have on their wall.

Circling back to Project Champion, the removal of the cameras left odd patches of tarmac dotted along the pavement which have been repurposed for the exhibition. They serve as a memory of the tension between security and freedom and a reminder of community resilience. Mahtab says: “Through my work, I strive to reflect the richness and resilience of Muslim communities, celebrating their individuality while challenging stereotypes. Each portrait and installation is a story, an invitation to connect, and a reminder of the beauty in our shared humanity.”

Jacob Bethell is England’s exciting new young cricket star who exploded on the world scene in the past 12 months after coming to Warwickshire as a junior – and realising his dream. After admitting that he felt “far away” from the England set-up at the start of last season, the talented all-rounder’s remarkable rise culminated with a surprise call-up to the Test party that toured New Zealand in November. His red ball debut saw him score 50 not out off 37 balls – the joint second fastest debut half-century by an English batter.

That followed his first appearance two months earlier for the senior England side in the white ball series against Australia, where he smashed 44 off 24 balls in the second T20 match, going on to play in all five one-day internationals.

BEARS FIRST

Of his rapid rise, Jacob said: “My first goal last season was to be fit and cement my place in the Warwickshire team. That was point one. But doing things consistently and carrying on the performances for the Bears led to where I am now. It definitely has happened quickly. I knew there had been eyes on me from chats I’d had, so it was just a matter of putting in performances to show people I could do it.”

Barbados-born Jacob moved to Warwickshire to pursue his cricket dream when he was only 12. He joined Warwickshire’s Youth Pathway at Under-14s and quickly progressed into the Emerging Player Programme and Academy before signing as a 17-year-old in 2021.

Last November’s tour to the Windies saw Jacob, now 21, head back to familiar haunts and reunions with childhood friends. He said: “Having a couple of games where I grew up in Barbados was pretty special. I was able to relax and catch up with people. My mates came to the matches wearing England Bethell shirts but combined with West Indies hats!”

WINDIES RETURN

England’s 2025 summer of home internationals starts on 22 May with a Test against Zimbabwe at Trent Bridge, followed by a first white ball game against the Windies on 29 May at Jacob’s home ground, Edgbaston.

He says he expects to be ready to play for Warwickshire in April at the start of the County Championship season. “I want to play a full part next year for Warwickshire. At the moment that’s what I’m looking at. If anything else does come up it means that things have gone well and I’ll have other opportunities, which is also great. But Warwickshire is the foundation of where my cricket game developed so I want to play for the Bears as much as possible.”

Jacob’s Test appearances against New Zealand in the winter came while first-choice wicketkeeper Jamie Smith was on paternity leave. Jacob made three half-centuries, including top-scoring for England with 76 on the fourth and final day of the last Test in Hamilton. What’s more, he became only the second England batter – after Sir Alastair Cook, no less – to reach 50 three times in the same series before the age of 22.

HAPPY HEADACHE

Unsurprisingly, Jacob’s exciting record so far with England has given head coach Brendon McCullum a selection decision to make moving forward – with the Warwickshire lad competing for a place against other more experienced Test and one-day players. “It’s a good headache to have,” McCullum said. “That’s what you want. You want that conversation, you don’t want to be scrambling around looking for talent.”

For our part, we can’t wait to see Edgbaston’s young big-hitter in action both for club and, hopefully, country in the coming season!

John Mincher credits his Nan for getting him into baking as a boy. Fast forward a couple of decades and who’d have thought he’d be rustling up five-tier showstoppers on Channel 4 and being recognised in the bread aisle in Morrisons?

Auditioning for Bake Off 2024 wasn’t John Mincher’s first rodeo having been a reserve in a previous series. The auditioning process is intense, but second time round John nailed it and got the call up. Keeping it a secret wasn’t easy and in order not to blab, John distanced himself from friends which he says is very unlike him. Normally he’s sociable and has friends round for drinks often but John went mysteriously quiet. He says: “I had a kitchen full of random baking objects and stuff which I couldn’t have explained so I just avoided seeing people.”

Auditions took place in January and filming started in April with announcements regarding the contestants made in September, so it was a long old time to keep schtum. There was even a moment when his friends became a bit concerned about his welfare! When John was finally able to reveal his involvement in the show, he got his nearest and dearest round for the big reveal. He recalls: “I put the Bake Off music on and just said: ‘Here we go. I’m on Bake Off!’”

FRIENDS FOR LIFE

John’s day job in the NHS is busy which feels like a tremendous understatement. We caught up with him in the new year when hospitals were under immense strain – a far cry from the fluffiness of the Bake Off tent. The wholesome nature of the show is real and John says he’s made friends for life. “I know it’s hard to believe and people think, ‘they can’t possibly all like one another’ but it’s true. The other contestants, crew, production team – friends for life. We all stayed in apartments and had dinner together every night. We were like a little family.”

The contestants WhatsApp group is going strong, and they chat every day. John also bonded with the show’s presenter Allison Hammond which he puts down to their Midlands roots. “There was definitely a little bond between us. The accent was an immediate connection and we just had a sort of shorthand. She was really supportive.”

PRESSURE COOKER

On leaving during bread week, John says he bakes bread successfully all the time, so it was an annoying way to exit the show. He puts his under-par performance down to the pressure of the tent plus the novel gadgets such as the proving drawer that he’d never used before but also accepts, ‘a good workman never blames his tools!’ He says what you don’t see on TV is the behind the scenes chaos. There are roughly 100 people in the tent – a series of cameras down the middle aisle plus runners, crew and home economists, so it’s a bit of a pressure cooker.

While John’s roots are in Wolverhampton, he spends a lot of time in Birmingham and in particular brunching at Gas Street Social which inspired one of his bakes. The Mailbox bar has named a cocktail after him since John revealed that one of his showstoppers on the show was inspired by one of their drinks. Such is the mutual love, John took a cake into the bar for the staff last week.

Of Birmingham generally, John loves the city’s ‘great energy’. “It’s such a metropolitan city now. As well as Gas Street I love Fumo and Albert Schloss which has a great vibe. I can spend a couple of hours people watching.”

SWEET TREATS

We’re keen to know where John might get his sweet treats from when he’s in Brum. He says he largely bakes at home and doesn’t tend to buy cakes and pastries but if pushed the Selfridges food hall ticks all the boxes as well as Medicine which he says is really good and which started life in his home town before expanding into Birmingham.

Life’s changed in some ways since Bake Off. John says: “Little things have changed like being recognised in Morrisons in my joggers. Everyone’s lovely though.” Always writing recipes, we wonder if John might have aspirations of publishing a book. He says: “I can’t say too much, but there might be a book in the pipeline.” We’ll take that as a yes and look forward to seeing what the talented baker does next.

In October last year, comedian Tom Towelling was presented with the Breaking Talent award at the Birmingham Comedy Festival during an evening of laughs at a packed out Glee club. Tom treated the audience to his unique brand of physical and musical comedy impressing the judges who say they were wowed by his “showmanship, unpredictability and impressive musical segments” which included a surprise rendition of the National Anthem.

Of Tom’s win, the Birmingham Comedy Festival team said: “It’s tough to select a winner when the standard of acts coming out of the region is so high. But the judges agreed that Tom’s approach to comedy was exciting, unexpected, buzzing with energy and showed great potential, making him a worthy winner.”

EYES ON THE PRIZE

On receiving the prestigious Mug of Victory, pictured, Tom says he felt ecstatic: “It’s really great to see the Birmingham comedy scene thriving. I’m really grateful for the award, I’m so chuffed. Birmingham Comedy Festival has been such a massive part of my comedy journey; it provides an opportunity to take risks and a forum for comedians. It’s been such a gift.”

Tom approached the competition with some jeopardy not knowing exactly what he might do on stage, which isn’t completely out of character. He explains: “There’s some uncertainty there. All the routines I’ve worked on before, but to an extent I’m guided by the atmosphere of the room when it comes to going into a particular bit. I move between set pieces – the set pieces bring everyone along.”

Tom is in good company as previous winners of the Breakthrough Talent award include Josh Pugh, Celya AB and Andrew McBurney. He’s also not new to winning awards having picked up the Musical Comedy Award last year at the Bloomsbury Theatre in London where he made multiple entrances and sang a song about the King. Now in its 16th year, 12 acts competed for the prestigious prize but it was Tom who was triumphant.

GOING SOLO

Tom was in various sketch troupes at university before starting the double act Good Kids with his mate Kieran Flynn known for their songs and sketches in which they had some success. He dabbled with stand-up over the years and started pursuing it more seriously in early 2023 and became a regular at Deep Fried Comedy at the Dark Horse in Moseley.

He describes his style as ‘deliciously rich and creamy’ and says he’s an admirer of John Kearns, Lara Ricote and Daniel Kitson. Immediate plans include working his material into an hour-long show which Tom can take to other festivals and eventually the Edinburgh Fringe. We can’t wait to see how Tom develops.

Queen Ethelburga’s (QE) is set within 220 acres of beautiful North Yorkshire countryside between Harrogate and York. Every boarding house is on-site, allowing students to roam the site and access all the facilities safely. The campus is secluded with 24/7 security so parents can be confident their children are safely looked after.

QE welcome boarding students from Year 3 to Year 13. At the heart of QE boarding there are three central characteristics; opportunity, individuality, and a caring community. Being a QE boarder gives students opportunities beyond the ordinary, whether that is in academic studies, the clubs they choose, the trips they attend or in the friends that they make, their experiences here will shape their life. The school strives to help their students develop the life skills they need to be the very best that they can be and to prepare them for their undoubtedly successful futures.

Children are cared for by a team of supportive staff who are skilled at helping to make boarding feel like home, promote independence, and who are separate to our academic staff. QE has won or been awarded finalist in a range of prestigious boarding awards including BSA Belonging and Inclusion (finalist, 2024), BSA Innovation in Boarding (won, 2022), TES Boarding School of the Year (finalist, 2022) and Muddy Stilettos’ Outstanding Pastoral Care (finalist, 2022).

All boarding students can take advantage of specialist academic support during ‘Power Hour’ and homework prep sessions to boost their understanding and knowledge of various topics. There are more than 150 extra-curricular activities onsite covering a wide range of sports, art and design specialisms, music, dance, drama, technology, life skills, and academic areas.

The hustle and bustle around campus makes the school feel like a town. Students have access to an activity centre, which is home to a cinema, climbing wall, a weekend fast-food café and a selection of board games and game consoles. They can also access the on-site medical centre, gym, swimming pool, uniform and essentials shop, tuck shop, coffee shop, 312-seat theatre, and plenty of outdoor space. By far the best benefit of boarding is having access to all the amazing school facilities outside of the normal school day including elite sport pitches, music practice rooms, dance studios and sports courts. There is plenty on offer at weekends too, including performing arts or creative arts academies, timetabled activities and exciting trips to local cities, towns and activity centres.

QE prides itself on the quality of its modern accommodation. Students in Years 6 to 13 have ensuite bedrooms kitted out with TVs, phones, desks and storage. They all have access to a modern, well-equipped common room where they can socialise and enjoy downtime. Sixth form students also have items like game consoles, coffee machines, ovens, kettles and washing machines whereas younger students have specialised dorms and common rooms designed for little people. They have chill-out spaces, a wellness room and study pods in addition to the communal open plan kitchen dining lounge space. Every young boarder can also ask for a house parent to read them a bedtime story and tuck them in at night.

When Shonagh Murray was approached by Fashion Crossover London – an organisation that champions emerging designers – about putting a concept collection together for London Fashion Week, she was thrilled and surprised. Shonagh doesn’t have formal fashion training so didn’t have any expectations and thought the lack of training left her on the back foot – actually, the opposite was true. Shone was selected from the shortlist and the designer says it was a real confidence boost. Industry professionals felt that her lack of training was a benefit rather than a curse allowing Shonagh to be free, unconstraint by rules. She makes mistakes and learns from them and says: “You don’t know what you don’t know.” Shone’s concept collection was playful and nostalgic drawing on nineties references raising a smile.

FIT FOR A QUEEN

In another pinch me moment Shonagh’s unique designs also caught the eye of The Vivienne of Ru Paul’s Drag Race fame. The queen approached Shonagh about creating a gown for runway knitwear week on the All Stars version of the hit show. Shonagh says: “I’m a big fan of Drag Race and I was watching the show when I received the message from The Vivienne. It was my first experience doing editorial work. It was high fashion, and I loved it. It was a privilege.” To have The Vivienne in her house for fittings was bit surreal. Although Shonagh didn’t keep track of the number of hours she spent creating the show stopping gown, it took six weeks with multiple hours per day, so it was a significant commitment. The Vivienne went on to win the episode so it was all worth it.

PLANT BASED

Shonagh’s route into fashion has been unconventional. She began knitting in 2017 when she was hospitalised for a period of time. She says: “I needed something creative to keep me going. I began knitting. It was therapeutic and calming.” The yarn kept getting chunkier and Shonagh kept practising until she found her unique crochet lace effect. As a vegan and someone who lives a mindful sustainable lifestyle, using animal wool wouldn’t have made Shonagh happy, so she sourced an alternative that’s kind to the environment. She uses a plant based bio-nylon that biodegrades between five and ten years. It doesn’t cause plastic pollution and is made using a closed loop system reusing water. It’s also incredibly soft and not at all itchy. Shonagh’s well aware of the massive negative impact the fashion industry has on the environment – its footprint is bigger than aviation and shipping combined and she’s keen not to contribute to that. Shone has been awarded The Vegan Society’s Vegan Trademark which is globally recognised across multiple industries, including textiles and fashion, as well as food, drink and cosmetics. The Trademark’s rigorous standards make it easier for consumers to make informed purchasing decisions.

CHUNKY KNIT

Making the leap from hobby to launching Shone began on Instagram with her first chunky knit cardigan. Shonagh says: “I always desired a career making, so my mind was open to that. When I posted some pieces on social media they got a lot of interest.” She adds: “The business has been running for a couple of years but properly from the beginning of this year. I sought help from the Prince’s Trust Birmingham who support me with finances, business plans and general mentorship.” Shonagh says that social media is both a blessing and a curse: “It’s a tricky place. Some of the best opportunities I’ve had have come from social media, but you can put a lot of hard work and effort into what you post then not get the engagement you’d like and that can be disheartening. You just have to work out how to use it effectively.”

BRUMMIE IN BRISTOL

Having grown up in Birmingham, Shonagh now lives in Bristol which suits her lifestyle and ethos. She explains: “There’s a focus on sustainability and veganism and a lot of opportunity to meet other creative people – artists, photographers, musicians, models. Creativity breeds creativity.” She says Birmingham will always have a special place in her heart. “Growing up in the city was vibrant and multicultural. It’s helped me connect with lots of different people. A big part of my childhood was going to the rag market which probably got me excited about textiles.”
Next year looks as exciting as this one for Shonagh. She would like to do a few more shows, spend more time on her ready to wear collection as well as couture pieces and employ someone.

It’s going to be one of those unforgettable moments in the lives of a group of young Birmingham musicians. The Royal Albert Hall, a packed audience and a buzz of excitement like no other. Taking the stage at the Music for Youth Proms will be the Raga and Tala Group from Birmingham Services for Education’s World Music department.
The group has been selected from thousands of applicants across the UK to perform at what is the acknowledged showcase for the country’s best young musicians. They will bring their unique energy, enthusiasm and distinctive performance to the Proms which are being held over two nights on 27 and 28 November, and featuring amazing young musicians playing diverse music from classical to folk and jazz to rock and pop.

PIONEERING

Raga and tala are two fundamental elements of Hindustani and classical Indian music. The group is part of the World Music Department which has pioneered the playing and teaching of music instruments from around the globe in Birmingham schools.

Not so long ago, it was rare for such instruments to feature in Birmingham’s music education but in recent years, participation has soared. Each week, 3,500 Birmingham children attend small group and one-to-one lessons in world music and nearly one-in-five are from non-BAME background. They play the likes of djembe drums from west Africa, samba drums from Africa and south America, sitars, tabla twin-hand drums and dhol double-headed drums from the Indian sub-continent, harmoniums from West Bengal and steel pans from Trinidad and Tobago.

CHARITY

The World Music Department was established in 1997 within Birmingham Music Service, now part of Services for Education (SFE) following the charity’s founding 10 years ago. SFE employs 24 world music tutors working with 132 Birmingham schools teaching groups and classes – using up to 35 world music instruments at a time so every child in a class can participate.

Harjit Singh, SFE’s head of world music and percussion and director of Birmingham Schools’ Azaad Dhol group said: “From the outset, our aim was to deliver world music to all children regardless of their ethnicity or background. We wanted every child to gain a better knowledge of different cultures and the influence of music worldwide.”

He added: “The original focus was on Indian folk music from the Punjab. We first approached schools in areas such as Handsworth where the population’s ethnic mix was more appropriate, but it was not long before we became more universal and mainstream.

CULTURES

“Through music, children in Birmingham have a better understanding of different cultures, traditions and heritages and appreciate how music influences us all, no matter the colour of our skin or where we live.”

The upcoming performance at the Royal Albert Hall is the latest, high-profile appearance by Birmingham schoolchildren who have played at music at festivals with Islamic community groups and in mosques. They have performed Indian and African works the Band of the Royal Marines, as well as with Bollywood Brass Band with whom SFE has established education partnerships.
Harjit: “We will continue to reach as many children as possible in Birmingham and increase our partnerships with local communities. The job is not yet complete. We are still trying to educate that music and drumming are important.”

KNOW YOUR INSTRUMENTS

Dhol – Any one of a number of similar types of double-headed drum widely used, with regional variations, throughout the Indian subcontinent. The Services For Education team has also created a mini Dhol to accommodate large group teaching and for the younger age groups

Djembe – A rope-tuned skin-covered goblet drum played with bare hands. Originally from West Africa.

Steel Pan – Originating from Trinidad and Tobago, the modern pan is an instrument made from 200-litre industrial drums.

Sitar – The plucked stringed instrument originated from the Indian subcontinent and is widely used in Hindustani classical music.

Tabla – A pair of hand drums from the Indian subcontinent and is the principal percussion instrument in Hindustani classical music.

Matthew Brotherson responded to a call out for Birmingham City University (BCU) students and faculty members to enter a competition to create a piece of artwork that would be displayed in the communal space of Grainger’s new Silver Yard development in Exchange Square. The call out came from his tutors over the summer, of which Matthew says: “I didn’t have much of a plan for how I’d be spending the summer, but I figured that I might as well give it a go. I had nothing to lose.”

The brief sparked by a collaboration between BCU and developer, Grainger asked artists to create a piece of artwork which visually portrayed the question, what does Birmingham mean to you? Matthew began by making random shapes on Adobe Illustrator not adding faces to them at that point. He says because he doesn’t drive, his journey to and from BCU allowed him to observe many unique faces. He says: “Each night I would work on the piece adding some faces. I just used black lines, carefully adjusting the thickness of each line to create depth in the features because it created an amazing contrast against the orange hues of the shapes.”

ICONIC BULL

Matthew is born and bred in Birmingham and used the piece to celebrate the wonderful diversity of our city while using the shape of the famous bull as inspiration. He says: “I took the facial features I’d collected and placed these features onto the iconic statue’s face, making each one unique. So, the overall theme of my piece was diversity.” Matthew submitted a smaller version of his work along with a synopsis for the original judging process.

The judging panel consisted of award-winning Birmingham artist and creative director at Rebel Creatives, Amrit Singh as well as Fiona McDonald, head of Onboarding, and Lewis Morris, senior resident services manager at Grainger, plus Dr Jemma Browne, head of Birmingham School of Architecture and Design at BCU.

Given the calibre of submissions the judging panel expanded the scope of work to include two winners – Matthew and John Hall, exhibitions manager at BCU. The artists started liaising with the Grainger team to upscale the work and prepare it for the allocated space. Matthew recalls: “When I first received the e-mail to let me know I was a winner I couldn’t quite believe it and went straight to tell my mum who was over the moon. I could barely sleep I was so happy!”

On having his work displayed on this scale Matthew says it’s crazy: “To think that many people have seen my work blows my mind because although I’ve had small-scale exhibitions at BCU, I’ve never had a piece be in a building that isn’t connected to the university before. It’s been a very exciting time for me.”

VIP UNVEILING

Matthew says that long term he’d love to find a studio space to rent in Birmingham from which to create and sell his work. He says: “I am looking forward to exhibiting my works because I am now much more confident and proud of the art I create thanks to the Silver Yard Arts Project. Alternatively, I would love to be commissioned by a well-known company to create something for their brand. Whatever the case may be in the future, I hope that when people see my art, it evokes the same kind of inspiring feeling that I experience when I see others’ work.”

The winning artwork was revealed at a VIP unveiling held at the Silver Yard for residents, family and friends, fellow students and local stakeholders, to celebrate the winners’ achievements. Lewis Morris, resident services manager at the Silver Yard said: “As our second development in Birmingham, we wanted to try something new to really celebrate the city within our newest development. Working closely with Birmingham City University and their talented pool of budding art students, we had so many amazing entries that we picked not one but two winners, in our aim to support talented up-and-coming artists. We are pleased the artworks now have pride of place in our amenity spaces for our residents to enjoy.”

Great Britain and Loughborough Lightning para basketball player, Siobhan Fitzpatrick is keen to ensure that all children are given the opportunity to participate in sport at grass roots level – an opportunity she wasn’t always afforded, but one she’s passionate about. With that in mind Siobhan is supporting the Play Their Way campaign.
The campaign was launched in 2023 with the aim of transforming the way young people are coached by prioritising their rights, needs and enjoyment in a child-first approach. Funded by Sport England and the National Lottery, the campaign is proving a successful, inclusive route into sport for all and is something Siobhan says she would have loved as a child.

CHALLENGING TIMES

Siobhan wasn’t allowed to take part in PE as a youngster as her school told her they weren’t insured to let her participate – a problem that unbelievably still exists in some instances today. Grass roots sport wasn’t set up for people with disabilities either, so Siobhan’s participation was a non-starter until 2010 thanks to a playground to podium event which introduced her to basketball. She’s never looked back. As a junior Siobhan played at Coventry Wheelchair Basketball Academy (CWBA) where she was successful in the Junior Championships and School Games. She also competed in the club’s National and Women’s leagues.

Siobhan went on to co-captain the GB team to back-to-back championship wins at the 2015 U25 Worlds and 2016 U24 European Championships – something not achieved by any other female GB junior team. This was all while studying for A-Levels! In 2018 the squad retained their U24 European title and in 2019 the team won the U25 World Championship bronze medal.

HISTORY MAKER

Siobhan attended her first senior GB camp in 2013 and began training full-time with the national squad for the 2016/17 season. Having narrowly missed out on selection to the GB team for the 2016 Rio Paralympics, Siobhan made her senior debut at the 2017 European Championships. She’s now a regular member of the GB squad and was part of the team that made history at the 2018 Hamburg world championship by being the first female British team to qualify for a final and claim the silver medal. And in 2021, Siobhan was part of the Loughborough Lightning squad that won the first ever BWB Women’s Premier League title.

Last month, Siobhan came back to her former club, Warwickshire Cubs to highlight the importance of positive experiences for all children in sport. During the Wheelchair Basketball for All event at the Nechells Wellbeing Centre, Siobhan helped lead a session in which both disabled and non-disabled children took part in sport together. Whether having fun and staying active or instilling hopes of future Olympian and Paralympian level competition, Siobhan’s involvement at this grass roots is inspiring youngsters to get in to sport and crucially, feel like they belong there.

Moseley’s Mackenzie Griffith has had a lot of barriers to overcome growing up. That elite para-skiing was on at all is testament to Mackenzie’s plucky spirit and obvious talent but also their parents’ determination to give Mackenzie all the opportunities that their older able-bodied daughter enjoyed.

Born at 23 weeks, Mackenzie has cerebral palsy with hemiplegia on their right side which affects muscle tone and strength from head to toe. Mackenzie says they were treated the same as their able-bodied sister who was five years older, so they just got on with it.

Mackenzie describes their parents as ‘absolutely ski mad’. Mum grew up in Switzerland, so skiing was part of life, and dad started skiing in his teens. Mackenzie says: “I started skiing aged three. I learnt to go aged three and to stop age six!” Between the ages of seven and 11 Mackenzie skied on a dry slope and competed in able-bodied competitions.

They became disillusioned and stopped for a while as it was nigh on impossible to be as competitive as they wanted to be as they grew older. Mackenzie skied recreationally with the family, but after the Sochi Games in 2015, Mackenzie’s dad said, “I think Mac could do that.” This set in motion a journey to elite para sport that was both brilliant and frustrating.

MENTAL CHALLENGE

A talent ID day followed where a development coach from the elite para set-up watched Mackenzie ski. He had a chat with Mackenzie afterwards and said that whatever the goal, they could achieve it. Mackenzie’s dream of competing at the Paralympics was on. Training in Manchester on a Tuesday evening became the norm and in November 2015 Mackenzie travelled to the Netherlands to be assessed and was given a classification to compete in.

There were challenges with the GB set-up and the sheer number of hours on the snow teamed with gym work was a lot and Mackenzie fatigued quicker than some of the others. As with all elite sport, the mental challenges were great including sacrificing birthdays, weddings and the like. For eight years Mackenzie’s life was skiing. Mackenzie’s school, Edgbaston High School was very supportive, and the headmistress encouraged their training and competition. In the end Mackenzie was at school 50 per cent of time and ended up achieving 10 GCSEs and one A-Level which is remarkable.

GOLD MEDAL

The first year of para sport in Alberta, Canada was ‘brilliant’. Having been in a minority their whole life up to this point, Mackenzie was in the majority in this environment. There were prosthetic limbs lying around and wheelchairs everywhere. Mackenzie recalls: “I was no longer self-conscious. We’d laugh and tease one another. In one of my first races, I won the youth gold medal. I used the arm of the silver medallist to help get on to the podium and I pulled a bit too hard. She fell off and ended up on the floor!”

When Mackenzie flew back to Canada for another season, it was a non-starter. They lost their passport, sprained their foot and the programme was cancelled for a number of reasons. Within a week Mackenzie had gone from a massive high to a huge low. Getting emergency travel documents so they could fly home was a mission. Mentally, Mackenzie felt they couldn’t go back out to train and compete. They say: “The plan was to stay at home for three weeks then head to Salt Lake City in Utah, but mentally I wasn’t up to it.” While it was a tough decision to take, Mackenzie doesn’t regret a thing and cherishes the lifelong friends they made. It also allowed Mackenzie to pursue a different avenue of work.

Throughout the pandemic Mackenzie started to get more interested in TV and broadcasting. They joined Late Night Lycett for six weeks as a trainee and say Joe was ‘a dream and as down to earth as you’d expect’. Mackenzie has applied to be a level 4 production co-ordinator on Masterchef which is now filmed in Birmingham. At the time of writing, Mackenzie had gone straight through to the second round of which there are five. Psychometric testing is up next. We’ve everything crossed!

From the high seas to high acclaim – Charles Pedone’s career journey has transported him from working on a cruise ship to producing stunning examples of contemporary abstract art gracing leading independent galleries and famous landmarks such as the beautiful Grand hotel in his home city.

Born in Brum to a British mum and Italian dad, Charles remembers how he spent every moment he could ‘getting lost in time’ just sketching. Art was his favourite subject at school, although he says he never much enjoyed the traditional still-life classes – drawing a bowl of fruit framed by a fancy backdrop was not his bag, even at such a young age.

After completing foundations in art and design at college his career path took a bit of a detour when he decided to study for a degree in Graphic Design, believing it would be more employable. Employable maybe, but enjoyable certainly not, as Charles says he found the limits of graphic design too restrictive.

WORLD OF INSPIRATION

“After graduating I knew I wanted to travel, so I made just one application in the cruise ship industry and ended up on world cruise soon after. Sales and management roles onboard took me to over 80 countries, in the process gaining a wealth of inspiration from the architecture, colours and culture of the many locations I visited.” Charles also credits the working environment where no day is the same and is non-stop as helping him understand how much you can actually accomplish in 24 hours. “I think it prepared me with the work ethic I have applied to my creative profile,” he explained.

Charles says his artistic journey really began in 2019 when he was looking for some artwork for his apartment and decided he could create his own pieces – with the dual benefits of minimal cost and maximum satisfaction. Then as the pandemic and lockdown struck, Charles shared his work online and was delighted by the response from friends, encouraging him to do more. That’s when he first realised that maybe this could lead to something bigger!

“I was motivated by the feedback from others on my work and I saw space in the market to introduce my work, that I felt was both unique and could also place within the luxury end of the spectrum,” he said. In November 2021 he took a small stand at Manchester Art Fair and among the 10,000 visitors was London gallery owner and philanthropist Georgina Dhillon, who loved his work and offered him a place in her showcase for emerging artists and then a significant month-long debut show in London’s Fitzrovia.

GRAND DISPLAY

Today, Charles’s commissions include financial investment firm, Heligan Group, with original works displayed in its Birmingham headquarters and new offices in Mayfair, London. Commercial commissions, including the Grand hotel, are a vital part of Charles’s work. He has 15 pieces installed in the hotel, including in the Grand Penthouse, while the most obvious and striking example is mounted proudly above the fireplace in the Madeline bar.

“Balancing creative integrity with private commissions involves maintaining clear communication with the client about their vision while staying true to my artistic style,” said Charles. “I have two distinct styles, and I ensure that each commissioned piece or collection reflects both the client’s desires and my unique touch, creating a blend of both perspectives. Trust is fundamental in the process; it’s essential that they have confidence in my ability to bring their vision to life while maintaining my creative integrity.

Of his creative process, he says: “Inspiration generally strikes in moments of calm, whether during long drives or even after a yoga session for example. I strive to achieve a timeless quality within my work, so in support of this I often abstractly draw inspiration from nature, the cosmos, even heirlooms and antique fine jewels and archival images, for example colour palettes or composition. Motivation also comes from a desire to create pieces that evoke a sense of escapism and wonder.”

Charles is also a big believer in giving back and encouraging local up-and-coming creatives. Earlier this year, pieces of his work were auctioned at the Grand hotel raising more than £10,000 for Birmingham Hippodrome’s youth programme.

DUBAI AMBITION

The creative scene in Birmingham and the wider region is full of potential,” said Charles. “But the real value of the creative economy of Birmingham could be acknowledged even more. Independent galleries strive to afford buyers unique original works, something special that’s not mass-produced and they will only exist with support from the local community.”

What of the future? “Well, I have a variety of projects I’m currently working on. Bespoke commissions include a full installation at the new offices of Heligan Group in Mayfair, a bar and eatery which I can’t say too much about right now, and an incredible new narrow boat. In September/October I have commitments in London, with a second show at Zari Gallery Fitzrovia, a private launch in Mayfair and my debut at the Affordable Arts Fair in Battersea with the Barker Gallery.”

Looking further ahead, Charles aims to expand into the luxury Middle East market. “I am eager to build my audience in Dubai – where my brother lives and where I have a new agent – given the fast pace of development and opportunities.”

Whether you’re a fan of folk or your introduction to Katherine Priddy was her haunting appearance on Later… with Jools Holland, you’re about to see and hear more of her. Katherine will be performing at Moseley Folk and Arts Festival in August with an hour-long set on the main stage featuring tracks from her new album, The Pendulum Swing plus some older tunes. Of the festival Katherine says: “It’s a great event with big family vibes and a home crowd for me. It feels like the last hurrah of the summer. It’s special.”

Katherine’s debut album, The Eternal Rocks Beneath was released in 2021 to much critical acclaim with a five-star review in Songlines and radio play on BBC 6 Music and Radio 2 as well as topping the official UK folk chart. The second album, The Pendulum Swing recorded in Birmingham by Simon J Weaver was a different experience from the first.

Katherine says: “With the first album there were no expectations and no time constraints. The songwriting has matured, it’s more personal. Sound-wise, it’s bigger with a broader spectrum of instrumentation – cinematic I’d say.” Covid lockdowns in some way inspired The Pendulum Swing. Katherine lost all her work, moved back in with her parents and was living off savings. She says: “I was torn between desperately wanting to move out and treasuring that time. Pendulum Swing is perhaps about the urge to leave and the urge to stay – striking that balance.”

PINCH ME

Over the last couple of years Katherine has enjoyed some ‘pinch me’ moments. She played at the Royal Albert Hall as part of the BBC Proms accompanied by the BBC concert orchestra as well as performing on the acoustic stage at Glastonbury. She has performed in Australia, the US and Holland and appeared as a special guest at Guy Garvey’s show at the Roundhouse. Guy has been a champion of Katherine’s music since the get-go, giving her airplay on his BBC 6 Music show, so much so that Katherine recently received an e-mail asking her to perform at an Elbow gig at Ludlow Castle which she describes as ‘amazing’.

Katherine performed a gorgeous version of A Boat On the River from the new album on Later… with Jools Holland which we thoroughly recommend watching on catch up. She says it was ‘utterly terrifying’ adding: “It’s a prestigious thing. I always watched Hootenanny with my family, so it was quite bizarre being there and talking to Jools. There aren’t many opportunities for folk musicians to get that kind of exposure.”

GAME CHANGER

Talking of exposure, social media has been a game changer, but Katherine is keen to keep things authentic. She says: “Whether we like it or not it’s a big part of being a musician. The way to deal with it is to bend it to suit you. Keep it personal – genuine. It’s a brilliant way to reach a global audience which wouldn’t have been an option before social media. Just do it on your terms.” Katherine’s manager is her best friend – someone she trusts completely which she says is a ‘wonderful’ arrangement.

Birmingham has always been home and of the city Katherine says: “I love it. Some of my friends have moved to London to get into music but I don’t think it’s necessary anymore. You can do so much from wherever you are now. Birmingham has a great scene. The Kitchen Garden Café is the perfect size when you’re starting out, as well as the Hare and Hounds. The open mic nights at The Yardbird were great – it’s sadly not there anymore. The city and the culture are encouraging and supportive.”

Katherine’s dream gig would have been headlining Union Chapel except she’s just ticked that off the bucket list, so next up would be her own show at Symphony Hall which she says would be ‘great’. Also, a duet with local legend Robert Plant would be Katherine’s ultimate collaboration. Robert – if you’re reading this…

One of the youngest people to run from Land’s End to John O’Groats, Joe Boardman took on the 1,112-mile journey on a whim. Within a week of deciding to have a go at the daunting challenge, Joe was off accompanied by his mum in a support vehicle – her trusty red Mini.
Aside from meeting up with mum periodically, numerous friends and family joined Joe for short bursts of running to support him. Roughly 37 miles per day took its toll physically particularly in the first week of the challenge, but beyond that Joe’s body held up and it was more of a mental battle which thankfully he won.

FUND-RAISING HERO

Joe says he’s always looking for an adventure and has been like that from a young age – he once spontaneously ran 30 miles while on a trip to Scotland to get some milk! And indeed, the preparation for Land’s End to John O’Groats was minimal. A friend suggested that Joe would be able to run the mammoth distance and a week later, he was on the road.
Joe says: “It really was an amazing adventure, made all the more exciting by the spontaneity involved. While I did no formal training for this, I run regularly. This was something I started during lockdown with my sister and have kept going since.” Running to raise funds for Cancer Research UK, he has smashed his initial £2,000 target reaching £3,700 at the time of writing.

BOILER ROOM

The weather presented significant challenges – at one point Joe set out for the day in Pitlochry in temperatures of 14 degrees which quickly dropped to -2 degrees. Joe remembers: “I just had to brave it. The hotel we stayed in that night had a lovely manager who let me sit in the boiler room to warm up!” He also faced a lot of rain, flooding and snow storms, but remained determined to finish.
The end of the run wasn’t the instant euphoric high you might imagine. He explains: “My mum was full of joy and I just remember needing a coffee. I couldn’t really respond to people. I think it took a toll on my brain and I just switched off for a couple of days.”
Joe is studying A-Levels in music, drama and English literature at Bromsgrove School and says music played a big part in the journey. Joe remembers running along the Severn Way in the sunshine listening to Charles Trenet’s La Mer which is one of his big highlights. Support from Joe’s school community and beyond has been incredible. He’s featured on BBC Midlands Today and local radio with his inspiring story.

NEW YORK TO LA

Deep into exam season Joe’s busy revising but not too busy to cook up an even grander adventure – riding on horseback across America from New York to LA. At least he’ll be sat down although people who know horses suggest it will actually be harder.
Joe’s planning to rope in his equestrian-loving cousin but we’re not sure she knows about that yet! Joe’s adventures feed into his true love of storytelling. His big dream is to get into writing for the film industry – it’s all he wants to do, and we would put money on him achieving great things. Bravo Joe!

The 24-year-old may have been born in South Carolina, but both of his parents are proud Brummies, so when Oliver switched his nationality from American to British earlier in the year, we jumped at the chance to interview him. We caught up with him on the back of his first ever Grand Slam win and looking forward to the grass court season.

Oliver is still in the early stages of his career but has achieved much already. He was a top 10 ranked junior at Wimbledon, Roland Garros and the US Open. He has a career-high ATP ranking of 190 and has reached the final of two ATP Challengers as well as winning eight ITF tournaments. He played the qualifying tournament of the Australian Open this year as well as the US Open in 2021.

He says: “Every step up is a challenge and my next goal is to break into the top 100. That will require some ATP Challenger tournament wins and a consistent performance over the next several months. I am ready for the challenge and excited to get there.” Oliver is beginning to build a team around him – a coach, trainer, physio and an agent as well as sponsors. He says: “Together we create wins and opportunity and deal with setbacks and losses.”

LIFE ON THE TOUR

Oliver has played tournaments in more than 30 countries across six continents. Thankfully he loves travelling and getting to experience new countries and cultures, so for him jetting around the world is not a chore although he accepts it can be arduous and lonely for some. Oliver views it as a privilege but explains that with limited funds and few resources and largely travelling on your own, it can be tough.

In the beginning, with no team around, a player is responsible for every aspect of organising travel, training, finding hitting partners, staying healthy physically and mentally which entails dealing with defeat, overcoming boredom, managing expectations and trying to stay balanced and focused. It’s a big ask for a young person. Oliver says: “It is not a glamorous lifestyle and the majority of professional tennis players do not make it through this stage.” Oliver was always committed to pursuing his dream of being a professional player which helped him in the early days – he also credits his very supportive family.

UNCLE IAIN

Speaking of family, the connection to Birmingham is strong and Oliver has spent many summers and Christmases in the city. Last year his uncle Iain gave him a very personal tour. Oliver recalls: “He took us on a 13-mile walk from Moseley, through Selly Oak, Edgbaston, Five Ways, and into the Jewellery Quarter, stopping off at ‘important’ places along the way like the houses where they grew up, the schools they went to, the pubs they frequented, and notable chip shops and curry houses.”

While in the city Oliver has practised at Edgbaston Priory where several of his family are members. He really rates the facilities saying: “The club is fantastic, the amenities and courts are first class, and the staff very friendly. I have had little experience of grass courts, so I am looking forward to spending some more time on them in Edgbaston. I am hoping that it becomes a bigger part of my summer schedule.”

Pleased with the British set-up, Oliver has found other players, coaches and staff to be ‘incredibly encouraging and welcoming’. He adds: “I am looking forward to getting more involved. Clearly, there are some world-class British players and a strong group of highly talented younger professionals too. I am excited and proud to be representing Britain. If I can get the chance to play on a national team that would be wonderful.”

Oliver loves competing one-to-one, so tennis particularly appeals from that point of view. He says: “Ultimately the performance is down to you. There are few sports which are so individually focused. I also love the physical nature of tennis. It is a gruelling sport, where speed, stamina, skill and power all come into play. Different players have different blends of these attributes and how you combine them determines your style of play, which tournaments offer your ideal conditions, and how to approach a particular opponent.” The variety of surfaces, changeable conditions and even different match format (three or five sets) excites Oliver too.

Oliver says his short-term goal is to break into the top 100 and play in the main draw of all of the Grand Slams. Beyond that, he says: “I am looking to play my best tennis and reach my full potential. Everyone dreams of winning tournaments and being number one, I share the same dreams.”

The last few years of Anthony Madu’s life read like a fairytale. It started with a video of him dancing in the rain barefoot in Lagos which became a worldwide sensation that led to a scholarship at Elmhurst Ballet School.

Anthony didn’t think the video would have an impact and never contemplated millions of people all over the world watching it. He says: “I genuinely didn’t expect any response at all. It didn’t really seem like much of a big deal at the time. My old dance school used to post a video of the week on Instagram, and this was one of those.”

A few months after the video blew up in 2020, one of the directors from Disney visited Anthony’s school in Nigeria. Anthony recalls: “We had a chat and he watched my ballet class, and then a week later they started filming! It felt exciting, but also a bit weird, because of having cameras around me all the time. But the longer it went on, the more I got used to it.”

CAMERA CREW

The cameras followed Anthony for 15 months. They filmed him at home in Nigeria for the first few months then at Elmhurst where the crew would film for a week at a time, followed by a two-week break and back again. It sounds intense, but it was a fun time for Anthony.

He says: “They were a great team, and just having different people around me all the time like the camera guy and the directors and the producers was fun. Even the things that were quite difficult were good because the team made it fun.”

Anthony has seen the film three times – he saw the first edit last year which he found a ‘bit cringe’ as he didn’t like seeing himself on screen. The second time he watched it with close friends who naturally kept asking questions throughout the film, but during the third viewing he really tried to focus and take it all in.

He remembers: “When I watched it that time, I remembered when we filmed the scenes. There’s a scene at the airport in Nigeria and it was really sad leaving my parents and my siblings and I remembered how I felt and I actually cried when I watched it.” He adds: “Filming that scene wasn’t a set-up. I was actually filmed going to the airport, saying goodbye to my family. Then one of the two directors, Kachi Benson, got on the plane with me. He had a little camera and he was filming different parts of the journey to Birmingham.”

BRIGHT SIDE

Edgbaston is a far cry from Anthony’s life in Nigeria but he’s relishing the opportunity. He explains: “The transition at the start was quite hard because of missing home and the different culture. But I had to really think of the bright side – I’m at a ballet school. It’s pretty much what I’ve always wanted to do. I had to just get on with it and not think about all the hard stuff and just keep pushing.” He adds: “I love the way dance makes me feel when I’m doing it. Sometimes it’s quite hard, but then when you ‘get it’, it’s amazing.”

Anthony goes back to Nigeria each summer and his family are so excited to see him. He says: “I always get jumped on and they’re all there just waiting to give me a massive hug. To see the excitement on their faces that I’m back, it’s just amazing. It makes me feel really happy.”

When in Edgbaston, Anthony says he doesn’t like a chaotic life, so he chooses to have a small circle of close friends who he enjoys going to Cannon Hill Park with or shopping in Selly Oak when they have down time. He enjoys the school trips too, such as to the Malvern Hills, the Black Country Living Museum and of course trips to see Birmingham Royal Ballet at the Hippodrome – a stage we might be lucky enough to see him perform on in a few years.

Anthony says: “I just want to be the best I can be. I want to perform. I think that if I do get into a ballet company, I’d like to perform in The Nutcracker. I really enjoyed it when I watched Birmingham Royal Ballet do it.” Since Anthony has spent so much time around a film crew, he’s also open to the idea of acting and if that happens, he’d like to be an Avenger! For now, his hero is his mum, “I’ve only got one hero and that’s my mum. I really want to say thank you to her for how she’s always been there for me since I started dancing.”

Birmingham youngster Belle Kumble Rose isn’t your average teen. Her new single NV was released last month to much acclaim, not least for its uplifting message of kindness, hope and strength through adversity. Produced by Mike Rose who’s worked with Gary Barlow, and East 17 as well as Belle’s own mum, Lolly, who readers might remember from the Eighties.

Belle says she’s constantly writing and is generally inspired by past experiences as well as more trivial things like TV shows. She already has an impressive body of work despite being just 17-years-old.  Not many teenagers are juggling sixth form studies with a career in music and a ‘bit of modelling’ while touring schools in order to inspire other young people.

In 2022, Belle completed a tour of more than 40 schools in the Midlands and the South West. As well as performing to audiences aged from nine to 13 years, Belle answered questions about mental health, online safety and cyberbullying drawing on her own experiences.

MENTAL HEALTH

Last summer she took to the road again to perform an end-of-school-year tour with an audience of more than 4,000 school children in the Midlands. Of her own struggles, Belle says: “I’ve learnt so much about my mental health. There were times when I didn’t feel heard, so it’s nice to be able to talk to school children about that. Hopefully they don’t feel alone.”

Over the last few years, Belle has made the choice to use her creative skills to express empathy through her music striving to be the new voice of her generation in waiting. Her lyrics reflect the emotional highs and lows of her generation and she wants to represent the kids who have no voice, who can’t or don’t speak out.

Belle has grown up with social media and has a love-hate relationship with it as most teenagers do. She says: “I love it but it’s also hard. I’m still trying to figure it out. I just post what’s authentic to me. There’s lots of negativity on social media. If I get hate comments, I have to think, ‘at least they’re talking about me.”

LIVE GIGS

Having grown up in a musical family, Belle is a confident performer who relishes lives gigs. She has a couple of festivals lined up over the summer including Reading Pride as well as Rainford Festival, plus a spot on CBBC and a few other TV things in the pipeline. While Belle’s always had a passion for singing inspired largely by her musical heroes such as Alanis Morrisette, Paramour and Olivia Rodrigo, the writing bug is more recent.

She says: “Something switched in my brain in lockdown. I started writing poetry and writing about my feelings. I became more active on Instagram and things started to happen.”

FOLLOW ON:

You can catch Belle on social media and download her work on her YouTube channel.

Linktree – https://linktr.ee/bellekumblerose

Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/bellekumblerose

TikTok – https://www.tiktok.com/@bellekumblerose?lang=en

YouTube Channel – https://www.youtube.com/@bellekumblerose

Busy rehearsing for An Officer and a Gentleman before its opening at the Alexandra last month, Sinead Long told us she was happy to be back in the Midlands. In the city briefly before touring the UK for ten months, Sinead says she’ll always view the region as home.

Birmingham provided the springboard to an acting career that began by honing her craft as a dancer and she has fond memories of travelling in from Halesowen to attend workshops such as those at DanceXchange. While dance was Sinead’s main discipline, she always loved musicals and it became apparent as a teenager that she could really sing which was a revelation. Sinead remembers from an early age just loving going to the theatre. She says: “I would be poring over the programme seeing where the actors came from and where they studied. I loved it.”

While Sinead’s not from an acting dynasty with a black book packed with industry contacts or financial backing, she had a mother who wholeheartedly supported her daughter’s obvious talent and passion. Sinead remembers: “Mum just loved theatre and had a child that loved it. She made a lot of sacrifices.” Sinead says she needed the full scholarship she was offered from Arts Ed in Chiswick or it wouldn’t have been possible for her to move to London and go drama school.

INJURY SHOCK

Sinead says Arts Ed is very good at getting students seen, and adds: “In the third year Arts Ed students put on three full-scale musicals to which agents and casting directors are invited.” As a result, Sinead was snapped up by an agent and given her first professional theatre role on the back of the showcases before she’d even graduated. She was offered the part of Serena in Legally Blonde, but it wasn’t all plain sailing. Sinead sustained an injury on tour that required surgery.

Thankfully it didn’t put a stop to her career and she’s since gone on to star on stage in productions such as Jesus Christ Superstar, Hamilton, Jersey Boys and more, as well as TV roles most notably Doctors and Prince Andrew The Musical. A stint in Hamilton was interrupted by Covid which, while it was strange time, Sinead felt more secure than most.

She explains: “Lockdown was a tricky one. I was in a better position than some actors. I was in Hamilton when Covid hit and because it was so massive, the show felt safe and unlikely to close.” She adds: “Some big shows did close, but Hamilton never felt like it would. It was hard to plan though. Hamilton didn’t want to re-open and then have to close again, so in the end we had 14 months off.”

EMOTIONAL

While we all felt the void and missed the arts strongly through lockdowns, Sinead says she really felt that from audiences. “The first show Hamilton opened post-Covid, the whole place erupted. It was really cool and quite emotional.” One thing that Sinead thinks changed for the better during the pandemic is increased online and self-tape auditions. For someone so keen to make a career in the arts more accessible, this is a good move squashing the need for expensive travel costs to get to auditions which are generally in London. The need for accessibility is one close to Sinead’s heart. Programmes such as the DADA (dance and drama award) which help with fees and living costs at private dance and drama schools are reducing in numbers. Talented actors from backgrounds like Sinead might not get the opportunities she enjoyed. While online and self-tape auditions are an option, that becomes irrelevant if people can’t afford to move away and study.

DEMYSTIFY LIFE

Such is Sinead’s mission to boost accessibility, she runs a project called West Enducate which aims to ‘demystify life working in the West End’. West Enducate runs bespoke workshops sharing professional knowledge. There’s vocal coaching and musical workshops as well as industry insight and more. Sinead explains: “There are so many opportunities for young people. With the workshops we find someone from the show we’re planning to workshop which is important. We also offer young people practical knowledge such as how your life works when you’re in the arts. It’s hard to understand the full extent of being self-employed and what that means.”

Sinead enjoys chatting to the youngsters in the Q&A sessions at the end of a workshop. She says: “The younger children want to know the fun side like costumes etc. and the older students are more concerned with more technical aspects and navigating getting the balance right.”

With dream roles like ‘Roxy in Chicago, any of the girls in Six and maybe Cats’ as well as more TV on the horizon, we reckon we’ll be seeing a lot more of Sinead Long.

Photography by Angela Grabowska

Imogen Morris’s work is stunning, so it’s no surprise it’s held in numerous private and public collections across the globe. Imogen’s large-scale pieces are ideal for corporate spaces, hotel lobbies and the like, while smaller commissions tend to be portraits of people or increasingly their pets!

Having graduated in 2013 with a first-class degree in Fine Art and Art History, Imogen abandoned art completely for a time. She explains: “I had all the skills and no means of practising.” It’s a common problem that artists know their craft, but can’t see a way to make a living. Imogen did youth work for a while and says she didn’t touch art for years.

In 2018 she began doing embroidered portraits for fun. She says: “I got the bug for selling. I enjoyed exposure at arts markets and attention on social media.” A friend asked Imogen if she’d seen nail and thread art which she hadn’t, so she thought she’d have a stab at it.

For portrait commissions Imogen tends to work from a photo and the piece begins with a drawing. From there she wraps thread around nails creating the contours of the face and building up layers to create detail and depth and ultimately an accurate portrayal. Imogen’s work is two pronged – firstly making work that people buy for their homes which is often 2D and secondly, huge 3D installations. While Imogen’s large-scale pieces have a significant wow factor, she says these can sometimes be simpler to create than smaller work which can be more intricate and complex. A 40cm piece takes roughly 30 to 40 hours to complete.

DOWN TO BUSINESS

Commissions are the main source of Imogen’s income as well as sales through galleries such as Seventh Circle Gallery in Moseley. Imogen also has Royal Birmingham Society of Artists (RBSA) graduate membership which includes free membership for three years as well as opportunities to go into exhibitions and free exhibition space on the ground floor. With membership there’s also a welcome professional development angle which looks at the business side of being a successful artist – one of the things Imogen feels was missing from her degree course.

She says: “Things have changed and I think an element of business is a standard part of arts education in a more practical way now.” She would recommend any budding artists start saving and amass an amount to invest to get your business off the ground. Imogen is also part of the Prince’s Trust supported by a business mentor.

If you’re a member at Edgbaston Priory Club, you’ve probably seen Imogen’s recently installed work. Belonging is a large-scale piece recognising the impact of the pandemic on the club and its members. Imogen used 2,325 pins representing the number of members who continued to support the club when it couldn’t open during lockdown. It’s stunning.

FIND YOUR PEOPLE

While art is full time in terms of the hours Imogen puts in, she also has a part time job to ensure a regular income. She feels if the internet didn’t exist, she’d be forced to live in London. Imogen explains: “There’s value in private views and meeting people face-to-face, but I can’t afford to live in London. The internet means I’m able to sell nationally and internationally regardless.”

Not that Imogen would want to move to the capital – she rates the Birmingham art scene and its sense of community. She says: “It’s supportive and nurturing – there are so many people willing to support you here. The art world can be super elitist, but not in Birmingham. It’s reasonable and kind.”

Imogen finds Digbeth particularly inspiring and a creative place to be. Her advice to young artists is to, ‘find your people. People who will uphold you and vice-versa. Help each other and work collectively’.

Law graduate Alex has swapped a career in law for an exciting opportunity at Warwickshire County Cricket. Granted it’s not obvious career progression, but one that means the new job ‘doesn’t feel like work’ and that’s the dream.

Aged just 30, Alex has spent seven years working as a solicitor specialising in family law while captaining Earlswood CC first XI, coaching youngsters in his spare time and training for his advanced coach qualification. He made the decision to leave his previous job before the role at Warwickshire came up, so it was a serendipitous moment that worked out beautifully.
Now the club’s early years high performance coach Alex says: “It’s certainly not your standard route into cricket coaching. I spent 10 years in total studying law and then working in a law firm, but my passion has always been cricket. I’ve played for as long as I can remember, since four-years-old in the garden and then junior cricket from eight onwards.”

MAKING A DIFFERENCE

He adds: “I worked as a casual coach on the pathway, learning from the team here, and a club coach for a long time as well. My involvement on the pathway gradually increased over the last couple of years and I found I was enjoying it more and more. The success of the U10s intra-county programme really was the spark for me.”

Alex started the role in November and while Warwickshire cricket is in good shape, he’s excited about making a difference. Much of Alex’s day is spent planning, strategising and working to ensure the club is reaching young talent while his evenings and weekends are spent coaching youngsters.

Warwickshire is already ‘extremely inclusive’ but Alex is keen to spread the net even further finding fresh talent, broadening the pathway and strengthening community links. The Independent Commission into Equity in Cricket (ICEC) report set out a number of recommendations for county pathways to adopt that are designed to identify and nurture young talent and promote cricket to more children.

STARS OF THE FUTURE

While the ECB works on what the proposals might look like, Alex continues to work to boost engagement and find ways to identify talent that means potential stars don’t fall through the net. Much of Alex’s summer will be spent travelling around the county watching and scouting. He says: “Coming to Edgbaston could be quite intimidating so I aim to take the pathway out too. There are challenges to playing cricket – facilities and equipment for example. Some children also view it as their summer sport not their main sport, so I’d like to change that perception.”

Alex says the cricket board has some great community schemes and there a couple of national schemes doing brilliant work that support the effort to boost the sport’s uptake, such as Chance to Shine – a national charity aiming to give all children the opportunity to play, learn and develop through cricket and the ACE programme which aims to inspire the wider game to support reconnecting the black community with cricket.

GAME FOR ALL

One of the routes to increased inclusivity is the potential for budding players to be able to submit videos to show their skills. Alex says: “Everybody can put themselves forward. Biases can be avoided and it spreads the net wider. The ECB’s strategy is that cricket is a game for all and that’s what the aim is.”

Warwickshire head of high performance Paul Greetham adds: “We want to ensure access to representative cricket is ‘barrier-free’ and accessible regardless of a child’s background. And to achieve that we’re increasingly looking for proactive ways to engage in grassroots cricket, in conjunction with the Warwickshire Cricket Board, to accelerate talent development and encourage participation.”

On a personal level Alex says he’s doing something that he enjoys every day. “Cricket is in my blood and I enjoy helping young players learn and develop, as people as well as players. You can see a real impact over a 12-month cycle and being able to improve the state of cricket around the county is an amazing position to be in.”

Over a six-month period from May to November, the youngsters put together a podcast called Bathcasts. From conceptualising the idea, engaging with the space and the community to commissioning artists and producing a final product, the creatives owned the project which is available to listen to until the middle of January.

The six young curators are a wonderfully eclectic mix of talent, background and interests and are all Birmingham-based, some born and bred. They include Sadie who’s from South London originally and describes herself as a general do-er of bits ’n’ bobs, particularly in the realms of music, broadcasting and silly art.

Then there’s Malikah who is currently a speech and language therapy student and enjoys sports. Amira has just finished college and looks forward to doing something other than studying while Nicole works for a charity supporting refugees in the city and loves languages and painting. Habib is an Arabic teacher and service designer who loves languages, the gym and drawing and Jessica, a neurodiverse and queer practitioner focusing on performance and event design and photography.

TUB TALK

Funded by the National Lottery Heritage Fund and part of the Moseley Road Baths Diving In Project, Bathcasts is hosted by comedian Rachel Baker who was one of our Young, Gifted and Brummie subjects last year. The podcast interviewees are people connected to the historic baths who chat about their lives and the community building. Each interview takes place in one of the Moseley Road Baths bathtubs.

It’s an intriguing idea and you can hear the splish-sploshing in the podcast, but it works. As well as the interviews, the Young Curators commissioned original poetry and music for each episode from 10 local artists. Interviewees include Adam Wynn, Malikah and Shazia, Sadim Garvey, Ayan Aden and Fabio Henriques, all people with a connection to Moseley Road Baths.

Gaby Songui, creative producer for the Young Curators Programme, said: “Telling their own stories has been key to the Young Curators programme, with each of the curators considering their experiences in Balsall Heath, as creatives, at Moseley Road Baths and it’s been brilliant seeing this result in an innovative series of podcasts. The podcast encourages you to listen to it in the bath at home, immersing yourself in water at the same times as our interviewees.”

DEEP BREATHS

We listened to the Adam Wynn episode in preparation for this article and hadn’t expected it to kick off with guided meditation from Adjei Sun. We can confirm we haven’t breathed deeply or dropped our shoulders for roughly a decade. Bloomin’ lovely. Rachel Baker was a great choice for a host – she’s natural and curious – plus there was poetry by Erin Gilbey and music from Aayushi Jain.

It’s a gentle, thoughtful listen that contrasts so much with the madness of social media and the horror of the current news cycle. It’s a bit of escapism – a pocket of loveliness that the six curators should be proud of. Bravo!

Dismantling barriers to making music is what Elizabeth J Birch does on the daily. A talented instrumentalist, music technician and vocalist, Elizabeth is striving to give all young people unfettered access to music. While the music industry isn’t famed for its inclusivity, it’s slowly improving thanks to change makers and campaigners like Elizabeth committed to boosting accessibility and opportunity.

Winning the Inspirational Leader Award at the Youth Music Awards earlier in the year was a complete surprise to Elizabeth but probably not a shock to anyone who’s familiar with her work. She has paved the way for countless young disabled musicians by breaking down barriers and boosting their self-belief. She’s worked with Midlands Arts Centre’s inclusive band Switch as well as BBC Introducing and has chaired panel discussions around access to music at numerous conferences.

She has developed an impressive knowledge of music technology which she shares with aspiring musicians through her unique workshops both online and in person. Of the award, Elizabeth says: “Awards and recognition aren’t why I do it – I’m perfectly satisfied if I’m not recognised but I guess it’s confirmation that others see what I do which is really nice.” The judging panel included singer-songwriter and Hits Radio UK presenter Fleur East, Chicken Shop Date star and youth services advocate Amelia Dimoldenberg, singer and BRIT-nominated Rising Star Joy Crookes and mixed media visual artist Kojey Radical.

BIGGEST CHALLENGES

Elizabeth’s achievements are even more impressive when you learn that she’s dealing with her own challenges that mean her life is complicated. Having always been into music and movement as a child, Elizabeth was diagnosed with Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome (EDS) while still at primary school which meant that physical activity including dance had to stop. EDS is a joint hypermobility syndrome that causes fatigue, pain and dislocations meaning Elizabeth had to rely on mobility aids initially and now uses a wheelchair.

Having benefitted from community projects as a youngster that made her realise music was a viable career path, Elizabeth says: “Over time I wanted to impact others in the same way. I want to see equal opportunity to be creative and to be included. I’m fortunate to be where I am because organisations took a chance on me and I’m keen to do that for others.”

Elizabeth launched her workshops during lockdown, so they were online at first which proved popular not least because the online space appeals to a lot of people for whom access to venues is a problem. However, once lockdown was eased and in-person workshops were an option, Elizabeth found the prospect daunting as she’d never delivered a face-to-face session. To add to the pressure, Elizabeth has been diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) which affects her socially.

BIGGEST SUCCESS

While it’s not easy, Elizabeth has overcome the awkwardness to deliver inspiring workshops that make a big impact on young budding musicians’ lives. In fact, Elizabeth says that her biggest success is the young people she’s worked with. She explains: The thought of how their lives have changed and improved is something that keeps me motivated.”

Elizabeth’s ambitions include making more of her own music but also to keep working towards inclusivity, equity and open mindedness. She says: “How music is made and who is making it currently is such a narrow viewpoint.” She wants people thinking more about access too.

“There are big challenges with grass roots events and venues. There are literally venues a disabled person cannot get into and outdoor events on grass are impossible in a wheelchair. It’s improving slowly.” Elizabeth hopes that one day everyone will be included in the creative space both physically and emotionally.

The Nutcracker is back. I took my children to the Hippodrome when they were aged just three and four willing them to enjoy it as much as me and honestly, to sit still. Fast forward 12 years and we’re still gasping when the Christmas tree grows over a decade on. It’s tradition, it’s Christmas and Birmingham Royal Ballet does it best. We caught up with someone who’s on the inside creating the magic that keeps us going back for more.

Principal dancer Céline Gittens joined BRB in 2006 under the directorship of Sir David Bintley who took her under his wing making it clear she would be successful, but success would be gradual. Céline’s glad of that and feels it was important not to peak too soon.
With a teacher of classical ballet as a mother, perhaps it was inevitable that Céline would pick up the dance bug. Her mum, Janet Gittens opened the first ballet school in the south of Trinidad where Céline spent the first nine years of her life. She remembers looking on when she was very small: “I watched my mum teach and saw the older students dance. I enjoyed the movement and the music and loved how it made me feel.” Céline started dancing when she was aged just three and began taking Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) exams aged four.

SPRUNG FLOOR

A bit of a natural break in dance happened when Céline moved to Vancouver in 1997 aged nine where she wasn’t initially part of a ballet school. She remembers doing the grade 5 RAD syllabus in the living room of her home and practising the jumps on a sprung running track in the community park as her mum thought it was gentler on her legs than the hard floor. She found a ballet school in which to take the exam and was awarded the highest grade of distinction.
Céline has won many accolades and awards over the years including being awarded the prestigious Solo Seal and was the first Canadian to win a Genre Competition gold medal in 2005. Serendipitously when we caught up Céline, she was sitting in the very dressing room at Sadler’s Wells she had used in 2005 for the competition. This time she was touring BRB’s Black Sabbath which received standing ovations every night for two weeks in Birmingham as well as in Plymouth and the company was hoping for more of the same at Sadler’s Wells.

CAREER GOALS

It wasn’t an easy leap from success in exams and competitions to building a stable career and being accepted by a company. Céline spent 15 years fighting for it. BRB came about almost by accident. She was only visiting the city as she had family friends here and thought why not try. She says making it into a successful company is one of her biggest successes.
“A lot of very talented dancers don’t make it. BRB is very stable – even during Covid dancers were paid 100 per cent and that wasn’t the case for everyone.” Céline is now an international ambassador for RAD as well as principal dancer at BRB. As part of her ambassadorial role, she has created an introduction to dance scholarship. The idea is to reach out to communities and award one new introduction scholarship to dance per year supporting a talented youngster through the first year.

GIVING BACK

Having watched the difference her mother has made to hundreds of young lives, Céline is inspired to give back and would love to teach at some point. “I’m inspired by my mum and I’ve seen what a difference she’s made to her students’ lives. Not just exams, but the difference to their self-confidence and life skills. I’d like to make that positive change.”
Céline has embraced Birmingham as home. She says: “I’ve lived in three different countries, so I excel at adapting to and understanding different cultures. Birmingham lived up to my expectations in terms of what I thought a European city would be with big, stone buildings with an obvious story behind them.” Having completed a Master of Philosophy at the University of Birmingham she feels it’s wonderful to have such an institution in the city, but more than that, she adds: “It’s the diversity that makes the city so great. It’s really wonderful, inclusive and accepting.”
Céline urges people to come to BRB and see what they’re doing – she says it’s one of the city’s gems and people should have a look at the website and take the plunge. If you’ve never experienced The Nutcracker, it’s a good place to start. At the time of writing there are still tickets available. If you’re reading this and it’s sold out, we’re sorry. It’s a classic and you need to get in quick, but take Céline’s advice and check out what else is going on – you might just be surprised. It’s not all ballerinas in tutus…

Lili-Rose Hunt isn’t your average A-Level student. As an amateur golfer who’s been picked for the women’s national squad, she’s also working toward her exams next year while planning a gap year like no other. She won’t be finding herself on a beach in Costa Rica – not that there’s anything wrong with that – she’ll be pushing her game playing as much as she can working towards becoming professional because make no mistake about it, for Lili-Rose this is her future.

If after the gap year Lili wants to step back into academia, she’ll look to the US where the two aren’t mutually exclusive. She says: “There are more opportunities to play in the US. They’re constantly playing golf.” Lili-Rose is currently in upper sixth at Bromsgrove School where her teachers have been ‘very accommodating’ allowing her time off for competitions and being understanding about fitting work around her schedule. It makes what could have been an overwhelming situation manageable.

NATIONAL CALL UP

Lili-Rose picked up a golf club for the first time at the age of six at school. She took to it straight away and encouraged by her golf-loving dad started playing. By the age of nine Lilli-Rose was competing. The competitions were initially small before she advanced to larger more prestigious tournaments within just a few years. While still in Prep School, Lili-Rose was crowned the IAPS U13 National Golf Champion and now, aged 16, competes regularly at a high level. Her achievements are too many to list but knowing that she’s now part of the women’s national squad will tell you all you need to know.

Being picked for the squad takes Lili-Rose’s game up a notch and has given her access to a team of support staff. She attends a training camp once a month at Woodall Spa Golf Club where she has access to a fitness and strength trainer as well as a nutritionist and psychologist. The team element of the sport is enjoyable. Lili-Rose says there’s a really good team spirit: “It’s great to finish your round and then cheer on the other girls.”

She loves the solo game with the team element adding an extra dimension. What is it about golf that she loves? She accepts it’s a bit of an odd concept saying: “I find it mesmerising. I know it’s just hitting a tiny white ball but it’s addictive always striving to do better.”

MEET YOUR HEROES

Lili-Rose’s hero is one of the best golfers in history, Sweden’s Annika Sörenstam. Annika won 90 international tournaments making her the most successful female golfer of all time. She won every award and broke every record possible in women’s golf. Since retiring in 2008, Annika has been committed to giving back through her foundation which supports young golfers.

Lili-Rose was invited to the Annika Invitational Competition in Sweden earlier in the year where she was lucky enough to meet her hero. She said: “I had a session with Annika and I really enjoyed it. I like her work ethic plus she was so inspirational while on tour not least the lowest round of 59!” Lili Rose’s referring to Annika posting an incredible score of 59 at the Moon Valley Country Club in 2001 – still the only woman to have done so and in the company of only a handful of male golfers having ever achieved a sub-60 score. Not a bad role model for a budding champion like Lili-Rose.

Laura Bryan is back in her home town starring as the lead in the Alexandra’s Stage Experience production of Bring It On. Each summer The theatre invites rising stars from across the region to audition for a week-long run of a hit musical as part of their youth theatre production programme, Stage Experience.
The established programme has been running for 18 years, giving countless youngsters valuable experience of a professional set-up. Last year it was Fame which Laura was part of (pictured). This year it’s Jeff Whitty and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Bring It On, in which she plays Campbell – competitive queen bee, people pleaser and squad captain at Truman High School.

FRENETIC FORTNIGHT

We caught up with Laura before the show opened and she was itching to get started. Since the show has cheerleading at its heart, of which Laura has no experience, the two-week rehearsal might be needed and possibly painful! Having said that Laura has always danced – ballet, jazz and contemporary – and has done a bit of gymnastics, so she reckons she’ll be okay. Two weeks isn’t long to polish a show as complex as Bring It On, but Laura recognises it’s a great opportunity.
Growing up in Dorridge meant that Laura had Brum’s theatres on her doorstep and from an early age indulged her passion for musical theatre. Having been a regular at the Alexandra as a child, it’s a dream performing on the stage.
Dancing since she was just three-years-old and singing for seven years, Laura joined Birmingham’s School of Theatre Excellence (SOTE) and carried on classes online with them through lockdown followed by two years boarding at Tring Park School for Performing Arts. Going from lockdown to boarding school and being away from family seems like quite a leap, but Laura says she didn’t overthink it and just threw herself into it making the most of the opportunity.
She has performed with the D-Day Juniors, most recently appearing as a guest act on Britain’s Got Talent and has always grabbed opportunities to be part of musical productions inside and out of school, including playing the lead role in Legally Blonde Junior.

BRIMMING BRUMMIES

Of the Alexandra’s programme, Simon Creed, theatre director, says: “The West Midlands is a melting pot of theatrical talent and Stage Experience forms a hugely important part of the Alex’s calendar.” Successful applicants like Laura work alongside industry professionals including directors, choreographers and technical teams, to bring a full-scale production to audiences in just two weeks. For those who have an interest in working behind the scenes, in lighting, sound, wardrobe, stage management and more, there are a number of technical placements available.
As you’d expect, in a city brimming with such talent, the focus on youth programmes at Birmingham’s theatres generally is impressive with all the major venues excelling. For instance, the Hippodrome runs a Musical Theatre Youth Company for youngsters aged between 11 and 18 years meeting every Saturday while the Rep runs a Young Rep programme for budding actors aged 7 to 18 years. There is a charge for both but bursaries are available.

FUTURE GOALS

Laura considers the opportunity that Stage Experience has given her a crucial part of her development. The programme is billed as a ‘once in a lifetime’ experience except Laura’s done it twice! As well as gaining experience in a professional setting, the intensity of the production and short lead time means she’s forged firm friendships too.
The talented teen hopes to build on the experience and enjoy an exciting career like her heroes, including Carrie Hope Fletcher famed for playing Éponine and Fantine in Les Miserables and Samantha Barks whose career took off after coming third in the BBC’s I’d Do Anything and who went on to star as Elsa in Frozen.

The Hundred is back this summer and Warwickshire’s finest, Chris Woakes is ready for his first experience of the tournament – playing in it at least. The all-rounder has been in the Birmingham Phoenix squad for two years since The Hundred’s inception, but injury has stopped him competing. This year he says he’s fighting fit, although he does quickly and hopefully jokingly adds: “Fit so far!” We’re crossing fingers and touching wood as it would be incredible to see him firing on all cylinders over the summer.
Aside from The Hundred’s obvious ‘glitz and glamour’, there’s a lot to be grateful to the tournament for. It’s attracted record crowds and boosted cricket’s profile generally. The women’s game has benefitted immeasurably, giving the ladies equal billing with the men, and girls’ cricket is thriving. I speak from experience with two daughters who dipped their toe in the water after watching an electric women’s game at Edgbaston who are now playing their third season. We interviewed Izzy Wong during The Hundred’s first year and she was cock-a-hoop the tournament was more equal. Things as simple as using the same gym as the men were novel then.

DIFFERENT DIMENSION

Chris has always been a champion of the women’s game. He says: “There have been people banging the drum for a while then along came The Hundred and the opportunity for the women’s game to be equal and professional. The women’s game has gone from strength to strength.”
Chris has played at Warwickshire since he was ten years old having picked cricket over football which he was also decent at and feels utterly privileged to have had a career here. He reflects: “I still feel very lucky. If you’d told me about my career before I started playing, I’d have bitten your hand off. Obviously, with this career comes added pressure, but I take the rough with the smooth.” Chris played his first professional game in 2006 and he says Edgbaston has changed ‘a hell of a lot’. He adds: “What hasn’t changed though is the brilliant people and the atmosphere. The backing and the home support at Edgbaston adds a different dimension.”

ROCK STARS

When Chris was growing up test cricket was the primary format. Now the cricketing schedule looks very different peppered with white ball tournaments and he thinks there’s room for both. “It’s not everyone’s cup of tea, but it’s got people watching and it’s enjoyable.” The IPL in India has been a particular highlight and something Chris says nothing prepares you for. “It is crazy. You’re treated like a rock star in India. I’m pleased to have experienced it – as well as the passion it’s a really high standard.” Chris says it’d be good to try to replicate the passion here – I suggest The Hollies stand toward the end of a day at The Hundred is not far off, not to mention the double decker back to New St Station from Edgbaston. Rocking!
Chris is only 34 years old but is asked about retirement a fair bit lately – for the record, he brought it up not me. He says although he’s obviously aware that a sporting career is a short one, he hasn’t set out his stall yet. “I’m living in the now which I think is important otherwise I might take my eye off the ball so to speak.”

Jasmine Gardosi is more than a poet – her debut show combines the art form with beatbox and Celtic dub step as she explores themes around gender identity. Commissioned by Warwick Arts Centre, Dancing To The Music You Hate pulls apart the boundaries of gender and musical genres as Jasmine breaks open the binary with boldness and humour. She says: “You don’t have to be trans or gender-questioning to see or enjoy the show – this is for anyone else who’s also wrestled with self-expression and societal expectations of gender. ie. Everyone.”
The show was shortlisted for the Saboteur Awards Best Spoken Word Show in 2022 and 2023, went on to become Verve Poetry Festival’s best-selling event of 2022 and sold out Symphony Hall’s show at the Jennifer Blackwell Space earlier this year. The show’s titular track was adapted by conductor Jules Buckley and performed by BBC Symphony Orchestra for BBC Four’s Inside Classical: A Birmingham Celebration. Jasmine’s poet laureate predecessor, Casey Bailey describes the show as ‘the most important piece of art I can remember seeing’. High praise.

ROLLERCOASTER

Jasmine’s work has appeared on BBC Four, Sky Arts, Button Poetry and across BBC Radio, while her poem about the pandemic filmed on a rollercoaster was broadcast across the pond on PBS. She has worked with the National Trust, the Poetry Society and the National Literacy Trust and was previously Poet in Residence at the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust and the Brontë Parsonage Museum. Winner of numerous prizes, including the Out-Spoken Prize for Poetry and Outstanding International Entry in Button Poetry’s Video Contest, Jasmine is also a festival regular, with appearances at Glastonbury, WOMAD and Shambala.
Being the city’s poet laureate is a role Jasmine feels privileged to hold. It’s opened doors and given her a platform. Happy to be Birmingham’s first openly queer poet laureate, Jasmine continues to champion LGBTQ+ communities. She explores identity and sexuality and invites people to do the same. The application process for poet laureate is lengthy and competitive and Jasmine was rejected four times before being appointed. She accepts she wasn’t ready previously and learned a lot from the process and from the feedback she received from the judges. She would urge anyone who’s contemplating applying to go for it. Even the mere process is enriching.

THRIVING

Through poetry, Jasmine has found her voice. She says: “There was a time in my life I thought my voice was not valid. Every voice is valid. Always.” In part, due to Birmingham’s thriving open mic scene, Jasmine found her tribe and a way to express herself. “When I was 21, I was a bit lost – I didn’t know what to do. I used to think writing in isolation was the way, but why? It’s like writing poetry in a vacuum. The open mic scene was/is safe and community driven.”
She didn’t perform the first or even the second time she went to open mic nights, but plucked up the courage on the third visit and is still doing it today. “You’re at the mercy of the audience performing lines written in your room, but it hit home. I felt understood and that’s beautiful.”
Jasmine still does open mic nights, so if you pop down to the likes of Hit The Ode at the Victoria or one of the many of other venues across Brum, you might just hear her trying out new work. It turns out Birmingham does poetry and spoken word seriously well, so if you’re curious go along. There’s no pressure to perform, but you might just find your people and your voice.

Aside from its great history, one of the triumphs of BMOS is its talented people and the company’s ability to adapt. Once known as the Birmingham and Midland Operatic Society, hence BMOS, the company changed its name to reflect its more contemporary leanings.

Where previously there were Gilbert and Sullivan operettas performed at the Birmingham Institute, there are now dynamic, modern productions of hit musicals, such as 9 to 5 and Guys and Dolls, all performed to a professional standard at the Alexandra.

The history of the company is extraordinary. For instance, through the war years they provided entertainment in barracks and hospitals across the region before getting back to the stage at the city’s Theatre Royal in 1955, followed by a move to the Hippodrome in 1957. The current relationship with the Alexandra began in 2013 and is a happy collaboration. For the cast it’s a thrill to perform in such a wonderful venue and for audiences they get to see a fantastic production at a reasonable rate.

UNIQUELY INTENSE

What’s equally remarkable is the fact that this is a hobby for company members, although admittedly not your average hobby. It’s a uniquely intense past time particularly in the run-up to show time. Ordinarily, rehearsals happen one or two evenings per week but this cranks up to two evenings plus a Sunday rehearsal in the few weeks leading up to the performance.

Since the company is largely made up of people with day jobs, it’s quite the commitment. Rehearsals are accompanied by a piano, in fact, the company only rehearses with the orchestra two days before the first performance – gulp! They use the Midland Concert Orchestra run by Phil Johnson for each show though, so they know the drill.

JUST THE TICKET

Seven committee members work tirelessly. The company is a voluntary organisation so people give their time freely. Costs associated with putting on a production such as sound, lighting and the orchestra need to be covered by ticket sales, so a well-supported show is crucial.

They’ve had one production that was touch and go just after the pandemic, but generally ticket sales are healthy. As an extra revenue stream the company also performs at corporate functions and, in addition, the treasurer applies to relevant arts organisations to secure funding. There are also sporadic donations from past members which is fantastic when it happens but it’s not a regular income, so more support is always welcome.

The company likes to give back to the city and supports Free At Last in Nechells – a charity that is committed to helping local young people find opportunities that will improve their lives. BMOS worked with them on their Big Balloon Project initially, but they’ve kept the relationship going and now offer places for talented teens to get involved in the company which is working well.

STAR MAKER

The company has also produced some stars such as Jon Boyden who played the lead in Jersey Boys in the West End and Margaret Preece who appeared in and was the voice of Carlotta (Minnie Driver’s character) in the film version of the Phantom of the Opera.

This year, there are two BMOS shows to get your teeth into. First up is 9 to 5 which opens later this month – expect funny, fast-paced and quirky with some incredible performances, particularly the solos we’re told. Then there’s classic Peter Pan in November.

And if you’re interested in treading the boards, BMOS are always on the lookout for more talent. They seem like a friendly bunch, so get in touch.

Actor, singer, drummer and writer Alex Cardall has added puppetry to his CV for Disney’s gorgeous stage adaptation of Winnie the Pooh which is coming to the Hippodrome later this month following a record-breaking premiere in New York. Theatre aimed at younger audiences might seem like an easy gig, but not so. It has a unique pressure says Alex: “It might be the kids’ first time in a theatre particularly given the backdrop of the pandemic, so it feels special and important.”

Feedback from audiences has been overwhelmingly positive and Alex is looking forward to bringing the show to his hometown. The production features life-sized puppetry of A A Milne’s classic characters set in the Hundred Acre Wood and includes the Sherman Brothers’ Grammy award-winning music. Alex says being part of it is ‘a real joy’.

Alex’s previous work includes playing Daniel in BFI and Bueno Film’s Cha Cha Club, developing and starring in Metta Theatre’s eco-rock musical, Housefire and performing in the Australian Shakespeare Company’s production of Wind in the Willows. Most recently, Alex played Andy Williams in The Osmonds musical – a part that took him right back to his childhood home listening to and playing music with his dad. Alex’s father died in 2017 so he never got to see his son perform as Andy Williams.

PROPER MUSIC

His father was a trumpeter with the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra and Alex was surrounded by what his dad called ‘proper music’ at home – big band mainly, so lots of Frank Sinatra and Andy Williams as well as Level 42 and Gloria Estefan. Alex would bash along on the pots and pans in the kitchen before taking up actual drumming and following in his father’s footsteps joining the Midland Youth Jazz Orchestra, aged 15. He toured with the orchestra as a drummer and vocalist for three years, giving him the opportunity to perform to packed out concert halls and world class jazz festivals.

Always into music and drama at school, Alex then attended Birmingham Ormiston Academy in the sixth form, followed by studying musical theatre at ArtsEd in London where he graduated with first class honours and won the Rising Star award. He also won the Stephen Sondheim Society Performer of the Year in 2018.

PAPER BOY

During the pandemic, Alex came home to stay with his mum in Knowle. From there he took part in an online series with Pitlochry Festival Theatre creating videos and initiatives as well as working as a drum and singing teacher with London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art (LAMDA) and delivering newspapers which inspired him to write a Victoria Wood-style song called Delivering Papers With My Mum which Alex is developing into a full scale production.

The song is largely about his experience during the pandemic and the weird uncertainty of that time and ultimately reconnecting with his mum. Alex says: “It was nice and bloody awful at the same time. It’s about self-reflection and coming to the conclusion that we’re doing alright. There’s a guilt involved with having a positive outcome from the pandemic as so many other people had a really tough time.”

Alex’s next step is to come back to Brum and workshop the play, check it works, fine tune it and secure funding, plus he’d love to get into film and TV, too.

With a clutch of trophies and championship titles, talented brothers Hamim and Halim are on the cusp of making it on to the professional snooker circuit. The boys’ father Hosoun, who is also a decent player, first bought his sons a mini table when they were just toddlers and kept upgrading to larger versions as they grew.

Hosoun also made the brothers a stool when they were small, so they could reach full-sized club tables and he used to follow them around moving the stool as they played. Now, having beaten some of the best players in the world, Hamim and Halim are working towards their ultimate goal of turning professional.

Initially just a hobby, the boys loved the game immediately and when they were nine and 10-years-old, Hosoun built a snooker room and began coaching them and entering tournaments. They were, and still are, very competitive with one another which probably pushes them to be better. As teenagers, things got more serious and the boys started winning regularly and taking home trophies. It became clear that this could be more than a hobby for both players.

INTENSE TRAINING

Now semi-professional, Hamim who trains at a snooker academy in Sheffield recently beat four-time world champion John Higgins in an exhibition match and has achieved a maximum 147 break. Training at the academy is intense, playing eight hours a day, and costly. Halim isn’t at the academy yet, so fits training around full-time work, but his immediate aim is to move to the academy and gain a place in the top ranks of the sport.

The cost associated with the academy and competing in the sport generally is prohibitive which is why Hosoun is on a fund-raising drive to enable the boys to continue and for Halim to join his brother in Sheffield. He explains: “Simply attending tournaments and gaining ranking points requires time and expense for the boys to travel and stay away from home. Clothing and equipment also see the costs mounting. A typical season costs in excess of £12,000 to allow competition at all significant events.”

FUTURE GOALS

He adds: “We are struggling to keep supporting Hamim with his living expenses and Halim also has aspirations to get a place at the academy. We want to enable them to take that last stride to becoming fully professional snooker players. They are both knocking on the door and are highly rated by the sport’s governing body, but we need help to keep them moving forwards.” With an investment of upwards of £200,000 already in the boys’ careers, Hosoun is hoping that through sponsorship and a JustGiving page, they can raise the money needed to make it.

Both brothers are national age group champions and represent England in tournaments and hope to go on to have careers like their heroes which is realistic if they can stick with it. For Hamim, that hero is Ronnie O’Sullivan while Halim’s is Judd Trump and when asked about ultimate ambitions, the boys are in agreement, like their heroes they want to: “Become professional, make a living and be crowned world champion!”

Kate De Right founded Spectra 10 years ago inspired by the type of theatre she liked to see and with a particular focus on achieving a strong connection with audiences by including them, so they never feel on the ‘other side of the wall’. While it’s more collaborative than traditional theatre it’s not a scary forced audience participation scenario which, frankly, brings us out in a cold sweat. Kate reassures us there are ‘broad ways to get involved’ and it’s more about being welcoming and inclusive.

At the time of Spectra’s inception, Kate was working with some people with autism who often felt like they were on the other side of the wall, so she listened and took on board their issues and views creating something she’s proud of using the insight from their first-hand expert knowledge. The first show explored inviting the audience in rather than merely come in and sit down which resulted in inclusivity and relevance.

These days we’re all familiar with relaxed performances, however Spectra is much more than a few relaxed dates within a standard show’s run – inclusion is embedded in everything they create, it’s central to the company’s ethos. It helps perhaps that Spectra’s performances aren’t always in traditional theatre settings – for instance, sometimes outdoor, sometimes large installations – it varies but the constant is a wide appeal. Kate says: “It has broad appeal to different ages. Someone compared our productions to the Simpsons in that young people laugh at it while older people do to, but at something different – political maybe.”

ROOM TO GROW

The first eight years of Spectra were essentially about Kate ‘squirrelling away’, then the theatre received a funding grant that meant she was able to bring between 20 and 30 people on board for a specific project. The theatre is about to join the Arts Council’s National Portfolio which means Spectra will be able to employ a core team of salaried people, five of those full-time with more brought in when needed. Kate explains: “It ebbs and flows depending on the project. We also often involve different community groups.”

Covid lockdowns clearly presented challenges, but thanks to an emergency grant from the Arts Council and Kate’s inventive leadership the company took to Zoom. In true Spectra style it wasn’t a sit down and watch vibe. Everyone who signed up to watch a performance received a sensory box full of goodies to enhance the experience and squeeze every bit of enjoyment from the show.

It worked tremendously and Kate received emotional feedback from people who weren’t able to get out to the theatre – one example she recalls was from the daughter of a man who was bedbound and hadn’t been to the theatre for a long time. He absolutely felt he’d been there in the flesh thanks to the inclusive nature and heightened sensory experience. The theatre has continued with Zoom as it really works for some people and rather than dimming Spectra’s light, it’s enhanced it. For instance, a film made at Moseley Bog earlier this year that was streamed came complete with a sensory parcel that included a wood smoked smelling candle.

Although Kate is the director, she’s keen to point out it’s a team effort. “We create together. It’s very egalitarian and we hold space for everyone. It’s risky – it means you don’t necessarily know where it’s going but it’s rewarding. I don’t think we could really claim to be inclusive otherwise.”

ARTS SCENE

Regarding Birmingham’s arts scene generally, Kate thinks it’s in pretty good shape. “While there’s a general disinterest in tooting its own horn, the city is cracking on with some pretty ground-breaking work,” she says. “Sector colleagues like MAIA, Friction, The Gap are pushing boundaries and making change in radical ways through socially engaged practice.” She adds: “We’ve got diverse leadership in big organisations that is helping to bring new perspectives that reflect our brilliantly diverse city.” On the not so positive side she says: “With Ort Gallery closing its space and Centrala losing its ACE NPO funding, it’s not all roses and there is a definite need for greater investment.”

Spectra was about to tour in 2019 when Covid hit, so they’re looking forward to developing some touring productions this year as well as continuing to work with local NHS Trusts. Partnered with NHS Sandwell, the theatre built a garden at the hospital and hopes to build a second this year as well as starting to work with the new Midland Met Hospital. Kate’s passionate that the arts are crucial to fulfilment and connectedness impacting overall well-being, so working with the NHS seems a natural step. The Zoom shows will continue as they represent the ultimate in accessible theatre in many ways which is a huge and unexpected plus to come out of the pandemic.

At just nine-years-old, the young Vincent Darby opened for Flo Rida at Brum’s O2 Academy after a record producer watched him perform his version of Alicia Keys’s single Fallin’ on YouTube – he’d been singing regularly since he was five. From there he joined creative and performing arts academy, BOA, has performed at BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekender, released his debut EP, Still Here We Are, recorded around the globe and has just dropped his new single, We Could Be.

Showcased in his home-town at the Rainbow, Digbeth in February and out now, We Could Be is produced by French DJ and producer Blundetto and combines funk, new wave and synth-pop. There’s a chilled-out confidence about the single that’s mature and easy which makes for an enjoyable listen. Inspired by the work of artists like The Weeknd, Depeche Mode, Eurythmics and Prince, the single is Vincent’s first release since his celebrated debut EP Still Here We Are. That EP attracted a lot of support from BBC Radio 1 from the get-go, culminating in his performance at the Big Weekender, and was selected by BBC 1Xtra as their track of the week.

SPRINGBOARD

Recorded at Shaggy’s Big Yard Studios in Kingston, Jamaica, the EP was a highly successful springboard to his career with stand-out tracks such as Get Away and avant-garde jam Baby Oh I. Vincent said at the time: “Still Here We Are came from a place of not quite understanding the ‘situation-ship’ that I was in; a story about how something can be so good, but also so bad.”

Since the EP, Vincent’s been busy writing and recording in Jamaica, Toronto and Zimbabwe as well as the UK and says he’s found a new lease of life. Covid put a spanner in the works and slowed things down, but he’s had time to reflect. He says: “I’ve really grown since I last dropped music, the whole world has. Without being too philosophical, today’s not the same as yesterday, we grow. I think as an artist it’s important to show growth”.

The lyrics of new single, We Could Be, detail an intention to repair and rebuild a tumultuous relationship elevated by Vincent’s euphoric and virtuosic vocals. Skillfully switching between breathy notes and piercing falsetto he sings sentimental phrases like, ‘There will be a compromise, because lonely is no friend of mine’. The video, directed by Eric Yealand who has worked with the likes of Wiz Khalifa is slick and unfussy, putting Vincent and his lyrics firmly centre stage.

OLD SOUL

Vincent is a proud descendant of Jamaican grandparents, who as members of the Windrush Generation migrated to the UK after the second world war, working as a bus conductor and a nurse. Heavily influenced by his music loving grandfather, who was a hospital radio DJ and vinyl collector, Vincent was exposed to the sounds of Marvin Gaye, Donny Hathaway, Isaac Hayes, Barry White, Teddy Pendergrass, Beres Hammond, Dennis Brown and Richie Spice.

Vincent’s on the move again currently treating the people of Toronto to a his soulful sound and there’ll be more touring on the cards. Keen to get his sound out to the wider music world

Titled, Why Are We Stuck in Hospital? a new exhibition which runs at Ikon Gallery for two weeks responds to a project carried out by the School of Social Policy at the University of Birmingham in partnership with rights-based organisation, Changing Our Lives. The research raises awareness of the thousands of vulnerable people locked in hospital settings with no planned departure date and no hope of getting one.

On the back of the research, the two organisations put their heads together to choose an artist who could create something impactful and appropriate to highlight the plight of these people buried from view. Cue Foka Wolf. Don’t expect the usual humour as the situation is far from amusing, so it’s a bit of a departure for the artist – who keeps his real name and identity a closely guarded secret.

NO VOICE

I wasn’t aware of the scale of the problem and nor was he. We’ve listened to politicians of all flavours proclaiming they’ve a plan to fix social care, but generally that’s in the context of freeing up bed-blocking in NHS hospitals – that’s bad enough, but they’ve not touched on the desperate plight of more than 2,000 vulnerable people trapped in a dehumanising system.

A glance at the Changing Our Lives website shines a light on the people who are capable of independent living but instead are trapped for years, sometimes decades, ‘living’ in locked wards, voiceless and sometimes sedated if they kick up a fuss. And then there are success stories for the people who’ve navigated their way out with help from organisations like Changing Our Lives and go on to enjoy full, contented lives.

It’s touched a nerve with Foka Wolf. He says: “It really opened my eyes. I hadn’t heard of the charity or the cause. This was an opportunity to be the voice for them.”  He doesn’t usually work in a gallery setting so he’s in new territory and a bit nervous. “I just want to give a fair representation of what the charity wanted. It’s important. It had to be more serious. The emphasis is on a live installation which runs for two weeks. Part of the exhibition is in the Bank Vaults but it’s mostly centred at IKON.”

It’s the worthlessness of the people in the system that’s most shocking. They’re invisible and it seems nobody is fighting their corner although the artist says the University research has the power to force change. “That’s why it was important to create something impactful. The work is quite literal and needed to be some sort of spectacle.” The exhibition opens on 7 March to coincide with the publication of policy guidelines based on the experiences of people with learning disabilities, their families and frontline staff.

THE STREET

Although he’s embraced this project, Foka Wolf is not ready to move his usual work from the street to gallery space just yet. What began as a hobby 15 years ago to break up the 12-hour days working on building sites, has become a full-time career. He started creating small parody classified ads and sticking them to lamp posts around the city.

Then, an 8ft x 4ft poster lampooning 4×4 drivers suggesting penis enlargements went viral and his notoriety grew. He’s never got into any trouble although he has been caught in the act a couple of times, which is why he chooses to remain anonymous.

“I like it that way. I deal with stuff on social media and that’s fine, but I don’t want that in my real life. I like a peaceful life.”

At just 13 years of age, Ella Evenson produces art that she’s able to sell through a social enterprise called Art Rabble – an organisation specialising in selling artwork by artists with disabilities. Ella has Mosaic Down’s Syndrome – a rare type which means things can take longer for her to complete, but she’s brimming with positivity.

She says: “I was born with a diagnosis of Mosaic Down’s Syndrome. It makes me determined. I started painting in my summer holidays in 2019 at our kitchen table and now I have my own art studio. I have a big table and all my art materials in there. The other week I put mummy’s old radio in my art studio, so now I listen to music when I paint.”

BOLD STYLE

Ella had her first exhibition in 2020 in the Art Rooms in Kings Heath which she describes as ‘a really great experience’. Her work is uplifting and optimistic using bold colours that raise a smile. Ella experiments with new techniques and styles using acrylics, watercolours and alcohol inks and enjoys abstract art, looking particularly to Jackson Pollock and Willem de Kooning for inspiration.

She says: “My favourite painting is abstract painting because I love using different tools to create with like a sponge, tin foil, a plastic knife or fork. It’s really fun experimenting and exploring with paints and objects I have at home.”

Ella gets her ideas from what she sees on trips and holidays painting ‘abstract flowers, plants, trees, birds and the seaside’. Ella’s mum is a big support. “Mummy always encourages me to paint because it relaxes me. I am calm and happy,” says Ella.  She also says that Lisa Lim, founder of Art Rabble is encouraging ‘because she believes in me’ as well as Cristina Bowman from a group called Diffability. Ella says: “Cristina reached out to me and now I do online art workshops for children with special needs. I love painting with them.”

Ella’s also spurred on by people buying her work and has sold many commissions around the world. She says: “My clients in the UK and internationally encourage me because they believe in me. It’s everyone encouraging me, believing in me! I love my colourful paintings being in homes around the world!”

FUTURE AMBITION

Ella is the youngest artist sold through Art Rabble. She’s had a real confidence boost from selling her work and feels good about the donations she’s been able to make to Down’s Syndrome Awareness month and the Australian Bush Fire Appeal thanks to the sales. She says: “This was great because my paintings helped others.”

Currently Ella juggles painting with school, generally creating after completing homework on a Tuesday and Sunday morning. In the future, she would like to make a career of it. She says: “I would like to keep painting when I’m an adult. I would like to paint like I am now and have an online shop, do art workshops and children’s art parties. I would love to design T-shirts and have my designs on clothes!” The big-hearted artist also says: “I love being with people and I think I would also like to work in a nursery, doing art with little children or in a care home, doing art with elderly people. I also like the idea of working in a supermarket.”

Described by an industry expert as the ‘Harvard of Animation’, Sheridan College in Canada is highly competitive. For Branchett Sun, whose hero is Walt Disney and whose dream is to direct film at the likes of Disney and Pixar, she’s undeterred by the odds of getting in.

There are 6,000 applicants for only 200 places and between 10 and 20 open to international students like Branchett. The application process is intense with a portfolio split into eight sections including storyboarding, 2D and 3D animation among other skills which Branchett has been working on in her own time.

Branchett visited Sheridan College aged just 10 as part of a touring production of Oliver Twist. She remembers staying in one of the dormitories and being wowed by an art wall on which students doodled. She recalls: “I spent hours staring at it hoping that one day my signature would be on there.” She also recalls everyone being so friendly which left a positive mark.

MANGA STYLE

Branchett is prepared to apply more than once if her first attempt is unsuccessful. She knows of a teacher in Canada who applied five times before being accepted, so she’s pragmatic about the process. Supportive teachers at Edgbaston High School for Girls (EHS), where she has studied since 2018, have helped Branchett to balance her A-Level studies with working on her portfolio enabling success in both.

While Branchett enjoys working with traditional materials including oil painting as part of her A-Level course, her passion lies outside of that as she creates manga style characters and storyboards. Luckily EHS has the technology and facilities to allow Branchett to use industry standard software like After Effects and Procreate for her portfolio work.

As if that wasn’t enough, Branchett also has an Etsy shop selling her creations. She says: “I’ve always loved Disney and like to redraw characters in my own style. I amassed a lot of followers on social media and decided to open an Etsy shop where I can sell my work.” Branchett also had a stand at Comic Con this year selling her wares to attendees.

MUSIC MAKER

As well as Branchett’s artistic talent, she has a couple of impressive musical strings to her bow that can only enhance her ability as a film maker. She plays piano to Grade 7 and sings in the CBSO Birmingham City Youth Chorus and says most directors would play at least one instrument.

Often when interviewing youngsters for our Young, Gifted and Brummie series we hope that with hard work and a bit of luck, they’ll go on to achieve their dreams, but we’re not sure Branchett needs our luck. She’s as steely as she is talented and we’ve no doubt she’ll be credited with directing many brilliant films in the future.

Image credit – Abbie Barton

Chris Cleverley’s music has been described as ‘dream folk’ and ‘lo-fi folk’ and we’re not afraid to admit, we had to Google it before we chatted to him and we’re still not sure what it is. Forgetting the genre as we don’t think Chris slots easily into one box, his music is contemporary, mainly acoustic, gently melodic, ethereal, honest, sometimes raw often tackling some of society’s major issues – the climate crisis, displacement, the pervasive effects of AI and social media.

It’s not a heavy listen though – it’s beautiful. The album, Broadcast the Secret Verse launched last month at a shindig in Chris’s old stomping ground, the Hare and Hounds and kicked off his nine-date Secret Verses tour.

GRITTY AND WHOLESOME

As well as the grittier themes, there are more wholesome topics like connecting with nature and other people, so it’s nicely balanced. The new album is more experimental than previous work blending acoustic with electronics and influenced by some of Chris’s heroes, indie greats like Elliott Smith, Phoebe Bridgers and Sufjan Stevens. Singles from the album, Chlorophyll and Still Life have received national radio play and positive reviews already, so early signs are good.

Lockdown had a big impact on Chris and helped him to focus on what was important to him. He recalls: “Up to February 2020 I was a bit disillusioned and began questioning my music. By March/April I was forced to take a step back. I reconnected with my instrument and re-evaluated my work and what I wanted to say. It was an opportunity to really decide.”

Chris wrote 60 per cent of the album during lockdown benefitting from the clarity and headspace that time gave him. Chris has independently released the album which means he maintains creative control – he has a booking agent and a publisher but isn’t signed to a record label. While he can see the benefits of a label, he says it would have to be someone who really gets him and his ethos, so maybe in the future if that person comes along.

NO DOG EAT DOG

Not from a particularly musical family, Chris had no connections in the industry, so he’s done this the hard way. He took on various uninspiring jobs after graduating in history to enable him to gig in the evenings, rising through the ranks of the Birmingham songwriting scene. By 2014, Chris started to think this could be something more than casual gigging and potentially a career, so he began performing further afield in cities across the UK.

He worked at building up industry contacts and managed to get a few reviews in the mainstream press like the Telegraph and the Times. He says: “I wasn’t quite making a living, so I quit my job and went for it full-time.” Chris describes the Birmingham scene as “incredible, diverse and eclectic”, citing venues such as the Hare and Hounds, Night Owl and Mama Roux as particularly good. He says: “there’s no dog eat dog situation in the city. It’s very supportive.”

Chris’s Secret Verses tour, funded by Help Musicians, the UK’s artistic support programme, recreates the album in its entirety with a high-profile five-piece band featuring John Patrick Elliott (the Little Unsaid), John Parker (Nizlopi), Graham Coe (the Jellyman’s Daughter) and Kathy Pilkinton (Said The Maiden) and his ultimate ambition is to take his music further to Europe and the US and to collaborate with artists a few notches up from where he’s currently at.

The unique talent development programme, the B:Music Jazzlines Commission, is in its third year and gives two Birmingham-based jazz musicians an opportunity to produce new projects showcasing their work. This year, it’s baritone saxophonist Alicia Gardener-Trejo and guitarist Steve Saunders along with their chosen collaborators. We had a chat with Steve a couple of weeks before his work premiered.

Steve’s chosen collaborator is Asger Nissen, a Danish alto saxophonist based in Berlin, which is where they met. In the third year of his course at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Steve spent a life-changing four months at the Jazz Insitut Berlin. He says: “I went through the Erasmus scheme and it was such a special place. The standard at the school was really high and students had such strong identities and voices.”

TRANSFORMATIVE YEAR

He adds: “I was so much younger than the musicians in Berlin and felt a bit out of my depth. European players tend to start studying when they’re older – they’re not in any rush and find their voice grows at a different rate. Here it’s easy to get swept along with the A-level then university route potentially robbing people of self-discovery. It was the most transformative year of my life.” Steve and Asger kept in touch and the commission seemed a great opportunity to reconnect.

The project will be a bass-less trio featuring the great Jeff Williams on drums. Steve explains: “This project is a chance for us to explore bringing contemporary classical influences into an improvised context while being firmly rooted in the jazz tradition, with a master drummer who couldn’t be more connected to the history of jazz. I’m incredibly excited to be able to create this project and bring it to Symphony Hall. Everything sounds massive at Symphony Hall. For the audience the music sounds like it’s right next to them and crystal clear.”

JAZZ JOURNEY

Steve’s route to jazz was fairly lengthy and came about because he really relishes a challenge. Surrounded by music at home – his dad played organ and his older brother played piano – when Steve’s year 3 teacher asked pupils if they wanted to play guitar he jumped at the chance. “I loved it and got really obsessed. I got an electric guitar at one stage and a small battery powered amp. I used to walk around the house playing. My brother was the same.”

Steve’s brother had a radio in his room which was firmly tuned into Kerrang and the duo listened to a lot of rock. Steve started playing drums as well as guitar and worked his way through the grades. Steve liked to challenge himself and wanted to find the hardest thing to learn. When studying for grade 8 guitar he found the scales hard and asked the teacher when you might use these scales. His teacher said jazz which was like laying down the gauntlet to Steve. “I hated jazz at first. I was used to rock music so big bands from the forties just felt like old music. Then I found things I liked. John Schofield for example who plays jazz but from a rock background and that was my gateway in.”

WORLD CLASS

When Steve’s school in Redditch announced they wouldn’t be running an A-level music course because he was the only student who had signed up, he had to find an alternative. He stayed at his sixth form but studied A-level music on a Wednesday evening at the Conservatoire. “It was amazing. The class was me and two other musicians who are still friends.” The teacher was world class and ‘blew Steve’s mind’.

He regularly found himself running for the last train home to Redditch because the class had run over by hours as they were just talking and playing. Steve started doing the Saturday jazz classes at B:Music too which sealed the deal. “The freedom of the music responding to each other was the perfect balance. It’s a serious discipline which I suppose fit the desire to be challenged. It was hard work but super fun.” Teachers such as Percy Pursglove meant the Saturday jazz ensemble was like getting a world class education.

Beyond the Jazzlines Commission which is his focus right now, Steve plans to stay in Birmingham writing, composing and playing as well as leading large projects. “I like the pace of Birmingham – the space and time that the city offers plus the community is so strong here.”

October is an important month for Birmingham Rockets. The city’s basketball club is getting set for the start of a new season, filled with excitement, competition and ambition. The Rockets have been part of the city’s sporting fabric since 2003 and in that time the club has impacted the lives of thousands of Birmingham youngsters – from those who have trialled and played on court and many more who have taken part in a huge range of outreach programmes in schools, youth clubs and organisations.

Guiding the Rockets in all this time is Rob Palmer, the founder and managing director. And what started very much as a small club after the demise of the previous Birmingham basketball club, the Bullets, has now grown into an organisation with 13 junior teams, a men’s team competing in the National Basketball League and a women’s team. While the Rockets play in the non-professional league, the ambition is to graduate in time to the professional, high-profile British Basketball League.

“That’s very much the aspiration,” said Rob. “We also aim for our juniors programme to become one of the best in the country, and to have even more involvement with the schools and see more kids coming in. We feel we are on a good path after success of the Commonwealth Games in Birmingham.”

GOLD MEDAL ACE

The link between the club and the Games is perfectly highlighted by Myles Hesson who scored the winner for England in overtime in the thrilling gold medal match. Myles started out on his basketball journey as a youngsters with the Rockets. The club’s ethos is getting deeply involved in the community and bringing fun and enjoyment to as many kids as possible, while also spotting local basketball talent and developing and bringing it through.

The Rockets home court is at Nechells Wellbeing Centre where the sports hall was not so long ago refurbished with the support of the 2K Foundations and Birmingham City Council, creating a show court with seating for 350 spectators with plans to eventually double that number. “We are building a club that Birmingham can be proud of,” said Rob, who at one time was a coach for the old Bullets basketball club before moving into a basketball development role with the council. Nechells became the home of what started out as City of Birmingham Active Sports, and then City of Birmingham Rockets with the support of the council and a 50 per cent grant from Sport England.

Among Rob’s fellow directors is club ambassador and US basketball legend Hakeem Olajuwon who won back-to-back NBA championships in the US with the Houston Rockets and who was the number one pick in the 1984 NBA draft of college players – the same draft which saw the great Michael Jordan selected at number three. Hakeem has been closely associated with the Rockets since he first came to Birmingham with his family, met up with Rob and saw some basketball sessions. His five sons all been through the club while his daughter studied at the University of Birmingham.

MOVING ON UP

While the men’s team currently competes in the second division of the National League, there are hopes that over the coming season, the Rockets will gain promotion to the first division – thanks to the recruitment of some exciting new players and the arrival of a new coach, Nuno Rodrigues, who has moved to Birmingham because of the Rockets’ potential having worked at a high level  of basketball in his native Portugal.

However the new season unfolds, with the inevitable ups and downs of sport, the club’s many community programmes will continue to play an important part driving interest in basketball across the city. These include a project which focuses on improving basketball experiences for disabled participants, particularly in schools with international exchanges, camps and tournaments.

The Rockets Foundation Programme meanwhile provides thousands of primary children with an introduction to basketball from the age of five through until 11, while the Game Programme allows hundreds of new basketball players to join Rockets sessions in their own locality. The Rockets Schools Programme allows Primary and Secondary schools across the region to experience a club coach delivering sessions during curriculum time and after school. The Rockets also work with a range of partners in outreach programmes across Birmingham which has seen thousands of young people involved in basketball sessions, many in the most deprived areas of the city.

The trajectory for the Rockets certainly looks to be on the up. “We’re thrilled by the prospect of the new season as we look to get promotion into National League Division 1,” said Rob. Achieve that, and the sky is limit for a club that really is one of Birmingham sports ‘hidden gems’.

This year, for the first time, Birmingham Royal Ballet offered a student in residence position open to musicians from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire that included opportunities such as playing with the Birmingham Sinfonia – the orchestra of BRB as well sitting in on rehearsals and performances mentored by the orchestra’s principal conductor, Paul Murphy and members of the orchestra. We caught up with the scheme’s inaugural student, cellist Lucy Samuels.

Picked from hundreds of students at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Lucy was genuinely surprised to be selected and utterly delighted. It has been a year of opportunity and growth that Lucy has relished. The audition process was in two rounds – first an internal audition at the Conservatoire in front of a panel of teachers who chose one student from each instrument to go through to round two which was in front of Birmingham Symphonia’s principal conductor and one of the musicians.

EXCITING YEAR

Lucy says she hadn’t even expected to be chosen to represent her instrument let alone be selected to take on the role. She says: “This year has been an exciting time to be involved as the programme is so varied and exciting. In some years, there would be a long run of the same production, but this year, not so.” She adds: “I get to play with a proper orchestra at a much higher level than I’m used to and to meet some brilliant professionals. I’d never considered a career in an orchestra before leaning towards becoming a freelance musician alongside teaching, but now I know it’s possible.”

Lucy has been lucky enough to watch some of the productions and sit in on ballet rehearsals and as someone who trained in dance from age three to her mid-teens, that has been thrilling. “I’d actually never watched a fully staged ballet before so I’m very lucky.” Lucy can see that ballet is a good way of broadening classical music’s appeal too. She explains: “The visual storytelling is family oriented. There are so many little girls dressed up in tutus. You wouldn’t get that at a classical concert.”

Lucy’s taking a masters part time which allows enough space to devote to the Symphonia but also to outreach programmes and teaching which is hugely important to her. “I wouldn’t have got into music without teachers coming into my school and I want to give that back. Outreach programmes break down barriers. The Conservatoire is doing lots of good work and is keen to show that it’s a hub for music making rather than an elitist organisation – which it absolutely isn’t.”

BREAKING BARRIERS

Lucy is involved in providing music education to people who might have barriers ordinarily – such as financial or social. She says: “We ask the kids what they want to do – it could be beats, producing, working in a band and we introduce them to instruments.” Lucy is also involved in an ensemble that makes orchestra relevant for young people, playing Billie Eilish and Disney for instance. She says the cello isn’t that visible in pop other than perhaps Clean Bandit, so it’s great to introduce young people to it.

Unlike lots of musicians, Lucy didn’t start with something small and manageable like the recorder or violin. She went straight for the cello aged seven thanks to music education services in her area that came into her primary school. She took to it straight away and was excited to play. “I genuinely loved playing – obviously I put in the hard work too, but I was just so excited about it.”

Despite growing up near Reading, Lucy calls Birmingham home now and is passionate about banging the drum for the city. She says: “The arts can be London-centric and people think that to be successful you have to move there. I don’t buy it. We have amazing theatre and arts generally. It’s definitely home for me.”

Back in August 2017, we interviewed the Vamps lead singer Bradley Simpson for Birmingham Living’s front cover and were taken by how original and authentic he, and the other members of the boyband, were. Then aged 21, Bradley was five years into the making of the band which unlike many others had formed naturally as a bunch of mates just getting together and making music they liked.

A further five years down the line, the Vamps are about to celebrate a hugely successful decade together with a 10-year greatest hits anniversary tour, the centrepiece being a date in Brad’s home city, Brum. Brad is now 26 but still looks about 16 – no bad thing for a ‘boy’ band!

Reflecting on the Vamps’ story, he said: “It’s crazy to think what started in our bedrooms and Tristan’s parent’s garage led to us headlining arenas all around the world. The past 10 years have been an incredible journey but what makes it even more special is that it has felt like a shared one between us and our fans.

BEST FRIENDS

“The Vamps have taken us across all five continents and given us the privilege of playing in front of millions of people. Our five albums are chapters in our lives and moments we are hugely proud of. This last year has been one of reflection for us and as four best friends who’ve had the chance to live out our dreams and we now can’t wait to celebrate these memories with our fans on this tour.”

The facts and figures behind The Vamps are impressive:

They have generated more than six billion streams and over two billion views on YouTube alone. Their five albums include two No 1’s – 2017’s Night & Day (Night Edition) and their latest album Cherry Blossom ­– and two No 2’s.

The guys have played global tours and festivals which has seen them perform to more than 2 million people and they became the first band to headline The O2 five years in a row. In the US, they’ve played on the biggest US chat shows, like Ellen and Seth Myers.

Musical collaborations include Shawn Mendes, Demi Lovato, Sigala, Krept & Konan, Matoma and Bruno Mars, while they have shared stages with Coldplay, Jay Z, Taylor Swift, Kings of Leon, Weezer, Ed Sheeran, Pharrell Williams and Sam Smith. And if that’s not enough, they’ve even created their own festival – The Vamps Weekender in Barcelona.

FANS FIRST

The band’s new tour kicks off in Manchester on 23 November before culminating at Birmingham’s Utilita Arena on 11 December. Ahead of the dates, the band is excited about a special fanzine, Ten Years of The Vamps produced as a collaboration with their fans which will be released on 14 October and includes limited edition merchandise and previously unreleased recordings that documents the band’s journey over the last decade.

Brad, who grew up skate-boarding around Eastside from the age of 11 to 18 before band life took over, says he can’t wait to play in Brum again in front of the Vamps adoring fans. “Our fans have always meant everything to us,” he said.

The arts scene in Brum is a lot richer with Tyriq in it. Born and raised here, the talented multi-instrumentalist recently worked with the composer of the Commonwealth Games opening ceremony and even bagged a part in the epic event too. He worked with The REP on Casey Bailey’s play Grimeboy, created music for their production of Twelfth Night and appeared in A Midsummer Night’s Dream in which he played Oberon. Recently, he has composed for three films as well as writing, composing and editing his own two-hour film, Rootworks which can be seen on YouTube.

FOUR MINUTE WORK

Unlimited by genre, Tyriq has worked across classical, jazz, hip-hop and contemporary among others and now, along with nineteen other young composers, he’s been chosen by the CBSO to be part of its Sounds New initiative which will see the resulting works performed by the orchestra at Symphony Hall next year. Each composer will write a four-minute work for the full orchestra which will be conducted by Clark Rundell. The commissions were made possible by support from The John Feeney Charitable Trust, which has supported new music for the CBSO since 1955. It’s not the first time Tyriq has worked with the CBSO.  He is a former Youth Ambassador and worked with fellow ambassadors in 2020 putting together a concert called, CBSO: A Vision for the Future.

HOME TOWN BOY

Tyriq graduated from the University of Huddersfield in 2021 with a First Class BMus music degree and it was never in doubt that he’d come back to his home town. Of Birmingham Tyriq says: “It’s a dream. There’s so much musical talent in this city and people that I want to work with.”

Like most children, Tyriq started playing recorder in year 3, but unlike most people he progressed to clarinet, piano and bassoon reaching grade 8. He says he was naturally good at recorder, but it took a bit longer to get to grips with the clarinet. Although his parents didn’t play instruments to a high level, music was always a feature at home. Tyriq’s dad would compile lists of music and they’d sit down together to listen and then discuss them,  but not in a pushy way – it was pure enjoyment and appreciation and something that Tyriq relished.

TOP TEACHERS

At secondary school Tyriq veered away from music for a while as he embraced acting and filming but eventually found his love for music again. He says: “The teachers guided me back to music!” He credits the teachers at George Satton Academy for encouraging creativity and exposing pupils to many different types of arts through outings and concerts – the CBSO being one – as well as the availability of instruments to try at school. Tyriq says: “It helps wire the brain to be more open and encourages young people to be collaborative.”

He’s perplexed about the squeeze on the arts in schools and the murmurings of cutting arts degrees. “The idea that music and the arts aren’t valuable is just not true. Music contributes so much to the economy. Aside from financial gain, it benefits young people hugely by helping them to express themselves creatively. We’d be a very narrow society without the arts.”

Two-hour film Rootworks was a lesson for Tyriq in how not to get too hung up about perfection. It was literally Tyriq doing everything, even the things he’d never done before, and he’s pleased with the results. “That project opened my eyes. It’s important to enjoy the process and let go of that feeling of perfection. It was daunting, but it taught me a lot.”

Ruby Maxine’s first children’s book, The Bee’s Knees launched in April and it’s selling well – the first batch sold out quickly and the feedback from parents and teachers has been strong. Ruby has been writing for as long as she can remember, but like lots of people it took a redundancy to give her the push to go for her dreams.

Self-publishing is no mean feat. The publishing process is complex, but Ruby was adamant she wanted to take it on in its entirety and she’s pleased she did. Written and illustrated by Ruby, on the surface The Bee’s Knees is a fun book for children aged six to eight years but it goes deeper than that. The book gently explores themes such as the power of perspective, fostering a kind inner voice, self-esteem and empowerment. The main character, Lulu Bee who turns negative feelings into a journey of self-love, inner peace and confidence thanks to a little help from a friend.

NATURAL BEAUTY

Set in Moseley Bog, it’s a very Brummie affair celebrating the beauty of the bog through gorgeous illustrations of its features including the tree tunnels, green bog pond and buttercup meadow. A Brummie through and through, Ruby was keen to showcase the city’s natural beauty and green spaces. She’s eco-conscious, so the books and packaging are made from recycled materials in the UK with one per cent of the profits donated to the World Wildlife Fund. Ruby found her ethical approach didn’t sit pretty with Amazon who print on demand to their own specifications. When we spoke, Ruby had withdrawn the book from the platform because she wasn’t pleased with the quality or the eco-credentials saying, ‘it was nowhere near recycled’.

Another one per cent from the book is donated to mental health charity Mind which is close to Ruby’s heart. She says: “I wrote this story, drawing from personal experience and mental health advice I’ve been given over the years, to help children and parents who encounter stress or anxiety.” She adds: “When we as adults discover issues that are beyond our control it can be so unsettling. It’s a feeling that children will be discovering for the first time.” Techniques for self-care that Ruby has learnt feature throughout the story.

BOOK WORM

Growing up in Brum, Ruby was picked up by Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Dance Track programme enabling her to train with professional dancers through her youth. She even appeared on an episode of Brum. Ruby’s always been a book worm. She says: “As a child I relied on books a lot for peace and escapism and just to feel safer in my own skin. I want to create that too, make more of those safe spaces and help kids figure out how to be happy people in a difficult world.”

Making writing and illustrating books her career is Ruby’s goal. She says: “Inspiring youngsters and making art that people enjoy. I’ve worked harder on this book than I’ve ever worked on anything and I just dream of it resonating and being embraced. I hope that my creations can be another cool thing to have come out of this very special part of the world.”

Every picture tells a story, none more so than this image which is testament to the dedication and courage of Ukrainian-born Yuliana Jones. The model with the striking make-up is not Yuliana – it is her 15-year-old daughter. The picture is part of a photoshoot for an exam which Yuliana, a student at Digbeth’s industry-leading Central School of Make-up, needed to take and pass to pursue her dream career.

The Ukrainian colours are significant not just because of the war which is ravaging Yuliana’s homeland, but because as the photoshoot was being taken she was secretly negotiating to get her parents away from the frontline and out of the country to safety in the UK.

Unbeknown to the team at the school, in the week leading up to the exam Yuliana, who lives in Cannock, found a volunteer to bring her parents from her hometown to the border of Moldova. She told the school on the morning of the exam that she would be leaving as soon as possible to catch a flight. Despite advice to take her exam at a later stage, Yuliana continued to deliver her stunning make-up work on not one but two shoots.

EMOTIONAL REUNION

Yuliana’s parents made it to the border, where she met them in Moldova for an emotional reunion, and having been granted visas they are now safe in the UK with their daughter. However, her sister and nephew still remain in the danger zone in Ukraine.

“She did an unbelievable job pushing through, it was moving to see her strength,” said Laura Quirk, the school’s owner and creative director. “Yuliana had desperately tried to get her parents into the UK before the war broke out, only for them to be turned down. Due to their location in Ukraine, they felt the safest option was to stay in the basement of their home rather than flee.

“It then became more and more of a risk for them to move, their supplies depleting and unable to get to safe passage to a border. Despite all of this worry Yuliana has still attended her course every day, focused and committed. A true professional.”

Yuliana is one of the most inspiring stories of students who have passed through Central School of Make-up since it was established in 2013. The school offers an alternative education route to the make-up industry and provides intensive courses in Foundation Level: Bridal, Fashion/Photographic, Runway and Media Make-Up. The school has trained more than 1,000 students at its studios in the Custard Factory.

MAKE-UP MISSION

“Our school’s mission is to provide an educational environment that encourages the most diverse and inclusive of students to access the industry without limitation and be judged on the sum of their creativity, commitment and accomplishments,” said Laura, whose background includes working internationally with big brands.

“I worked professionally for a number of years,” Laura explained. “I went off and spent time with schools in Paris, working with the likes of LVMH. I’ve done a lot of runway stuff and then moved to Shanghai with my husband which is where I started working with students. We came back and to the school in 2019.”

The school is open seven days a week and offers full-time and part-time intensive courses. The average age of students is 31 and many have decided to make a career change. “We have all kinds of people from doctors and lawyers come through the school,” said Laura. “We provide all the training that students would get at university but more rigorous and intense.”

As Birmingham increasingly becomes a centre of excellence for new media, Laura sees a growing demand for the skills which students at the school learn and develop across make-up, fashion and photography. “There are lots of opportunities as more film studios and associated media are moving to our city,” she said. “All lecturers and guest artists who teach at the school are at the top of their career -working for celebrities, fashion brands, magazines, catwalk, TV and film. The school is the only accredited school to offer the prestigious IMA (International Make-up Association) qualification outside of London”

As well as leading the school, Laura is also the founder of Backstage Artists UK, a team of local pro artists working in fashion and media.

Scott Johns took up skiing at the age of just three at the Snow Dome in Tamworth and 13 years on was selected for Team GB at the Youth Olympic Games in Switzerland this year. Having switched from alpine skiing to ski cross only recently, it was a heck of an achievement and testament to his hard work last season to have bagged him a spot on the team.

Family skiing holidays as a child whet Scott’s appetite and when his older brother Owen, who is also a brilliant skier, got into racing Scott followed in his footsteps. Racing from six-years-old at indoor competitions initially in Milton Keynes and Castleford, Scott progressed to competing in the Alps. Although he knew he always wanted to be a sportsman, Scott says he didn’t initially look to skiing, but having won the English National Championships in the under-16 category believed it was possible. Supported by Solihull-based Prime Accountants Group throughout his skiing career, last year Scott was also crowned England alpine Super G champion.

STEPPING UP

Having stepped up to the adult category, the global competition is tough. Scott explains: “It’s a bit of a leap. In the under-16 category I was racing only British racers my age. In the adult category I’m competing against anyone in the world at any age. It’s really great to see where I am in comparison to the best in the world and how much I need to improve to be up there.”

Scott moved from alpine to ski cross after trying out the discipline at a camp followed by a couple of successful races. Ski Cross is action packed and very physical. Four skiers start at the same time and race over a one-kilometre course which tests their skills, including turns of different types and sizes and jumps of varying size. Scott particularly thrives in the conditions. He says: “You’re going at speeds of up to 30mph and you’re on the edge sometimes pushing to take a corner or jostling for position. It’s never violent – you’re just letting your competitors know you’re there. Occasionally there’s the odd bit of contact, but everyone races fairly.”

JUGGLING SKILLS

Training involves spending roughly 10 weeks in the Alps or Norway or Sweden and over the summer, three to four weeks at fitness camps. Juggling school with skiing can be tough. Scott is given schoolwork while he’s away plus he has to catch up in his own time once he’s back. There’s normally a lot of travelling but obviously at the moment that is out of the question and any training camps are off.

Scott is maintaining fitness by running and cycling a couple of times a week plus sprinting around cones, jumping over household objects and lifting weights. It’s not ideal, but he’s quite philosophical about it. He says: “I’m just making the best of a bad situation and trying to limit losses. Everyone in Britain is in the same boat.” The Norwegian national team on the other hand are training on their own mountain!

Scott’s ultimate ambition is to compete at the senior Olympics. He says: “Normally skiers peak in their late 20s, early 30s, so I’m about six to 10 years out. For now, I just want to improve every season.”

There’s no way Jakob Myers would have chosen to pursue dance as a hobby as a child. Despite living in a household full of music and playing the violin, it just wasn’t on his radar. However, when Birmingham Royal Ballet’s Dance Track programme rolled into his Moseley school, Jakob’s life took an unexpected turn.

Dance Track has been delivering workshops to primary school pupils in the city for 25 years, identifying young talent and encouraging them to dance. Through the programme, many children who wouldn’t have tried dancing have gone on to forge successful careers which is exactly what happened to Jakob.

He was spotted and invited to attend free weekly dance classes, he was gifted ballet shoes and as part of the programme given the opportunity to look behind the scenes at Birmingham Royal Ballet and attend performances. Jakob can’t put his finger on why he was chosen as one of the 80 budding dancers that year other than perhaps he displayed some natural musicality thanks to his violin playing. We think he might be being modest.

BIG HIGHLIGHT

Jakob took to dance immediately and moved to Elmhurst School of Dance where he studied for eight years as a day pupil and where he began to contemplate dance as a career not just a hobby. He loved his time at Elmhurst, relishing his experience including his first performance in BRB’s Nutcracker at the Hippodrome – his first time performing aside from for friends and family. Undaunted by the experience, he says: “It was a big highlight. It’s very dark in a big auditorium like the Hippodrome which is less nerve-wracking than a smaller venue where you can see the audience’s faces.”

Growing up, ballet was far from ethnically diverse and Jakob didn’t see people who looked like him apart from dance legend and honorary Brummie, Carlos Acosta. He says in lower school he was the only black boy, but that by the time he left Elmhurst that had changed significantly. Jakob describes diversity in ballet as a ‘slow burner’. Schemes like Dance Track which have now been adopted by ballet companies all over the country in various forms remove barriers and boost inclusion enriching the scene for everyone.

GLOBE-TROTTING

During his second year in the sixth form at Elmhurst, Jakob had an injury which meant he couldn’t dance for a year. The time away from dance cemented his love of the art form missing it so much he knew he didn’t want to do anything else. After attending a summer school at Ballet Cymru, the director was so impressed with Jakob that he offered him a spot in the company without even going through the audition process.

There are 500 applicants for just 15 to 20 spots, so Jakob was delighted. Ballet Cymru is a touring company and Jakob has travelled globally performing both classical ballet and more contemporary productions, so last year they toured a contemporary mixed bill as well as Gisele.

Covid restrictions obviously affected rehearsing and performing and ultimately bonding with the rest of the company. Training and creating content at home wasn’t ideal but Jakob turned it into a positive and found it a good time for reflection. Jakob used to consider his dream casting would be a BRB soloist role like the prince in The Nutcracker, but he’s also started to enjoy pieces that feel more intimate. Watch this space…

It’s a bit of an understatement to say that Jess Monthe has a lot going on. England U17, Loughborough Lightning Academy, Stratford Thunderbirds, Bromsgrove School team as well as the usual Year 10 GCSE commitment all feature in Jess’s heady schedule.

Training is intense and matches frequent, but Jess is determined and supported by both school staff as well as her England, Loughborough and Thunderbirds coaches, so she’s able to thrive in the classroom as well as on the netball court.

Jess quotes Muhammed Ali, ‘If your dreams don’t scare you, they aren’t big enough’ and says that ‘failure is part of the path to success’ allowing a person to become ‘resilient and persevere when things get tough’. She lives by this. For instance, when Jess was unsuccessful in her first attempt to make the England squad she took it in her stride and carried on training hard. She was then invited back after being spotted in a School Games match with Loughborough and this time she was successful.

WORK ETHIC

Selected initially in the goal-keeper spot, Jess has moved to goal defence which requires different skills such as increased speed, but she’s up for the challenge. Chatting to her, it’s hard to believe she’s still a schoolgirl as she’s so driven and yet mature enough to understand the need for balance too. Goals like making it to the England Roses squad sound completely realistic because she’s so measured. By all accounts, Jess’s work ethic is phenomenal believing ‘things are earned not given’ – she also just loves the game which helps. She says: “I love the bond between athletes and playing as a team.”

Remarkably, Jess thought she was awful at netball in primary school. It was only when she was scouted by Stratford Thunderbirds head coach Kelly McCormack and attended a summer camp that she began to see she might have potential. Jess credits playing with older more experienced girls for her rapid improvement.

Jess has been on a high-level netball pathway since she was a 12-year-old when she was first selected for the U15 Loughborough Lightning Academy. She’s now with the U17 Academy and cites head coach, Molly Salmons along with Thunderbirds head performance coach as playing a huge part in developing her ability and nurturing her talent. Covid restrictions meant no face-to-face training or matches in favour of online sessions during lockdown. Happily competing and training is back to normal and Jess has a packed regime again.

MAKING THE GRADES

A combination of regular strength and conditioning taking advantage of the facilities at Bromsgrove as well as multiple club and school sessions and matches generally on a Saturday with Loughborough, mean the week is netball heavy with a rest day on a Monday. While Jess is focused on the sport, she says: “My education and getting good grades for university are also important. You cannot control the future, so it is essential to get a good education, alongside taking part in what you love.”

Jess’s advice to budding netballers is simple: “Love what you are doing. If you don’t enjoy the game, you cannot play your best, and if you cannot play your best, you can’t be there for your team. At the end of the day, netball is a team sport and everything combined is left on the court. You play your best not just for yourself but for the team because the team always comes first, on and off the court.”

Interior Design Masters is back and if you haven’t watched, here’s what to expect – stress, emotion, lols, designer chat, but mainly emotion and stress. The premise of the show is that 10 budding interior designers compete in numerous design challenges judged by Michelle Ogundehin and a guest judge each week all hosted by Alan Carr.

Obviously, Carr brings joyous camp and all the welcome funnies. This series, there were two Brummies on the starting blocks. We picked one to interview, Richard O’Gorman aka @househomo and some might say we backed the wrong horse as unfortunately Richard left on the very first show. We would say Design Masters missed a trick.

We’ve interviewed a lot of people over the last nine years and Richard might just be the nicest. He bought a house in Birmingham just before lockdown and was furloughed from his job as a model booker soon after so took the opportunity to decorate his home. He says: “I was looking at three months off work and I thought I’ll never get this opportunity again. No excuses.” Richard set up an Instagram account mainly to show friends what was happening with the house as due to restrictions no one could visit in person. He had never picked up a paintbrush before and an art teacher at school told him to give up art. Inspirational!

PLAYFUL SHAPES

Richard’s idea of decorating his house might be wildly different to yours or ours – you won’t find a hint of magnolia or Farrow and Ball Railings here. His speciality has become mural art encompassing wonderfully playful shapes and colours creating an utterly joyful vibe. Instagram agrees and his following grew quickly. So much so, that when his furlough was up and he subsequently lost his job, he decided to focus on Instagram full time. It was his little sister who persuaded him to go for it. Richard says: “She’s my guiding light and she said, ‘look you’ve got something good going on here, just ride the wave’ and I’m glad I did.”

After the end of the first series of Design Masters, Richard’s friends and followers urged him to go for it. He actually didn’t have a TV and hadn’t seen the show but quickly caught up. Filmed in June 2021 in scorching temperatures, the process was actually much quicker than you might imagine with one week to source and two days for installation which was intense. Given it took Richard five weeks to do his dining room (pictured), it was a big ask!

Working in twos, Richard was paired with Molly who he describes as a ‘perfect fit’. He says: “She walked in in that blue dress and beret and I thought ‘this is my kind of girl’.” Sadly, the judges didn’t think their rooms were as successful as some of the others and they found their places in jeopardy. Ultimately it was Richard who left the show. The guest judge in week one was the lovely Matthew Williamson. He sought out Richard after the decision and sat him down for a chat and gave him some great advice.

Not originally from the city, when Richard moved here he knew no one other than friends of his ex, but we’re proud to say he was given a big Brummie welcome. He says: “I moved here with no friends and found a family in the Gay Village- such a supportive bunch of people.”

Fellow Brummie Abi is still in the running on Design Masters as we write, so we’re throwing our support behind her. Go Abi!

We had such a long chat with award-winning film maker and photographer Paul Stringer we could fill the entire magazine with Paul-related stuff but that would be a bit daft, so here’s three pages of Paul. His first exhibition is open now at the Hippodrome. Titled, The City That Spoke to Me it’s a celebration of poetry, poets and in particular the Birmingham scene. There are 13 portraits in total. Six are of poets that have inspired Paul and six more are of poets that inspired them. The thirteenth portrait of the late Leon Priestnall isn’t taken by Paul, but he felt he couldn’t run this sort of celebration of poetry without including the ‘heartbeat’ of Birmingham’s poetry scene.

NEW PERSPECTIVE

To be clear, Paul isn’t a poet. He’s written one poem which he performed once and it was so terrifying he’s never done it again choosing instead to stay behind the lens. Is he affected by poetry though? Absolutely yes. Being exposed to new perspectives through poetry has been life changing.

He says: “It’s so impactful. Poetry nights are safe spaces – safe enough to share things. I’ve been to events where people have shared devastating trauma through poetry and it just takes one person in the room to say ‘oh yeah that happened to me too’ to have an enormous impact. It’s unbelievable and an unquantifiable consequence. I just wanted to document and celebrate that scene.”

Paul studied film at university but when his father bought him a DSLR camera as a graduation present, he started taking photos. He began photographing dogs and children setting up a couple of hay bales at events armed with his trusty camera and a cheap printer. He has supportive parents who he lived with while he started out and who provided encouragement as well as a roof and a camera.

MIND BUZZING

Paul has done a varied bunch of work. He answered a call out from Beatfreeks in the organisation’s early days for a videographer and photographer. Indeed, Paul’s first experience of poetry was at a Beatfreeks Poetry Jam in a coffee shop in Brum and it peaked his interest and got his ‘mind buzzing’. He’s also worked as a photojournalist and freelance film maker – he documented Jeremy Corbyn’s election campaign as well as numerous protests. He spent time in Calais documenting the plight of refugees but has since questioned how ethical that is. As much as he accepts those stories need to be told, Paul’s uncomfortable about photographing vulnerable people and using those images. He explained: “I just think although it’s well intentioned, would I want to be photographed in that moment? There are hundreds of journalists who come down, stay for 1 or 2 days then go home and sell the images. It just doesn’t feel right.”

THRIVING SCENE

Paul’s also working on a documentary film called Hidden Philosophers documenting the open mic poetry scene in the UK and its impact on society. Paul says the Birmingham scene is particularly communal, rich and open. We’ve heard this before from poets we’ve interviewed previously like Spoz, Casey Bailey and Benjamin Zephaniah. The Midlands and Birmingham in particular is inclusive and thriving.

Paul reckons the creative industries are probably Birmingham’s biggest export. He says: “We have such rich creative and cultural scenes that are also inclusive. For instance, the Hippodrome which is a globally recognised theatre yet through its Young Advocate Programme it opens its doors to inspire and give Brum’s young people opportunities. The Rep has the Foundry scheme which is similarly inclusive for young people whatever your background. It’s phenomenal.”

With five brothers and two sisters, Haseebah was used to a bit of rough and tumble at home. And having watched her brothers train at Windmill Gym for years, stepping into the ring aged 11 seemed natural. At that time, she was the only girl in the gym which didn’t matter as she felt at home. But for lots of girls, particularly those wearing a headscarf, a boxing gym wasn’t – and still isn’t – an option.

Haseebah who is now a coach – the first hijab-wearing coach in England – is on a mission to affect change and she doesn’t just talk the talk. Civil servant by day, boxing coach by night, Haseebah has been coaching since she was 23-years-old and is a tour de force, taking the fight for inclusivity to the boxing authorities. She has forced rule changes that allow girls to wear head scarves, leggings and sleeves which makes a huge difference to the opportunities for ethnic minorities.

CHANGING THE RULES

Her own boxing career was stunted because of the head scarf rule, so having changed that for girls coming through the system is massive. She says: “No one was representing us and there was such a lack of knowledge. I put forward a study to the head of England Boxing linking dress code to participation levels and highlighting the fact that covering up doesn’t affect athletic performance.”

She was successful and the rules were changed. Haseebah recalls: “The nicest thing recently was seeing girls competing in full leggings and sleeves. It’s amazing.” Female coaching numbers and diversity at the gym have grown thanks to Haseebah. There are now four classes with 32 girls. “It’s a really nice mix,” says Haseebah. “I was the only Asian girl in the gym initially but now there are Polish, Pakistani and Albanian. It’s a real celebration of cultures.”

Haseebah has five carded fighters which means they have a licence to box competitively which is a big deal. Her contribution and commitment is seriously inspiring and one of the reasons she’s been named one of Birmingham 2022’s Hometown Heroes.

SURREAL SURPRISE

“I had no idea I’d been nominated. It was a huge surprise to me,” she says. “I didn’t tell my friends and family I’d been nominated until I got the nod I’d been chosen.” You may have seen her face on a mural by Brum’s own Gent48 on Navigation Street which is quite surreal for Haseebah. “I keep doing a double take!” she adds.

Of the Commonwealth Games, Haseebah thinks they are a huge opportunity for the people of the city to come together. “It’s such a diverse city with so much talent and so much to celebrate. The opportunities aren’t just sporting, but it’s about job creation too in areas in the arts and creative industry too. It’ll be truly inclusive.”

Starting out as an actor while the world is in the grip of a pandemic is not the best idea, but if that’s how life pans out, what can you do but crack on? Darryl’s introduction to a TV set was wearing a mask, keeping your distance and regularly hand sanitising. He says: “It was weird, but fun.” Over the last couple of years Darryl has filmed A Christmas Number One, Mammoth for BBC1, This Sceptred Isle for Sky Atlantic and the third series of Band of Brothers. Not bad.

Darryl was never a drama school kid growing up and aside from teaching himself street dance and a secondary school teacher introducing him to contemporary dance, he wasn’t really used to the stage. However, he was interested enough to consider Birmingham Ormiston Academy (BOA) as an option for his A-Level studies and talented enough to bag a place.

FREE SPIRITED

BOA specialises in performing arts alongside an academic curriculum and is the only school of its kind in the Midlands and as such it’s competitive. Darryl’s route in was slightly different to the other year 12 starters. For one reason or another he wasn’t able to make the group audition, so had to go in on his own and workshop with existing BOA students which was a bit nerve-racking.

Darryl’s specialism was acting, but he found being around other creative people specialising in perhaps music or dance really beneficial. He explains: “It was a free-spirited school. My best friends specialised in music and we were able to create together and learn from each other. It’s a beautiful thing. I love meeting different people just as passionate as me.”

Darryl signed up to an agent while at BOA which he says wasn’t the norm, but the teachers were supportive and helped him prepare for auditions. Not sure about going on to drama school after BOA, Darryl was keen to get started on his career. However, he took some advice from his teachers and applied to a handful of schools. He was offered a place at Drama Studios London, so he upped sticks and moved to the capital.

THEATRE SCENE

Having said that Darryl doesn’t believe you have to be in London to get ahead in the acting world and admits the “cost of living is ridiculous”. Having filmed BBC1 comedy, Mammoth in Wales he was really impressed with the studio facilities and the projects being made there. He says: “Manchester, Leeds and Birmingham are all doing great things too. The theatre scene in Birmingham in particular is something to be really proud of.”

While Darryl’s natural home is TV and film, he loves a bit of theatre too. “I do love screen but the thing with theatre is you just throw yourself in to it with a one shot mentality. You put your faith in rehearsals and practice but something new could happen at any point. It’s daunting, so you need to channel that.” Darryl’s focus is the type of work he wants to make. He says: “I want to make impactful work that has a deep meaning ultimately.”

Covid has scuppered coming home to Brum as regularly as he’d like, but Darryl makes the trip as often as he can. Just before Christmas he went back to BOA to do an alumni talk to the current students and was blown away. He says: “Seeing the students with so much potential and full of hunger and burning questions was so nice. They’re just as hungry and hard working as I was. It was a pleasure.”

Ryan describes himself as a normal guy from Brum. Hardly! Appearances in the Archers, Line of Duty, Doctors, Bfi short films among other projects – not to mention co-founding an electronic music platform ­– is not our idea of normal. Ryan has also been picked as one of only 11 budding writers out of 750 applicants for the Sky Comedy Rep scheme – a partnership between Birmingham Rep and Sky Studios to discover and nurture new regional comedy talent from across the UK.

Ryan cut it fine, applying to the scheme just the day before the deadline. The application process entailed the submission of a one-act play set around the simple premise of a meeting on a park bench. The successful writers are at the business end of a six-month paid programme of workshops and mentoring to develop their stories ready for performance at the three-day Sky Comedy Rep Festival at the Rep.

EXCEPTIONAL

Anil Gupta, creative director of comedy at Sky Studios, said: “We were overwhelmed by the response to this scheme and the strength of talent we saw in the applications. We have found 11 truly exceptional writers who hail from all over the UK, and whose unique voices tap into the humour of where they are from. They have exciting futures ahead of them and Sky Studios are proud to be helping them on their path.” Mentors include Simon Blackwell, Danny Brocklehurst, Guz Khan, Meera Syal and Holly Walsh, among other big names. The patron of Sky Comedy Rep is Julie Walters.

Ryan’s story, Boys Who Cry, will be directed by Iqbal Khan and is set in Birmingham which was important to him and features four mates who’ve been friends since childhood. It’s about growing up, changing, moving away, coming home and the sort of shorthand way of communicating you only really have with lifelong friends or siblings. As the festival gets closer, Ryan is nervous but excited to see his work come alive and he’s been thrilled with the process and learned loads from his mentors. It’s a bit of a ‘pinch me’ moment.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

Ryan’s first foray into acting was at a TV workshop at Mac mentored by Ross Simpson. Now living in London, Ryan loves coming home. On the difference between the two cities in terms of work, he says: “There’s a glass ceiling in Birmingham almost. You have to go out and forge opportunities. In London there’s more going on, so it enables you to dip your toes into different things.”

In March last year, Ryan starred in independent film Demon which premiered at the Cinequest Film Festival in the US. Directed by a school friend of Ryan, fellow Brummie George Louis Bartlett and co-written by Theo Macdonald, Demon tells the story of Ralph played by Ryan who flees London after an unpaid train fine comes back to haunt him and hides out in a forest motel which soon becomes a weird purgatory. The film’s small budget meant employing some creative filming techniques as well as being shot in black and white giving it a cool, edgy vibe. Also starring Jemma Redgrave, the Millennial Noir project was a no-brainer for Ryan.

ONE TO WATCH

When the pandemic struck, Ryan began writing and successfully had a short story called Safari commissioned for BBC Arts. Set in Brum, the drama highlights how race and class can be gatekeepers for understanding culture and is based on situations Ryan experienced growing up. You can find it on BBC Sounds.

It feels like there’s so much to come from Ryan both writing and acting and probably beyond. He’s determined and resourceful as well as obviously talented, so he feels fresh, exciting and definitely one of our Young, Gifted and Brummie interviewees to watch.

Amy Booth-Steel is thrilled to be back in the Midlands close to family and friends who are planning a trip en masse – all 18 of them – to see the Magician’s Elephant. After the last couple of years of uncertainty and closures, theatre is thriving and Amy is relishing returning to the stage. “It’s sort of like the old days – so nice to see people’s faces,” she says.

The Magician’s Elephant was set to open last year but due to restrictions was postponed. Now in full swing at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, it’s packed with welcome escapism and wonderment and at its heart, stunning music by Marc Teitler and Nancy Harris. On our first trip back to the theatre after lockdown, it had us in tears and giggles in equal measure. It’s moving, funny and inventively staged and while the whole cast shone, it was Amy playing a role of narrator that brought the show together – a constant gently leading the audience through the production like an old friend.

IN THE KNOW

Having originally workshopped the show a couple of years ago, Amy felt she really wanted to be involved. She recalls: “It’s so beautiful and magical and I knew I wanted to be part of it. The show feels even more relevant now – ultimately it’s about a town (Baltese) suffering and being there for one another as a community.”

Amy’s character wasn’t in the 2009 book by Kate DiCamillo, but the show’s creators felt a narrator role that could build a relationship with the audience would be a good idea. It really works. As an audience member Amy makes you feel part of a secret, in the know.

SAFETY FIRST

Obviously putting on a show like this was never straight forward, but with today’s Covid guidance, it’s a lot. Socially distanced masked rehearsals, hand sanitiser, daily lateral flow tests, twice weekly PCRs and a Covid monitor at every session to ensure everything’s tip-top. Thankfully it’s worked so far with no Covid dramas.

There are understudies and understudies of understudies, but that’s not unusual, just sensible with a winter production running through flu season. Amy’s not fazed by the extra precautions. She says: “I’m just very grateful to be back. The industry has suffered so much during the pandemic.”

Like most actors, lockdown was tough for Amy as theatres were shut and projects ended abruptly. She remembers: “I was working on the National Theatre pantomime. It closed after just three shows. Lots of people said it was a perfect opportunity to write, but I couldn’t. The panic and worry was too much.” Living in a ‘teeny’ flat, Amy and her flatmates watched a lot of Netflix, walked and took up gardening. Didn’t we all?

ABSOLUTELY NUTS

Amy’s writing again now (we could tell you but we’d have to kill you.) If you were lucky enough to see one woman show Honest Amy, you’ll know she’s pretty talented on that front. Honest Amy was spawned in 2019 when some of Amy’s online videos went viral catching the eye of Kathy Burke, (yes Kathy Burke!), who, in a nutshell, got involved and directed the show taking it to Edinburgh Festival and beyond.

Amy says: “It was absolutely nuts. It happened organically. I just put a few videos online and people liked them. I didn’t know what to expect from Edinburgh, but it was wonderful.” We’re keen to see what happens next.

You might know Owen De Visser from ArtsBrum, the organisation that promotes and supports local artists, or from Birmingham Open Studios, or even his Open Mic night in Moseley. He’s a busy chap. Having had enough of rejigging the spare room for photo-shoots at home, Owen has bitten the bullet and opened a gallery and photographic studio on the bourgeoning Greenfield Crescent with neighbours such as Loki Wine, Kin and the much-anticipated, Chapter restaurant.

His original timing turned out to be less than sparkling as Covid struck just as he was about to sign the lease. Thankfully, landlords Calthorpe Estates were thoroughly understanding and put plans on hold without financial penalty. Finally open, Owen is cock-a-hoop, but it hasn’t been a straight-forward path.

A degree in Music Tech proved to be not what Owen had expected and not something he wanted to pursue, so he left. However, there was a silver lining. Part of his studies included photo editing which he enjoyed – so with a trusty digital SLR camera Owen began snapping in his spare time while working in retail. When some friends asked Owen to capture their special day, it proved to be the beginning of something a bit special.

OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS

Owen remembers: “I had a basic camera with two lenses. I learnt that weddings are largely about controlling people. I enjoyed it and more opportunities followed.” Owen’s mother is an artist and his father an author, so a creative life feels natural. Of his upbringing, Owen says: “I was raised to believe that I can be successful in anything I want to be, as long as I have passion and believe in myself.”

That belief was tested a bit after he was made redundant from two retail jobs. Owen decided to take control and grab the opportunity to do something he loved and ODV Photography was born. He turned to the Prince’s Trust Start Up business scheme which was a massive help. As well as financial support, Owen received training in how to run a business with weeks of formal tuition. Owen ran the business from home using the spare room as a studio for years, but it wasn’t the best use of his time.

He says: “I’d have to pull everything out of the spare room to see a client and then put it back together. It definitely wasn’t time efficient.” Owen photographs a wide range of subjects including events and weddings, commercial work, corporate headshots, interiors, family portraits, promo shots – again – he’s busy!

SUPPORT LOCAL

Realising there wasn’t much of a spotlight on artists in Birmingham at the time, Owen sought to change that through Birmingham Arts (ArtsBrum) which pushed art and artists in the city. He created an online shop and co-hosted events. He also founded Brum Open Studios where people can visit artists in their studios and see them work. Doing these things alongside ODV Photography meant he had three different in-boxes to tackle which didn’t really make sense, so now with Lux he’s combined everything into one.

He has 2,000 artists on his books – not all from Birmingham. Lux stocks mainly British artists and lots of local creatives plus a few from Europe. They tend to be emerging or mid-career artists and they can’t be in another gallery in the area, so it’s not work people have seen elsewhere. There’s a mix of media including jewellery from Jewellery Quarter.

Owen’s not in competition with other galleries in the city – he’s collaborative and is keen to see a thriving arts scene – more galleries not less to benefit everyone. He does feel residents of Brum could do more to support art though. He says: “London has hundreds of galleries, but not so in Birmingham. In a city with so many great creatives and different pockets each with a unique style and identity, we could probably do better.”

The uncertainty surrounding the 2020 Olympics and Paralympics made the road to Tokyo fraught for all athletes hoping to compete, but for Becky Redfern there was an added dimension. After winning gold at the World Para Swimming Championships in 2019, Tokyo was her next goal. Having won silver in Rio in the SS13 100m breaststroke, Becky was keen to make the Games and hoped to go one better.

It turns out that when Becky won the World Championship, she was pregnant which meant Tokyo was no longer an option. The timing wouldn’t have worked. Then due to Covid, the Games were postponed with the rearranged date giving Becky 14 months between giving birth to competing. It would take a monumental effort, but Becky and coach Mark Stowe at Worcester Swimming Club were up for the challenge. There was a dissertation to write too as Becky was due to complete her degree in 2020, so no pressure…

PADDLING POOL

Becky was diagnosed with degenerative eye condition, retinitis pigmentosa as a small child and now has severely impaired visual fields with no peripheral vision and poor frontal vision, hence the SS13 category status. With pools closed during lockdown Becky started training in a hot tub in the garden. It wasn’t exactly ideal, but better than nothing and with the tension of a bungee rope tied around the waist and the resistance that created, it became the most effective way for swimmers to keep up pool time during those months, elite or otherwise. Social media was awash with videos of swimmers training in oversized paddling pools. It was all very 2020.

Once pools opened and training was back on, Becky could be seen ploughing up and down the water putting in the hard yards with a steely determination and with Mark pacing the poolside coaching. Once she’d qualified for Tokyo – an amazing feat, Worcester SC rallied around firstly crowd funding to help get Becky there and then by ensuring training sessions were super clean and Covid safe. Masks, hand sanitiser, no access to changing rooms, strict entrance and exit policies were all in place. Covid officers in hi-vis jackets kept the process running smoothly and swimmers kept their distance. A positive Covid test would have been a crushing blow to Becky’s effort as Tokyo grew closer which thankfully, she didn’t have to face.

FAST FINISH

The time difference meant the final was in the middle of the night. Friends and family set the alarm and watched nervously. Becky stormed the first 50 metres establishing a lead early on, but in the final 25 metres German Elena Krawzow began to attack and just pipped Becky to the wall in the last few strokes. Becky’s time of 1:14.10 was her fastest over the distance since Rio and she was visibly delighted.

After a tough couple of years mentally and physically, it was a beautiful moment. Becky’s turnaround has been described as ‘miraculous’ and while it is an extraordinary achievement, miraculous seems to negate the massive amount of hard graft and commitment. We feel a Hollywood blockbuster coming on…

Have you heard the one about Birmingham Comedy Festival? What started out as one man’s dream to bring together the city’s small grassroots comedy clubs and provide a mega-showcase for the best comics in the country is celebrating its 20th anniversary this month.

Running from Friday 1 to Sunday 10 October this year’s ‘post-pandemic’ festival features more than 40 shows across a number of venues, including Symphony Hall, Town Hall, the Glee Club and the Old Rep, with an awesome mix of big-name acts such as Russel Brand, Chris Ramsey and Jenny Éclair coming to town, along with a host of emerging newcomers. After being forced to an online-only format last year due to the pandemic, the festival’s founder Dave Freak said: “It’s great to be back – you just can’t beat seeing comedy with a roaring audience. The laughter is infectious!”

Two decades ago, Dave couldn’t have imagined that his idea to put Birmingham firmly on the comedy map would result in the second longest running comedy festival in the UK which has seen all the big stars come to the city over the years. The arts consultant and project manager who works across the creative, culture, heritage and media sectors, said: “Back in 2000, I was aware that there were a fair few small, grassroots comedy clubs dotted all around the city, and they regularly booked acts you’d recognise from the TV and Radio 4. But unless you lived in the area, there was a fair chance you wouldn’t know who they had on as they didn’t have big marketing budgets, and the Internet was really only just starting to break into the mainstream.

STAR BILLINGS

“A festival seemed like a good way to highlight what was going on in the city. So, I approached some of the local clubs and they thought it was a no-brainer. Everyone was so enthusiastic and supportive. When we held that first festival the response from audiences and the venues was incredible, so we had to do it again, and again…”

The inaugural star billing featured Peter Kay and Sean Lock. Alongside a vast range of new local acts, the festival has welcomed such A-list heavy-hitters as Lee Evans, Michael McIntyre, the cast of The Fast Show, Ross Noble, John Bishop, Miranda Hart, Jimmy Carr, Alan Carr, Al Murray The Pub Landlord, Sarah Millican, Jack Whitehall, Stephen Merchant, Adam Hills, Josh Widdicombe, Harry Hill, Greg Davies – and Brum heroes Joe Lycett, Lenny Henry and Jasper Carrott. Phew!! It has even included performances from legendary Absolutely Fabulous star Joanna Lumley and the late Ken Dodd.

“Stand-up comedy wasn’t as popular as it is today, you didn’t see it all over the TV like you do now, and there was no social media,” said Dave. “The festival really succeeded in highlighting the vibrancy of the city’s comedy scene. That first festival was phenomenal. Getting that off the ground, and the enthusiasm of everyone involved, was amazing. Today, there are hundreds of arts festivals in Birmingham, but then there were only a few by comparison – jazz, books, a film festival, ArtsFest … then us.”

VOLUNTEER-LED

While stand-up comedy forms the core of the festival, there’s also a range of other activities, such as theatre, cabaret, burlesque, improv’, sketch comedy, folk, classical music, DJ/ club nights, pub quizzes, puppet shows and film screenings. Right from the outset, the festival has been unfunded and volunteer-led. “It is not run to make money, but to simply celebrate comedy,” said Dave.

“The festival’s a firm and well-established fixture in the region’s events calendar now, but we’re always looking to see how we can improve and tweak it,” he said. “Looking ahead, we were busily working on several projects we had for 2020 and early 2021 which we had to postpone, due to the pandemic. So, once the festival’s done this month, we’re aiming to go back and revisit those and see what’s still possible in the current climate. And next year we hope to bring back our Breaking Talent Award for emerging artists from the West Midlands – that’s something we see as central to the festival, as it really sums up our regional ethos.”

Every festival has had its highlights. The largest in terms of audience was 86,000 in 2009, thanks to a run of arena shows by Michael McIntyre. The largest in terms of number of events was 2012, when the festival had well over 100 performances .“The first festival was remarkable and we’re very proud of the Birmingham Comedy Festival Breaking Talent Award and enjoy our Free Half-Dayers, which include back-to-back shows in (nearly) adjacent city centre venues,” said Dave.

SPIKE, THE GOONS & HANCOCK

“Personally, being the first professional company to adapt radio series The Goon Show for the stage was amazing – Spike Milligan’s estate had consistently declined the rights, so to do that not once, but twice was remarkable. Also selling out the British Library with The Lost Hancocks: Vacant Lot – a lost BBC Tony Hancock script – was something special, too.

“The Charlie Chaplin soundtrack last year for our online edition, our first such commission, was also great … as the pandemic hit, we were tempted to take a year off, but were glad we pushed through, and the response from people was really positive and encouraging. Hard work, but glad we marked the occasion, and didn’t let 2020 slip by.”

As for any budding would-be comedians out there, Dave has some tips: “Start small. Do five-minute open spots and build up your confidence and material. Find out what works. Find your voice, who are you, what’s your story? Be prepared to fail. Everyone has died on stage. The secret is learning why and building on that. And listen — to other acts and to the audience.”

Corey Weekes is a writer and actor who trained at the Academy of Live and Recorded Arts on a DADA scholarship. He’s worked in TV – Coronation Street and Doctors among others – as well as the West End and is about to open Rapsody at Coventry Belgrade theatre as writer and artistic director. Coming from a background of financial hardship that could have hampered Corey’s dreams, he was lucky to have had a chance meeting with an experienced actor who offered to mentor and coach him for free. Recognising that not all budding actors are as fortunate, Corey decided he wanted to help change things for young kids like him and give them a foothold in an industry that is notoriously tough to crack without connections and/or money. Like many actors, Corey hasn’t had an acting job since the pandemic began and has thrown himself into helping talented youngsters get ahead.

ACTING UP

Corey launched the Vision Centre for Actors last year, initially offering acting lessons at a hugely reduced rate (£5 per lesson) which still proved a struggle for some. Now, thanks to a partnership with Birmingham Hippodrome and youth community interest group Bouncing Statistics – and with funding from the National Lottery and Arts Council England – Corey is offering a programme of free tuition, workshops and mentorship to talented 16 to 30-year-olds suffering from financial hardship.

Corey explains his motivation: “When I initially wanted to get into acting, I had all the passion and drive to learn but unfortunately none of the money to afford the classes on offer in Birmingham. I was lucky enough to be blessed with mentorship of a great teacher in Philip Hedley, but I couldn’t help wondering how many young people give up on their dreams because they aren’t so fortunate. I started Vision to provide hope to young people from humble beginnings that they can make their dreams materialise.”

Vision will take a cohort of 32 actors over the next year with auditions being held at the beginning of this month. They’ll enjoy access to free workshops with drama schools thanks to links with organisations like ALRA, LAMDA and RCSSD, there’ll be talks and workshops with industry professionals like casting directors and agents and they’ll leave Vision with show reels and headshots.

WELL-BEING

As well as honing acting skills and boosting opportunities, Corey is keen to prioritise well-being and good mental health, so there’ll be a big focus on that too with coaching from Bouncing Statistics. He is keen to make sure students understand the reality of the industry and are resilient. He says: “There’s down time when you’re an actor and we need to give youngsters the foundations to survive and find fulfilment in other ways too.”

The funding for Vision was crucial and a lengthy process. Corey brought a bid writer on board as the application was 68 pages which meant a lot of late nights and stress and thankfully it was successfully. He said: “This was only made possible thanks to funding from the National Lottery Arts Council England and we are so grateful. New research has found that only 27 per cent of actors come from a working-class background. It’s time young people from underprivileged backgrounds can truly be able to follow their dreams. Financial strain should not make anyone’s aspirations feel unreachable and that’s what we look to change here at Vision.”

If Elizabeth Conway isn’t a familiar face by next year we’ll be very surprised. Currently a freelance sports journalist and presenter, Elizabeth is brimming with energy, bags of talent and joy for her craft and to say we reckon she’s the next Gabby Logan is bang-on for this proud Brummie.

Even at secondary school Elizabeth had that rare thing of knowing what she wanted to do with her life. She says: “I loved writing and chatting to people and I also loved sport, so sports journalism was the obvious choice.” She’s not too shabby a sports woman either, decent at hockey and cricket as well as county level table tennis among others.

At the University of Birmingham studying Spanish and English, Elizabeth joined various societies and got involved with student radio and TV. She also spent a year in Madrid where she covered the Champions League Final and translated and interpreted for Spanish stars and the media.

SPANISH TIKTOK

When Covid stopped play in 2020 and there were no events to report on, Elizabeth trained to be a Spanish teacher and also started a TikTok account, @spanishandsport teaching her followers the language. She amassed more than 70,000 followers and her engaging videos have reached six million views and counting. She never lost sight of her ultimate goal though and thankfully once sport returned Elizabeth was back following her dreams recognising Spanish as a massive bonus in terms of being able to cover global events.

Elizabeth was selected as one of the top 100 young journalists in the world to represent Great Britain at the Thomson Reuters Future News Worldwide conference in 2019, she’s a freelance BBC sport journalist, a presenter and journalist for GiveMeSport Women and a proud member of BCOMS (Black Collective of Media in Sport) working toward greater diversity in sports media.

RISING ROLE

Most recently was selected to join the Hundred Rising – a bunch of talented young journalists picked to cover the ECB’s new Hundred tournament. Elizabeth co-hosts the Edgbaston fixtures, out in the crowd interviewing fans. The scheme also means accessing workshops with the likes of Vic Hope and Radzi Chinyanganya. Elizabeth says: “Vic’s a linguist like me and Radzi had a similar start to me through an open talent search. I learnt so much.”

The Commonwealth Games would be an obvious time to shine for Elizabeth and hopefully the Hundred Rising will be a springboard to that. She feels media is becoming less London-centric as demonstrated by the use of local talent by the ECB. She explains: “In the past it might have been difficult for someone like me relying on travelling to London and all the financial commitments that go with that. With the BBC branching out regionally and the Commonwealth Games in my hometown in 2022, it feels like the start of something.”

Talented teen Issy Wong is relishing playing for Birmingham Phoenix in cricket’s explosive new tournament, the Hundred. Packed crowds, live entertainment and incredible sport have provided a joyful summer of cricket bringing it to new audiences and thrilling existing fans.

Issy’s strength is pace bowling and she’s striving to push 80mph – the women’s record is 77.6mph, but she’s pretty nifty with the bat too. As we write, she’s clocking up 27 not out off 11 balls in an impressive innings that’s left commentators concluding there’s a case for moving her up the batting order. Teetering on the edge of an international call up, Issy’s performances are giving selectors a lot of reasons to give her a shot.

BOWLED OVER

As well as the excitement of the new tournament, there’s a bigger message. The format of the competition is boosting the visibility of the women’s game. Men’s and women’s teams play back- to-back, all televised and given equal billing. There’s no distinction. While there’s no question the women’s game has been thriving over the last few years, crowds still aren’t on a par with the men’s game and the Hundred might just change that.

Of the success of the tournament, Issy says: “The atmosphere is amazing and something that even the international girls are not really used to. There’s never a better time to be in the women’s game. It’s exciting.” What is it about cricket that Issy loves? She says: “I love the unpredictability of cricket. In the short format particularly, one or two balls can change an innings. A couple of quick wickets can transform the game.”

BRIGHT SPARK

Issy remembers being super competitive even as a small child. In the playground she always wanted to be hitting the ball the hardest or throwing it the furthest. Whatever the sport, she wanted to win. An after-school club was Issy’s first taste of cricket which she took to straight away. She progressed to local club level and aged nine was encouraged to trial for Warwickshire, playing county level from then on.

As well as county, she’s enjoyed success regionally and nationally for teams including Southern Vipers and Central Sparks. Issy found out about her Central Sparks contract on her eighteenth birthday which meant she left school and was a professional cricketer. Not a bad present!

When Issy’s not playing cricket, she’s watching football in the flesh or on TV and in particular her beloved Liverpool. It’s a family thing which she was introduced to at just six-months-old wrapped up in the stands. Cricket has meant she’s missed two Champions League finals which her family have travelled to.

HOME-TOWN GAMES

The Commonwealth Games in Issy’s home-town would be quite a moment to be involved in. She says: “The Commonwealth Games is a massive thing for Birmingham not just for sport, but for the city. The facilities are world class. Edgbaston is an iconic cricket ground and Alexander Stadium, there are great football teams and grounds. It’s fantastically diverse, really exciting.” Issy’s ultimate ambition is to win the World Cup. “That would be awesome.”

The first time we interviewed Lady Sanity was three years ago, shortly before she blew people away performing for a global audience of more than one billion at the closing ceremony of the 2018 Commonwealth Games. The rapper was among the Brum stars who featured as the Games torch was passed from Australia’s Gold Coast to Birmingham 2022. Today, we are talking again – and weirdly the sporting theme continues as the singer prepares to make her first major, post-pandemic public appearance to a live audience this month.

Sanity will play to thousands of cricket fans at Edgbaston Stadium, and many hundreds of thousands more on Sky TV and BBC on 23 July as part of the launch of the first matches in the new Hundred competition. Cricket and rapping might seem odd bedfellows but Sanity said: “I am absolutely thrilled to be singing in front of a big crowd. I’ve been waiting to perform in public for over 18 months since the virus and lockdowns struck. Now I can’t wait to get on stage again.”

HIGH-OCTANE

The Hundred brings together high-octane music and sporting entertainment to a younger, more vibrant audience which Sanity says is the perfect platform to get back to performing live. “I’ve spent the pandemic pretty much at home, working from my own little studio,” she says. “It’s been a strange one, looking at lots of different avenues. Lots of online stuff and being creative in lots of other ways. Before the pandemic, I had been trying to get out of spending so much time in my own space. I’d done some studio and writing sessions with different producers like Delirious, Emmavie, BlueLabBeats and Dj Zinc. Lockdown stopped all that. I’m used to being performing and meeting new people so it was hard not being able to do that.

Edgbaston will be my first big-scale show in all that time. I’ve really missed the live interaction, so I’m proper excited to be playing to what will be a full capacity crowd of 30,000 people.”

Sanity is promising a ‘high-energy’ set for the hometown fans which will include L.O.V.E her recent new release which she says is a heartfelt and insightful piece that explores the truest meaning of the feeling. The track which has a soulful and warm vibe and evocative lyrics sees Sanity joined by singer Jay Alexzander.

POWERING UP

Post Edgbaston, Sanity has a few other live dates lined up, including the MADE Festival at Sandwell Valley Country Park at the end of this month and a festival in Belgium postponed because of the pandemic until September. But she says her focus over the coming months is to “buckle down and work on some more new music” with the help of Power Up, a new initiative providing funding to empower black musicians. She reckons this will take about a year or so as she is starting to work more with a live band, which takes more time.

“The guys in the band – they’re all from Birmingham except one guy who is from Kidderminster – I met for the first time at the Commonwealth Games,” Sanity adds. “Writing more music, working with a live band means I can make music that builds around my voice. Before, it was the reverse and I had to make my voice fit around the music.”

It’s all part of the development of a performer who was earmarked as a rising star on the UK rap scene after being spotted by BBC Introducing in 2015. She subsequently rocked at Glastonbury and won a clutch of industry awards. She’s always been fiercely proud of being a Brummie and the city has featured in some of her music. She’s a real hometown girl and says the past year or so has not just been tough professionally but also personally.

“I’ve lost a few people in the pandemic, some older relatives. It’s been a hard one, but I’m trying to look to the positives. I’ve been able to keep in touch with my family during the worst period with Zoom meets. And now at last I can see all my music friends.”

One year on from George Floyd’s death, BIMM student and songwriter, Mar!k released a song he penned in response to the brutal murder titled George Floyd’s Song. Powerful, slow-burning and atmospheric, Mar!k asserts, “If you look like me you’re oppressed,” before echoing George’s final words as police officer Derek Chauvin knelt on his neck for more than nine minutes: “I can’t breathe, can’t breathe, can’t breathe, somebody help me!”

Released to mark the one-year anniversary of George’s death, Mar!k actually wrote the song last year just after the murder and says: “I made this track as a response to the racism I see every day around me. He wasn’t the first unarmed black man to be killed by a police officer in broad daylight, but George Floyd’s death was a catalyst for change at a time when the world was finally able to watch and listen.”

DEFINING FACTOR

He adds: “Whether it’s on TV, online on social media or in the outside world, racism is a problem that needs to be addressed in America as well as the UK. I’m not an activist or a freedom fighter. I’m just a 19-year-old teenager who doesn’t want to grow up in a world where the colour of my skin is a defining factor of someone’s initial perception.” Of Chauvin’s conviction, Mar!k says: “It’s like one step up a 200-storey building with no lift. It’s a start, but there’s a long way to go.”

Mar!k also delivered a powerful speech at a Black Lives Matter rally in Leicester highlighting the disparities of racism in the UK. The response to his speech was instant and members of the audience were so inspired they requested a recording of it which he has made available in the second half of his two-part release, simply named George.

Musical from an early age, Mar!k learned his craft at church events, school performances and song writing camps. While song writing is his strength he also plays guitar and bass. Later forming a rap collective, he studied music production, threw himself into freestyling and beat-making, and explored other genres, including reggae, gospel, soca.

ECLECTIC BUNCH

Mar!k’s musical influences are an eclectic bunch ranging from UB40 to Black Sabbath.  He says: “I’m a bit all over the place! I Like to keep it broad. My mum’s into R&B so there’s that too.” Now a first year student at music college BIMM, Mar!k can’t wait to get back into face-to-face classes and collaborate with fellow students. He says: “Due to the pandemic, there are people on my course that I’ve never actually met. I just know them via a screen through their Zoom name.”

Mar!k has missed performing live this year and says: “I’ve done a few live streams, but it’s not the same. I can’t wait to do more shows and festivals.” In terms of ambitions Mar!k isn’t holding back: “As well as performing on huge stages and selling out festivals I’d like to be at the Grammys, winning awards for songs I’ve written not necessarily performed. That would be very cool.”

A dream come true is how Amy Jones describes the prospect of competing in her home Commonwealth Games in Birmingham in 2022. The talented cricketer will be a key member of the successful England team which is among the favourites as women’s T20 cricket becomes part of the Games for the first time.

“With how things have been in the pandemic, I think the Games are a real light at the end of the tunnel and something for everyone to look forward to,” said Amy. “It’s a brilliant opportunity for the city – all eyes will be on Birmingham and I’m proud to be from Birmingham and having such a global event coming home.”

Amy grew up in Sutton Coldfield and has more than 90 international caps for England as well as playing county cricket for Warwickshire. She is one of the stars of the Birmingham 2022 promotional campaign – celebrating elite athletes with a link to the West Midlands – and is appearing on billboards across the region as the build-up to Games continues to ratchet up.

FACE OF 2022

Amy says it is an honour to be one of the faces of 2022. “It’s incredible, seeing myself on the billboards and with my family walking past and seeing it too. It’s definitely a bit crazy to be honest but it’s something I’m hugely proud of and I feel very lucky to be one of the athletes that’s up there. It’s definitely something that I’ll not forget.”

The Birmingham 2022 cricket competition will be held at Warwickshire’s Edgbaston home and wicketkeeper batter Amy says that will make the competition even more special. “I first started playing for Warwickshire at under 13 level, so it was really where I learned how to play cricket. It’s definitely a special place for me personally. I’ve only been able to play out on the main pitch a handful of times, so just to be able to play out there is one thing, but to represent England out there will be unbelievable, and I’m sure the support we’ll get there will be great as well.

“Every athlete wants to inspire and the more people that can see us and see what we do and see how much fun we have when we’re out there, if that comes across to young girls maybe watching cricket for the first time, I think that is hugely important.”

LUCKY BREAK

Amy’s path to becoming a professional cricketer began as a youngster playing football. “I played on a boys’ football team,” she explains. “Some of my mates played cricket at the local club and I went down there. They had a girls’ team and a successful ladies’ team which wasn’t common at the time. So, I was lucky and it was quite straightforward. They had good links with Warwickshire and I had a trial at Edgbaston at 13 and I went on from there.

“I was part of the first batch of professional England contracts when I was 19 and the growth of competition and raised profile in the women’s game has meant the standard of play has improved all the time. The growth in TV coverage has also been huge for the women’s game. Loads of people will enjoy women’s sport but if they don’t get to see it, then they don’t know how good it is.”

Amy is a member of an England team that is among the world’s top cricket nations. When we spoke she had just returned from a winning tour to New Zealand and was preparing for the new domestic cricket season before visits by India and a return series with the Kiwis. She said: “Being away on tour during the pandemic was a bit scary at times – knowing that my mum and dad are getting older and having to stay indoors and me being away from them. It’s hard as an athlete or anyone when you are working away. You have the benefit of visiting some amazing countries but especially at this time, the other side of it is knowing your family are still staying safe at home.”

GREATEST RIVALS

The current world’s top eight women’s T20 cricket nation, which include hosts England, Australia, South Africa, New Zealand and Pakistan, are eligible to compete at the 2022 Games. There’s no doubt in Amy’s mind who the greatest rivals for the gold medals are. “Australia are always our biggest competition and have a very successful team,” she said. “Much like the men’s teams, there is great rivalry. Maybe not as fierce as the men and not with the same level of sledging, but it’s still ultra-competitive. It’s not my style to sledge people, I just want to do everything I can to make sure we win matches.”

Over the coming months, Amy says the most important thing is to maintain her form and avoid injuries. “Within the squad I see myself now as a senior player with more responsibility than in the past. I want to contribute to our wins and put in match-winning performances. There will hopefully be lots of opportunities to do that on big stages over the coming months and years in front of lots of people.”

Trained at the city’s Birmingham Ormiston Academy (BOA) Devon has always loved performing, but says he was late bloomer in dance terms. While taking GCSE drama and musical theatre Devon says he thought he ought to take some dance lessons so he wasn’t confused by the dance element.

Starting with tap and jazz, Devon loved it immediately. He says: “I liked the freedom and the chance to explore my body. I was never into sports, but dance gave me the opportunity to be strong, plus I was allowed to be myself.”

Amateur theatre outside school as well as extra-curricular dance exposed Devon to different people with the same passion. “It really opened my eyes.” Training at BOA isn’t one dimensional. Once you’ve chosen a specialism you look at all aspects of that genre, so for instance digital tech as well as performing. Devon enjoyed this aspect and began to realise that dance was so much more. Although Devon won a place at Bird College in London he realised after six months that it wasn’t really for him – it was quite narrow in terms of goals.

SUSSING THE OPTIONS

The pandemic hit and he decided to come back home to the Midlands and suss out his options. Before leaving Bird, Devon bagged himself a place at the prestigious Rambert, but still felt it wasn’t quite right. He’s spent time reflecting on what he wants to do, what makes him happy and began to feel he didn’t need an institution.

After deciding on a freelance route, Devon began networking around Birmingham e-mailing lots of people and was offered a creative internship with John Orton. Then he successfully applied to BIDF to be part of the Brum Pro Class Steering Group helping drive schedules and from there was picked to be part of Beyond Borders which is also part of BIDF.

A major project, Beyond Borders will be the World Premiere of a region-wide youth participation and digital project which Devon’s thrilled to be part of, creating lots of digital pieces with youth groups and dance companies. He’s also been offered a Midlands Made Short Commission to create a solo project. Devon says that although he’s keeping his options as broad as possible he isn’t sure whether he’ll continue performing and is leaning towards participation and outreach.

REGIONAL STRENGTHS

He is testament to the fact that London isn’t the centre of the arts universe and he’s had some amazing experiences already. The strength of arts in our region is palpable and BIDF produced by Birmingham-based dance house, DanceXchange reflect that.

Clearly the summer edition has needed to be adapted to fit the current restrictions, but there’ll still be the same brilliantly joyful tone. Digital platform, BIDF TV will provide the virtual venue for the festival put together in collaboration with ZOO, the company behind the online presentations at last year’s Edinburgh Festival. It will be hosting screendance performances, new film commissions and more. There’s so much to celebrate. We’ll be following it closely and looking out for Devon’s work in particular.

Last year’s winner of The Voice, Blessing Annatoria has been singing for as long as she can remember. Born in Zimbabwe she says music was just part of the culture: “Without instruments we would just use our hands and voices.” Blessing’s family moved to Dudley when she was six-years-old and while it might be very different culturally, the singing never stopped.

Both of Blessing’s parents are pastors, so church has always been a big part of family life and her new album, Count My Blessings which is out now is packed with feel-good gospel vibes. The first single, I Smile is an optimistic and joyful interpretation of the Kirk Franklin original and everything we need right now.

Blessing’s plan was never to enter The Voice. The producers contacted her and encouraged her to go for it having spotted her potential on social media. She remembers the first audition: “It was the scariest thing ever. I just had that one time to make it perfect.” Blessing dealt with the nerves by focusing on her family. “Each time I felt nervous I would look at my family and realise I had no reason to be.”

MENTOR MURS

While judges Meghan Trainor, Will.i.am and Sir Tom Jones hovered above their big red buttons, canny Olly Murs took the plunge. Blessing may have preferred Meghan as a mentor if asked before the show, but she says Olly was incredibly supportive and when the series ground to a halt due to Covid-19, he was still available, checking in with her regularly.

A seven-month break in filming left Blessing wondering whether the show would ever restart. She explains: “People would ask me in the street when the show would be back and I just didn’t know.” Thankfully the show did resume and in November 2020 after a storming final performance, Blessing was crowned winner and actually the break meant that she was able to gradually come to terms with the limelight. Although, it sounds like Blessing’s parents do a fantastic job keeping her grounded. “They help me and guide me and make sure I don’t lose my identity.”

DEBUT ALBUM

After the show, Blessing set about writing and recording her debut album remotely with award-winning producer and songwriter Rupert Christie, who has worked with Jessie J, U2, Coldplay and Lou Reed among many others. The result, Count My Blessings is a mixture of 14 songs, including some Blessing performed on The Voice reimagined as well as original material. The Voice fans will enjoy the beautiful version of Blessing’s winning song Angels by Robbie Williams, an emotional rendition of Westlife’s Flying Without Wings as well as Mariah Carey’s Without You, the track which secured Blessing her place in the final. Blessing co-wrote the rich soulful title track, Count My Blessings which encourages the listener to spread kindness and help one another.

NEW TWIST

There are three hymns on the album that have been given a contemporary twist reflecting Blessing’s upbringing singing in church. How Great Thou Art which Blessing describes as her family’s song is particularly uplifting. She says: “During this time of hardship and struggle, I wanted to release an album of encouragement and joy. I want people to feel uplifted and I really hope the songs and hymns will give people strength to pick themselves up and be happy again.”

Blessing was back on The Voice stage performing her new single I Smile on her nineteenth birthday at this year’s final looking and sounding every inch the star. The track features a remotely recorded choir led by Kingdom Choir’s Wayne Hernandez who is best known for performing at the wedding of Harry and Meghan and who has worked with stars such as Jay Z.

When we caught up with Blessing we were still in lockdown, but she’s planning to get back to performing live and spreading her infectious joy and optimism as soon as she can.

If you’re on Instagram and you love Brum, you’ll no doubt be familiar with the modernist cityscapes of Alex Edwards at Brumhaus. What began with a sketch of the brutalist Old Central Library on a post-it note, has morphed into a successful career and a style that’s instantly recognisable.

With a degree in Visual Communications and a career in graphic design pre-Brumhaus, Alex describes his geometric depictions of Birmingham’s built-up skyline as ‘pictures that are patterns, but are also recognisable’.

When the company Alex worked for relocated, his commute became an opportunity to take in the built-up city centre and he started drawing. He says: “It was a labour of love initially.” The Old Library sketch which was picked up online and given some love on social media, was a catalyst to go it alone. Leaving a stable job as a graphic designer was a bit daunting.

Alex gradually went from full to part time and then finally took the plunge in 2017. He says: “There was no masterplan. It was a bit of a leap of faith.” Inspired by Picasso – his Bull picture is an homage to the artist – and Paul Klee of Bauhaus hence the name, as well as sculptor William Mitchell who specialised in concrete relief, Alex’s work reflects his love of a built-up skyline.

CHANGING SKYLINE

He’s given many of Birmingham’s best views the modernist treatment such as Old Joe, Digbeth, Gas Street Basin and many more. Alex says: “I choose to draw things that people identify with. For example, Digbeth High Street. A lot of people love that place.”

The process Alex uses is satisfyingly ordered. At a time when we’re in control of very little, it appeals hugely. An initial pencil sketch on a grid which helps create the composition is then redrawn a few times before being put through graphics software and printed on top quality paper. Alex explains: “I’ve used the software for 20 years. It allows me to make changes toward the end of the process like adjusting colours or adding definition. You know what you’re going to get and I think as an artist it’s important to have a process. It’s part of my success.”

With Birmingham’s skyline changing significantly, there’s much to do. “I’ll have to update Colmore Row when 103 Colmore Row is finished and St Paul’s needs updating too. I’ve been planning to draw the Floozie for a while, but there’s talk of reinstating the water, so I’ll wait a while.” He adds: “There are big changes in Eastside obviously and I’ve a pencil sketch of Grand Central that I keep coming back to. I’ve also done Sutton Park which was a bit different as it’s all organic shapes. Generally, I prefer drawing buildings.”

FROM RUSSIA VIA BRUM

There’s a limited edition print on sale now that emerged from a project designing merchandise for Russian band Blues Bastards for their single, Lights Out . The Russian connection seems quite random, but apparently not. EKBrum Music Session 2020 was an online event that took place last year bringing together musicians from Birmingham with those of similarly industrialised and populated Russian city, Ekaterinburg – a sort of modern day town twinning through music. Alex got involved creating graphics to promote the event fusing the skylines of both cities. The Blues Bastards work came on the back of it.

Alex has worked from his home studio since Brumhaus began, it’s just now he’s doing it with more people around and more frequent requests for snacks! Aside from one local gallery in Sutton, Brumhaus sales are predominantly online, so Covid restrictions haven’t affected the business as much as some. Alex largely credits that with having a sizeable and engaged social media following as well as the trend for home improvements during lockdown.

One thing that has changed is that Alex isn’t taking commissions and working to other people’s briefs anymore which means output has increased. Local arts markets have been missing from the Brumhaus schedule, but as we write, there’s hope of restrictions lifting, so Birmingham’s creative community can get back to meeting customers and one another again. Alex says: “2020 was strange and I think we’re just all working out what 2021 will mean. It’ll be great to see actual people.” Amen.

We all know live theatre has been crippled by lockdown rules and there’s no straight-forward route to normality, at the time of writing at any rate. Inventive outdoor performances are the only way currently and Birmingham Stage Company – the clever sticks behind Horrible Histories – have put together a super drive-in show that ticks all of the social distancing rules.

Matthew Gordon, who plays Joe Spud is delighted to get back on stage after being part of the initial run that began in September 2019 and was halted abruptly when the first lockdown hit. Having graduated from ARLA North in Wigan, Matthew stayed in Manchester for a time, but is now back on home turf in the Midlands. He says despite Billionaire Boy being cut short, he’s been lucky during lockdown picking up parts in productions like BBC’s Doctors among other TV work, but he can’t wait to get back on stage.

IN THE BUBBLE

Adhering to the strict rules of performing sounds a bit intense, mind you. Matthew says: “We all isolate beforehand and then form a working bubble, so essentially we’ll be living together on a tour bus. It is intense, but it’s essential so we can rehearse and perform as needed. We have to be in one another’s space to get the energy.”

In case you’ve been living under a rock, Billionaire Boy tells the story of Matthew’s character, Joe Spud who is 12 years old and the richest boy in the country. He has his own sports car, £100,000-a-week pocket money and two crocodiles as pets, but what Joe really wants is a friend. When he decides to leave his posh school and start at the local comprehensive, things don’t go as planned and life becomes a bit of a rollercoaster as Joe tries find the one thing money can’t buy.

Matthew was playing Derek in Tom Gates, also produced by Birmingham Stage Company, when he was asked to audition for Joe. Matthew says: “We can all imagine what we’d do if we had loads of money but all Joe wants is companionship and friendship.” Having originally been offered the part in May 2019, Matthew says it’s great to be back playing Joe.

PARKING PREMIERES

Car Park Party launched in summer 2020 with Horrible Histories Barmy Britain followed by Car Park Panto performing Horrible Christmas to 40,000 family members in their cars across the UK. The concept is simple, the audience drive their cars into a designated spot, two metres apart of course. There’s a big screen on the stage as well as the live action to ensure maximum visibility for everyone and audio is listened to via car radios on an FM frequency – simple, but clever.

Neal Foster of Birmingham Stage Company and director of Billionaire Boy said: “It was wonderful to be part of a magical enterprise in 2020 bringing live theatre to families desperate for the joy and connection theatre provides, so we are delighted to be presenting our production of one of David Walliams’ most popular stories which began its national tour in 2019 and was abruptly halted by Covid. The show’s actors are thrilled with the opportunity to return to a new stage with a story that demonstrates the importance of friends and family at this critical time for the world”.

Talented Acocks Green basketball player Alasan Njie-Morgan is living his sporting dream after receiving a scholarship to the US last year. Having learned his craft at Nechells-based club Birmingham Rockets, 14-year-old Alasan has made the journey across the pond to take up his place at the well-connected Phelps Prep School in Pennsylvania where he’s getting to grips with boarding and the American system. We caught up with him last month while back home in Brum for Christmas.

Birmingham Rockets’ links to Houston-based coach Donte Mathis made Alasan’s move possible with some Covid-related complications of course. Ordinarily, Donte attends the Rockets’ International Summer Camp where he would have been able to see Alasan in action in the flesh. But with the camp postponed thanks to the pandemic, a highlights tape sent to the coach was the next best thing and the lucrative offer came in on that basis. Phelps School has a reputation for developing high-level basketball players and Alasan will spend four years there prepping for the next step.

ANYTHING’S POSSIBLE

It’s a big move, but Alasan seems incredibly mature. His mum, Sai had planned to travel with him and stay for six weeks to settle him in, but a change in travel policy at the eleventh hour meant Alasan had to go it alone which was possibly harder for her than him. Sai says: “I’m so happy for Alasan, but I do miss him too.”

Sai recognises the difference Alasan’s achievements have made to youngsters at Rockets and feels the players are working harder having seen what’s possible with commitment. The club, mainly based at Nechells Wellbeing Centre, has a thriving junior programme involving 800 young players a week – and while Alasan never set out to be a role model, he says he sees the difference in them too.

Rockets managing director Rob Palmer says: “Alasan is an incredible young man – a model student and an outstanding basketball player. At 14 he has the world at his feet yet he remains well-grounded and focussed on the work he has ahead of him. His commitment, willingness to learn and ability to develop his natural talent has seen him progress so well.”

HARD GRAFT

Having started playing basketball for fun at Rockets aged just nine, Alasan knew by 11 that he wanted to do something with basketball long term and he put in the hard work. With the support of his family, who made significant sacrifices, he was able to travel all over the UK to compete at the weekends sometimes staying overnight.

Now on a path that takes him closer to his goals, Alasan is embracing it, has settled well and says the schoolwork is easier than his old school Ninestiles Academy in Acocks Green where fellow pupils and teachers are so proud of him. Sport’s a great way of fitting in and Alasan says: “I can’t complain – there are only seven boys in my class plus the team has helped me to fit in really quickly.”

He’s only just begun his basketball career in the US but Alasan is focused on the next step already, building towards a scholarship to college in the US, so he’s playing as much as he can with the same grit and commitment he honed here in Brum. Phelps School has great basketball connections in the US, so the future is looking bright for this Birmingham export.

With 2020 being the year from hell you’d be forgiven for thinking the festive season is destined to be all bah-humbug too! But before we rush to accept the Scrooge scenario there is, we are delighted to report, a beacon of light and inspiration shining in Birmingham. And it involves brilliant young musicians from the city – and the Grenadier Guards!

During the pandemic and lockdowns, the amazing team at Birmingham Music Service has been working behind the scenes to continue making music with thousands of schoolchildren. Earlier in the year, the service – one of the largest in the country, working across 384 of the city’s schools, teaching music to approximately 38,000 children and providing 28,000 musical instruments free-of-charge – staged its successful Virtual Youth Proms Festival.

The festival featured 500 young musicians taking part in 30 bespoke pre-recorded free performances over four evenings, streamed to an audience of 4,000 and watched by many more since. The proms also included six performances by the Band of the Royal Marines and raised more than £6,000 through voluntary donations for the Music Service charity.

CONCERT LINE-UPS

“The Virtual Proms were so successful, we’ve decided to do even bigger concerts for Christmas,” said the head of the Music Service, Stuart Birnie. “Nearly 800 children will take part with 22 ensembles and choirs providing pre-recorded pieces. Our contacts with the military mean that this time we have the Band of the Grenadier Guards also performing. Additionally, we are hoping to get official approval from the city council for a relay of traditional festive carols performed live by our brass band and chamber choir from Centenary Square.”

The two Virtual Christmas Festive Concerts will be held on Saturday and Sunday, 12 and 13 December and include Birmingham Schools’ jazz, percussion and guitar ensembles, brass and concert bands, string sinfonia and wind and concert orchestras, plus Guardsmen.

The concerts are the culmination of an incredible amount of creative thinking, organisation and sheer hard work by Birmingham Music Service which has had to adapt to find new ways of working during the pandemic to continue to bring music education to the city’s schoolchildren. The team is part of the Services For Education charity which was formed in the city in 2012 and now employs 240 staff and is part-funded by the Arts Council.

ONLINE FESTIVAL

Stuart said: “In a normal year, our summer youth proms held in July would enable 3,500 young musicians and singers, aged from eight to 18, to perform to live audiences at Symphony Hall. This year, with so many restrictions in place and rehearsals an impossibility, the option was either to cancel everything or transform it to an on-line festival. So, the Virtual Youth Proms Festival was born – four nights of concerts weaving together individual performances from ensemble members in their own homes presented live on consecutive evenings via the web.”

The evening performances ran alongside four daytime programmes celebrating the work of the Music Service past and present, masterclasses in woodwind, brass and percussion led by the Royal Marines Band Service and messages of support from friends, including world-renowned violinist Nicola Benedetti, saxophonist Jess Gillam and Royal Birmingham Conservatoire principal Julian Lloyd-Webber. The Christmas concerts will follow the Proms template but Stuart is promising they will be even more ambitious.

BOLLYWOOD BRASS

He said: “Moving forward, once the pandemic is in the past, we will of course be returning to live performing, but the online opportunities will continue to be developed. Streaming our concerts and festivals mean that friends and relations who live far away can see their children taking part regardless of the distance between them.”

Next year, Stuart aims to widen schoolchildren’s music experiences still further with plans to start working toward summer concerts with the Bollywood Brass Band. He is also leading efforts to make contact with leading artists and musicians to become Music Service ambassadors who would hold masterclasses with children. “We want to show all our children that all options are possible in taking part in and enjoying music.”

No doubt you’ve seen the seven-foot mural sprayed by Digbeth’s own Panda, aka David Brown, in the Zellig car park which signalled the launch of the second series of BBC Three show The Rap Game UK. Filmed in Birmingham, the show sees six unsigned MCs take part in a much cooler, less showbiz version of The X Factor – not sure the contestants will like that comparison, but it’s accurate.

Six artists are competing for a record deal in a series of challenges while being judged/mentored by big names in the industry – it’s not a startling leap. You get the gist.

What is different to the Syco juggernaut is how exposed the contestants are in terms of performance. There’s no fancy-pants staging or a gaggle of dancers to hide behind, it’s just one person and their voice (and okay, the odd orchestra) and it’s seriously impressive when it goes well and utterly toe curling when it doesn’t. There really is nowhere to hide.

RAP LEGENDS

Each week, the artists are set two challenges in which they are asked to step up and show that they have got the hardest bars, the song writing props and the stage presence to cut it in the music industry. Hosted by 1Xtra’s DJ Target along with rap legends Krept and Konan whose record label will sign the winner, there are guest judges along the way including Wretch 32 who have wowed the contestants.

One of this year’s hopefuls is Ddroid – a young MC from Brum who is relishing the opportunity and buzzing that the series is filmed in his home town. He was previously part of successful duo, Wavy Gang, but is going it alone and loving the Rap Game process. He describes his style as ‘melodic rap’. On the decision to apply for series two, he says: “Series 1 was cool. And it was set in Brum! It’s the rapper’s dream – living in a penthouse, spitting your bars, get feedback, come out the backend doing great. Who doesn’t want that?” He’s committed to learning through the process. He explains: “I want to learn the technical stuff – the cons, the pros of the industry. The competition goes in depth into the different aspects of the music industry as a whole. It’s gonna be a learning curve. It’s all about what I can take from it – it could mean a lot for me.”

ALLY PALLY

In one episode, tasked with revealing something personal about himself through his lyrics, Ddroid blew away the judges, including guest Rapman, with a narrative about being sectioned with depression. While some contestants seem uptight, Ddroid is just embracing the opportunity. He says: “I’m just here for the experience. It’s been great so far. I ain’t got no complaints.”

He might be enjoying the experience, but he’s ambitious too and says: “In five years’ time selling out the Ally Pally! Maybe a number one album. Maybe even a Grammy. A solid home-grown name. I wanna be known as Ddroid who came off The Rap Game UK.”

At the time of writing, filming had to be paused briefly due to Covid-19, but is back minus Shogan who is in quarantine. Fingers crossed for the rest of the series. Check it out on BBC Three and BBC iPlayer.

Here are just a small selection of some of our favourites with even more in the printed product.  There isn’t room for all of them, so go forth and explore what’s on your doorstep virtually or in real life and look out for daily gift inspiration on our social media channels throughout December, too. Oh… and happy Christmas you wonderful Brummie bunch!

1 Walnut laser cut sleeping star earrings with sterling silver posts and hypoallergenic backs, £10 with free postage, Fussy Geek Wares, fussygeekwares.etsy.com

2 More Her Beanie made of super soft mohair and kid silk, £35, SzubiCrafts, szubicrafts.com

3 Young REP Bursary – give a disadvantaged young person aged seven to 25 the opportunity to take part in the REP’s youth theatre, the Young REP. A £75 donation pays for a term and £200 an entire year, birmingham-rep.co.uk/support-us

4 YES BAB engraved hip flask, £15, Punks and Chancers, punksandchancers.co.uk

5 We Can Be Heroes striped tee, £25, Disko Kids, diskokids.co.uk

6 Recycled silver earrings by My Bear Hands, £42, RBSA, rbsa.org.uk

7 Burning Barn Rum gift box includes smoked rum, spiced rum and honey and rum liqueur, £16 (3 x 5cl), burningbarnrum.com

8 Midlands Air Ambulance Kids Crew membership, £20, midlandsairambulance.com

9 ‘Gas Street Basin’ print, £55 including delivery, Brumhaus, Brumhaus.uk

10 Materia Rica Wave necklace, £23.95, IKON, ikon-gallery.org

We reckon if anyone can boost the coolness of poetry, it’s Casey Bailey. Teacher, rapper, song writer, playwright, champion of Brum, he’s no one trick poetry pony. The recently-appointed Poet Laureate is keen to get poetry out to the masses, making it more accessible and pulling down barriers. Casey explains: “People from lower socio-economic groups and sadly black people feel restricted and just not part of literature. Poetry nights tend to be on the third floor of a café inaccessible to anyone with disabilities.” Casey is determined to change this.

In essence, the Poet Laureate appointment is an extension of what Casey already does. As well as writing and performing, he’s an assistant head teacher in a secondary school and has been instrumental in pulling pupils into poetry as well as pushing the safeguarding, pastoral and behaviour agendas in the school. Casey created an extra-curricular group called Baileys Rap and Poetry Club whose members are predominantly boys disengaged from literature. The club takes in different writing techniques and has generally peaked the pupils’ interest.

DEPRIVATION

Casey was born and raised in Nechells and observed the effects of deprivation first-hand, so he knows a bit about what some youngsters are up against and is committed to breaking the cycle. The media narrative towards the end of the summer which portrayed teachers as not wanting to teach doesn’t sit pretty or ring true with Casey. “That, followed by a backlash against the arts is really sad. There’s a lack of appreciation of the arts and artists find that they need to justify themselves.”

His own introduction to poetry at school left Casey cold and his route in was via music and his days as a young MC ‘spitting bars in bedroom studios’ and at underground raves. Writing music is still something Casey does for himself as well as penning songs for other people. Expect a new EP by the end of 2020. There’s also a play, Grime Boy due to open at Birmingham REP and the Belgrade in Coventry as soon as the restrictions on live performances are lifted. The play tells the story of an inner city teen growing up in Birmingham in the mid-2000s full of ambition to be the greatest grime MC.

WORKSHOP

The play was spawned at a 12-week workshop designed to develop the presentation of spoken word poetry in theatre. Titled Poetic Theatre Makers, the workshop was the first of its kind in the UK and was produced by Apples and Snakes in collaboration with Birmingham REP. Casey was also selected to be member of Bush Theatre’s Emerging Writers Group which supports writers over a period of time encouraging work on full length plays.

In terms of ambition, Casey says he doesn’t look beyond where he is, “it’s more about continuity and relevance to myself and other people”. Never tempted to move to London to chase the breaks, Casey says: “We sometimes look outside ourselves for reasons why something isn’t working. Yes, the breaks are bigger in London, but they’re fewer and it’s more saturated.” In any case, Casey says the poetry/spoken word scene in Brum is thriving – or it was pre-pandemic.

If you haven’t already, we urge you to have a listen to Dear Birmingham or Midlander or The Ballad of The Peaky Blinders on YouTube. They’re goose bump-inducing magnificent…

Our favourite pocket rocket is back on the BGT stage wowing judges with a moving performance to Elton John’s Can You Feel the Love? Ashley Banjo’s socks were blown right off as Yakub flipped and spun his way through a confident and touching performance. Yakub’s ‘buzzing to be back’ and managing to keep his nerves in check. He says: “I’m so excited. It’s the biggest and best thing I have ever done in my life.”

You might remember Yakub initially took to the Britain’s Got Talent stage in Brum with an explosive routine that left the judges agog. Aged just 10-years-old at the time, Yakub’s high energy moves to the Lion King’s He Lives in You lit up the Hippodrome. Four unquestioning nods from the judges were met with a quiet ‘thank you’ before Yakub headed off stage to hug his proud foster carer, Juliet.

It was Juliet who nurtured Yakub’s talent enrolling him at Mezzo Dance Company in Harborne and Stratford shortly after fostering him and his sister. Before then, Yakub had never danced in an official setting, but Juliet thought the siblings would benefit from the focus dance requires as well as building friendships and ultimately having fun. It turns out Yakub is naturally gifted and took to it straight away.

STANDING OVATION

Despite having only a couple of lessons a week, Yakub trains non-stop at home on the tumble track in the garden. Juliet says that, taking into account the time Yakub trains at home, he probably racks up around 12 hours. Having never danced in front of anything like the 4,000-strong crowd, Yakub’s nerves got the better of him in his dummy run at the initial BGT audition, but he rose to the occasion in his actual performance and nailed it receiving a standing ovation. Obviously Yakub’s dance teachers are incredibly proud of him. Teacher, Adam says: “Yakub has always had that spark – he just needed to believe in himself a bit more. To have such an amazing talent at only 10 years of age is incredible.  It is so rewarding for us to see one of our dancers do so well. We really believe in him and believe that he can go all the way in this competition. He deserves it. He is the hardest working little lad.”

Having had to persuade social services that it was a good idea for Yakub to enter the competition, Juliet was keen for BGT to be a positive experience whatever happened and thankfully it was. She says that everyone on the show has been lovely and particularly Ant and Dec are brilliant with Yakub backstage, so she can breathe a big sigh of relief.

CONFIDENCE BOOST

After his semi-final performance, judge Ashley Banjo told Yakub: “You have everything apart from one thing – a little bit of self-belief.” Juliet thinks BGT has made a massive difference to Yakub’s confidence. She says: “Yakub has had an amazing BGT journey so far and making the semi-final has completely boosted his confidence and he’ll give it his all!”

In his first audition, Yakub was asked by Alesha Dixon if he thought he could win the competition to which he quickly replied, ‘no’, but we reckon he’s got every chance and we’ll be cheering him on virtually from the edge of our sofa no doubt with leaky eyes!

Rupinder Kaur’s celebrated debut poetry collection Rooh, which means soul in Panjabi, was released when she was only 22 years old. Published by Verve Poetry Press, it’s a collection that pulls down borders combining English and Panjabi cultures using words from Panjabi, Hindi, Urdu and English. Rupinder began her route into poetry through spoken word in Brum and doesn’t shy away from often-avoided dinner party chat tackling religion, politics, gender inequality and regularly questioning orthodox views head-on. Mentored by poet Rachel Long and awarded a grant by the Arts Council, Rupinder is now working on her second collection which promises to be just as striking as Rooh.

Although Rupinder says some of her old work makes her cringe, those days of discovering her style and evolving through events and spoken word must have been exciting too. Rupinder reckons Birmingham’s spoken word scene is as good as any and thinks moving to London to find your voice and pursue a creative career isn’t necessary anymore. She is a perfect example. Rupinder has founded Azaad arts which explores traditional and contemporary arts in South Asia and in Birmingham.

FREE EXPRESSION

Azaad means free and reflects Rupinder’s belief that artists should be able to express themselves without censorship. Rupinder is working on a project titled Sada Chidiyan da Chamba, which means Our Temporary Nest of Birds, exploring Panjabi wedding folk songs through the female narrative and earlier this year was named one of the BBC’s new creatives – the broadcaster’s talent development scheme offering commissioning opportunities to emerging creatives.

In terms of South Asian culture, it’s a great time to be in Birmingham. The city’s Transforming Narratives project seems a natural fit for Rupinder’s exploration of the region’s culture. The three-year project, managed by Culture Central and supported by Arts Council England and the British Council, aims to establish Birmingham as a global centre for contemporary Pakistani and Bangladeshi arts. The project spans visual arts, music, dance, theatre and combined arts and uses digital technology to link artists and creative organisations.

Rupinder’s involvement in the project is through Gully Zine which she created with friends and fellow creatives Nafeesa Hamid and Kamil Mahmood. Gully creates multidisciplinary zines giving a voice to South Asian artists linking up creatives in Bangladesh and Pakistan and ‘offering diaspora communities in Birmingham a vivid reality instead of an imagined homeland’.

Rupinder had planned to travel to Pakistan to take up an artist’s residency to explore the culture from a female perspective but unfortunately coronavirus scuppered that and she’s not sure when it will happen now. There’s a script recording scheduled this month as part of the BBC new creative scheme and the second collection of poetry to finish among other projects, so Rupinder’s pretty busy!

We’re spending more time reading and watching movies at home right now. In the last issue we listed our all-time, must read and must watch book and film classics. This time, we’re focusing our selection on great thrillers and dramas. You’ve likely read or seen some of them before – but like all the best things stories, they’re just as compelling the second or third time around. Buy them or stream them online

MUST READ 

Strangers by Dean Koontz

A group of individuals find themselves drawn to a motel in the Nevada desert from thousands of miles apart, united in an escalating sense of terror which manifests differently in each of them.

Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier

First published in 1938, a nameless narrator has married a European playboy and moved into his vast mansion. But she finds herself haunted by the memory of his dead wife Rebecca and her still very loyal servant, Mrs Danvers.

Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy by John le Carré

Now considered one of the greatest spy thrillers ever written, this complicated tale captures the essence of espionage and the futility of the work, even of war itself.

The Hound of the Baskervilles by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

So popular that it brought about the revival of Sherlock Holmes. Set largely on Dartmoor, this is the compelling story of an attempted murder inspired by the legend of a fearsome, diabolical hound of supernatural origin.

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

A gripping psychological crime thriller film based on the 2005 novel by the late Swedish writer. Centred around a highly emotionally damaged computer hacker caught up in a decades-old missing person’s case.

The Da Vinci Code by Dan Brown

An elaborate murder mystery with lashings of religion, history, art, and conspiracy theories at every turn. Albino monks have never been more menacing.

Orient Express by Graham Greene

As the Orient Express hurtles across Europe on its three-day journey, the driven lives of several of its passengers become bound together in a fateful interlock.

Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty

Set in a small, posh Australian community, Big Little Lies traces a tangled web of secrets that eventually prove deadly. The book became a hit drama on TV starring Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman.

MUST WATCH 

THE SHINING

Based on Stephen King’s novel about a troubled man’s slow descent into madness while serving as the winter caretaker of an isolated and haunted hotel. Starring a menacing Jack Nicholson and directed by Stanley Kubrick.

BASIC INSTINCT

A pulsating, erotic and pretty violent film starring Michael Douglas as a messed-up homicide cop and Sharon Stone as a seriously sexy femme fatale who knows just how to cross her legs.

BREAKDOWN

Kurt Russell is quite awesome as a man driven by desperation as he tries to find his wife who has disappeared after their car broke down on a desert road.

CAPE FEAR

We’re talking the original here with Robert Mitchum as the brutal, evil ex-con Max Cady waging a campaign of terror on the household of Gregory Peck, the lawyer whose testimony sent him to prison.

DELIVERANCE

A fantastic survival thriller starring Jon Voight and Burt Reynolds as Atlanta businessmen who get more than they bargained for on a canoe trip through the wilderness.

FIGHT CLUB

Brad Pitt, Edward Norton and Helena Bonham Carter star in an unsettling movie that revolves around an underground club where men who are fed up with their mundane lives find solace in battering each other to bits.

THE HAND THAT ROCKS THE CRADLE

As far away from Mary Poppins as you could possibly get. Rebecca De Mornay is suitably unhinged as the nanny wreaking bloody havoc on the family she believes responsible for the death of her husband and unborn child.

THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

Jodie Foster is superb as FBI cadet Clarice Starling, while Anthony Hopkins is utterly unforgettable as the chianti-loving cannibal psychiatrist Dr Hannibal Lecter. A near-perfect chiller.

Nat Sweeney is one eighth of the dance group Brothers of Dance that made it through to the semi-finals of TV’s Greatest Dancer on Team Cheryl. While the group was put together by choreographer Dane Bates cherry-picking dancers from across the country, Nat is from right here in Brum and studies at Elmhurst School of Dance in Edgbaston.

We’ve watched the group’s moving first audition which left the judges agog and the audience voting en masse approximately 15 times and counting. Not that we’re experts, but it’s just a gorgeous piece of dance – athletic, strong, soft and touching all rolled into three beautiful minutes. (Nat’s the one in the red jumper in case you didn’t know!)

Also, amazingly it was the first time the group had performed together. Obviously, they’d trained together, but never performed. Nat says: “I was taking classes with Dane outside of Elmhurst and he messaged a few of his students and it all came together. It was really fun.” Dane says he selected the boys because they are all incredible dancers and that from the very first rehearsal they had a ‘unique connection’. The group’s versatility is staggering encompassing contemporary, ballet, jazz, commercial and acro.

UP IN THE AIR

As a male, Nat isn’t used to being lifted but on Greatest Dancer he had to get used to often being the one in the air. He said: “Being a boy I’ve never been lifted. I was usually the one lifting a girl, so it was totally new to me. At first, I was scared. I thought I was going to get dropped and I nearly was a few times!”

While Nat doesn’t get nervous, once on Team Cheryl the challenges were really testing with only a couple of days to hone each routine. “Dancing with the other boys was so energetic and we just bounced off each other,” he said. “I’m sad it’s over, but I’ve made friends for life.” He’s full of praise for Cheryl too who he says was the ‘sweetest and really involved’.

As a young child it’ll come as no surprise that Nat was a keen gymnast before he focused on dance. The first time he auditioned for anything was to bag his place at Elmhurst. He remembers: “I didn’t have the right shoes and hadn’t really done ballet before.” The school saw past the dodgy shoes, appreciating his talent and potential and has been instrumental in Nat’s development. He credits the school with instilling a work ethic that he’ll take with him through life. He says: “Work hard and always be on time.”

BALLET HERO

The connections the school has with partners such Birmingham Royal Ballet and Birmingham Hippodrome have been crucial, resulting in experiences the students might not have ordinarily. One of Nat’s heroes is BRB dancer Brandon Lawrence. The school is able to attract top talent to work with students such as world-class choreographer Wayne McGregor who Nat enjoyed a workshop with. Juggling dance with academic studies hasn’t been an issue for Nat. He says it’s balanced: “Academic lessons provide a break throughout the day. A time to rest the body.”

Nat describes a run playing Billy Elliot aged 14 and 15 as ‘the best experience of my life’. He relished performing in front of thousands of people every day and says: “I just love dancing and performing.” In terms of what’s next, Nat just says he wants to grab every opportunity with both hands and run with it. If an opportunity proves a mistake he’ll be happy he gave it a whirl and put it down to experience. His ultimate goal is simply to ‘perform forever’.

Vanessa Miller’s love affair with making jewellery began when she enrolled in evening classes at Midlands Arts Centre. By the end of her second session she had already set up a small workshop in the corner of her dad’s garage where she continued to make jewellery until eventually applying to study full-time for an HND in Jewellery and Silversmithing at Birmingham City University’s School of Jewellery.

After graduating in 2016, Vanessa hasn’t looked back, setting up her own business and recently being named the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter’s second Jeweller in Residence. The prestigious title means that Vanessa, whose own business is based in the JQ, will work from the museum regularly over the next year. She is creating a new jewellery range on sale exclusively at the museum shop as part of a project which aims to promote local designers.

The competition run by the museum in partnership with the university’s School of Jewellery, asked entrants to design a two-piece jewellery collection inspired by the iconic snake range produced by the historic Smith & Pepper factory, which the museum is built around. Vanessa took inspiration from the Smith & Pepper sketchbooks and reflected some of the classic shapes into her winning designs.

GROWING BUSINESS

She said: “I was thrilled to be named Jeweller in Residence. I’ve never won anything before! My hopes are that it will raise my profile as a jewellery designer maker helping me to grow as a business.” Vanessa says last year was a difficult time for her personally, which makes the Jeweller in Residence award all the more exciting and invigorating for her.

“This year I am getting back on track. I am updating stock in existing galleries and reaching out to new stockists. I want to research and apply for new courses to develop my skills and learn new skills so I can offer something new to my customers. And of course I will be creating two new pieces to add to the snake collection for sale exclusively through the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter.”

Designing and making jewellery is more than a business for Vanessa – it’s a passion. She says: “I love it. It’s probably what’s on my mind most if not all of the time. I love that I can design something that I then make come to life through manipulating metals or carving and casting.”

Vanessa makes unique silver jewellery, ranging from small charm necklaces and earrings to larger detailed pendants, brooches and rings – some with moving elements. She says: “My work is inspired by nature, the wonders of the world around me, holidays abroad and carefree, happy childhood memories. I aim to capture something unique and special about the subject and design with a smile in mind.”

PRECIOUS METALS

She also enjoys hand forming, modelling and carving to create unique three-dimensional designs in precious metals. “My work is embellished with gold and set with semi-precious stones. I enjoy making small repeatable designs, one-off pieces and working to commission.”

While Vanessa loves creating her own ideas for pieces, she finds working to commissions just as rewarding. “When a customer comes to me with an idea or with old unwanted jewellery wanting something new created, I find this an exciting challenge,” she explains. “There’s also a little mix of apprehension as sometimes I am presented with a material that I’ve not worked with before or I need to learn a new skill to achieve what I’ve designed and I love that. I find the end result very satisfying and it’s a wonderful feeling seeing the customer’s reaction! I love sharing my skills with my students too and watch them develop and explore and learn.”

As part of her Residency, Vanessa works once a week, usually on a Wednesday, in the museum’s perfectly preserved workshop where visitors can watch what she is making and chat to her about her skills. “It’s a real privilege to be presented with the wonderful opportunity to work in such a historic and important building here in Birmingham’s Jewellery Quarter,” she says. “The staff and volunteers are all so lovely and I’ve had some really interesting conversations with visitors.”

We wondered what’s the most expensive and challenging piece Vanessa has designed? “That’s a pendant I made as part of my residency at the School of Jewellery BCU. I made three pendants, all are containers to hold small objects and inspired by the Japanese inro with an underwater nature theme. One was entirely hand-fabricated, textured with a hand-cut shoal of fish design with gold detailing on the container and on its chain and clasp which presented me with some real challenges.”

Reuben James cut his teeth at Brummie institutions the Yard Bird and the Jam Factory before progressing to Ronnie Scott’s in London where an encounter with Sam Smith changed his musical trajectory. As well as touring with the singer for six years, Reuben has collaborated with the star co-writing the title track from Sam Smith’s album The Thrill of it All as well as Him among many others.

He’s performed with Joni Mitchell, opened for Alicia Keys at the Dubai Jazz festival and collaborated with Disclosure, Honne, Callum Scott and Tom Misch to name just a few as well as selling out Birmingham’s Symphony Hall last November. Lauded as Britain’s best young jazz pianist by the Times, Reuben is now carving out his own vibe with the launch of a new EP this spring on the back of the success of his first solo EP Adore last summer. Expect a heady mix of jazz, soul and RnB.

GRAMMYS & OSCARS

Learning violin and piano from the age of four, Reuben knew he never wanted to do anything else. He attended Birmingham Conservatoire every Saturday morning and gained a scholarship to the prestigious Trinity College of Music in London. Reuben built a name for himself and became a regular at Ronnie Scott’s which is when he got the call from Sam Smith’s people. They toured the world together not once but three times and recorded Lay Me Down and Latch together. Reuben says: “It was surreal. It happened so quickly. The Grammys, the Oscars, all of that.”

Happiest on stage performing, Reuben is now busy growing his own legend. Playing with and collaborating with big names has led to this point and Reuben feels he’s been moving through the stages of his musical career to discover his sound. The writing process is organic rather than structured and differs depending on whether Reuben’s writing for himself or for someone else.

Inspired by everyday events, Reuben’s writing is very personal when writing for him, but not so much when writing for other artists. He says: “When I write for someone else, I’m more of a therapist.” Reuben describes his current work as ‘sonically groove based’ and an extension of what he’s been building through the years. For a period of time Reuben was writing either straight pop or straight jazz, but his current sound is an amalgam of the two genres with RnB thrown in for good measure.

LA BECKONS

Reuben’s time is split between his home in Birmingham and LA where his girlfriend lives and ultimately where he can see himself laying down roots. Reuben moved back to Birmingham from London because he found the capital anxiety inducing whereas his home town is more relaxing. He never moved to London because he felt he needed to in order to make a breakthrough. He says: “London was about figuring out how to be an adult and learning life skills as much as anything else.” In Birmingham he’s enjoying spending time with family and friends and he’s excited to see the music scene doing so well. “I love Birmingham. It’s home. The music scene is thriving. Jazz and RnB in the city is fantastic.”

It would be a natural progression to move to LA. Aside from his love interest, Reuben just loves the way of life. “It’s sunny every day. You have the best songwriters and producers in the world there. I do yoga, eat salad. I just love it.”

Reuben has worked with some amazing names and his list of collaborations is like a who’s who of music royalty, but I wonder if there’s anyone else on the wish list. He says: “Stevie Wonder, Brandy Carlisle, Aretha Franklin if she were still alive and Beyonce would be cool.” Preferring the quirky little venues to large sprawling stadia – although clearly he wouldn’t say no – he likes to be right next to the audience and ‘feel the people’.

The future is clearly bright and for now Reuben is just focusing on writing great music that as many people as possible get a chance to listen to.

Raza Hamza might not be a name you recognise… yet. The young featherweight is set for a hell of a year on the boxing scene – he’s currently negotiating a title fight – and if ambition and dedication count for anything he’s on a path to potential global success. He says: “This will be a big year. Everyone will know who I am.” With five British titles, three English titles and two Asia titles as an amateur, you wouldn’t bet against him.

Against the odds, Raza navigated his way through a childhood in the shadows of Villa Park where he watched his peers one by one creep into criminality. He remembers: “Friends were going down the wrong path selling drugs and thieving. I knew I didn’t want to be that person.” Dad was a mechanic and Raza’s mother was a stay-at-home mum who loved watching boxing.

She could see the benefits of the discipline required to excel at the sport and encouraged Raza to go to the gym. He threw himself into it at the Aston ABC gym leaving little time for anything else which kept him on the straight and narrow. “I came home from school, ate, went to the gym, arrived home at 7pm and went to bed. There was no time to get into trouble.”

MY HERO

Sadly, when Raza was aged 12 and on the morning of his first fight, his mum died without seeing her son compete in the sport she and he loved. Raza won that fight along with the majority of his amateur bouts, always with the memory of his mum spurring him on to do his best. He says: “I don’t idolise other people, but my mum’s my hero. She inspires me to do well.”

Another motivating factor is the memory of his brother who died aged just 21 in a motorbike accident. Raza turned those tragedies into motivation and his philosophy is: “Never give up. Believe. If there are no opportunities, make one.” Mental coaching, yoga and meditation is part of daily life for Raza. At odds with the aggression he shows in the ring, Raza explains: “Fighting is a job. I’m actually the nicest guy in the gym. I go to the mountains in Wales a fair bit. I’ve done yoga temples in Thailand and I meditate every day. It’s just part of my routine.”

When Raza was aged 16, he moved to Manchester to train under Haroon Hedley so he could really focus. Now he’s back in Brum training with Max McCracken and managed by MTK Global who look after big names such as Tyson Fury and Carl Frampton and is getting closer to his world champ ambitions.

CHEEKY TREAT

A typical day for Raza is very structured with two to three hours with a trainer in the morning as well as a session in the gym – possibly running – followed by sauna and steam room in the afternoon/evening. Food is a regular feature to keep the energy up which as well as the usual training fodder of eggs, pasta, baked potatoes and the like, include a big hit of protein from the odd ‘late night cheeky Nando’s’.

Keen to give back a bit, Raza is evangelical about boxing, giving kids in a similar situation to his a route out of trouble. When a teenager close to where he grew up approached him outside the chip shop in Aston ‘playing the gangster’ with three Nokia phones in his pocket, Raza told him to go the boxing gym. Raza says: “The kid said he couldn’t afford it, so I pay £10 a week for him to train. He now trains every night. He’s staying out of trouble and showing promise.”

Raza feels it’s easier now for kids from his old stomping ground to break the cycle. He explains: “Birmingham is building and getting brighter. When HS2 comes bringing more people there’ll be increased opportunities for sure.”

You probably recognise Mitch Miller from his successful stint on The Voice in 2015 on team Rita Ora where he impressed audiences with his swing-inspired performances which led to West End shows and some very swanky corporate gigs. Now back in his home-town passing on his performing wisdom to youngsters at Cadbury Sixth Form College, we caught up with Mitch.

With a song-writing father and music a constant at home, Mitch was immersed from birth and says: “Sadly I was one of those kids always performing! I vaguely remember a Grease number at primary school.” King’s Norton Primary School was the one, but it was at secondary school where he really found his groove although it wasn’t always appreciated by his peers.

Mitch recalls: “I got picked on a lot. Singing wasn’t cool. There was a ‘God, how embarrassing’ sort of attitude, but I did it anyway.” At the same time Mitch was performing with a City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra choir and sang at the Commonwealth Games and for the Queen at Symphony Hall among other high-profile events. Further down the line at drama school tutors would say they could tell Mitch had a classical training. “The funny thing is I hadn’t had any classical training other than the sessions with the choir at the CBSO.”

THE REAL VOICE

Sixth form with a particularly inspiring drama teacher cemented Mitch’s love of performing and led him to the well-regarded Mountview Academy Drama school in London where he specialised in musical theatre. This grounding made Mitch think the audition for The Voice would be fine, but actually it was ‘petrifying’.

The thing the viewer doesn’t know about The Voice is that the auditionees go through months of vocal coaching before the first televised audition, so the programme makers have already invested a lot in each of the hopefuls. Mitch’s vocal coach was Mark De-Lisser who was director of the Royal Wedding Choir and pretty high profile.

Mitch says: “Even if you don’t get very far you’ve already had access to amazing training and learned quite a lot.” The preparation didn’t squash the nerves of the chair-turning audition though. “The fear is that no one turns around. I arrived up with my family at 6am and my audition was at 11.30pm which built the anxiety.” He needn’t have worried. Mitch joined Rita Ora’s team and had a ‘fabulous’ experience that definitely opened doors.

SURREAL MOMENTS

A role in Godspell on the West End has been one of the highlights as well as Westside Story and Rent and his fee has certainly benefited. There’ve been some high-profile events that have been slightly bizarre. At a ‘posh cricket match’ where Mitch was performing he was sat between Nigel Farage and one of Princess Diana’s cousins, which he says was surreal.

There’ve been other surreal moments along the way like performing at Party in the Park and supporting the likes of Blue and Liberty X before the TV stuff happened. Mitch says: “I don’t really know how that came about. I used to record the demos of dad’s songs with a friend and it just snowballed from there. Party in the Park was the first time I’d really sung on my own and it was in front of 30,000 people. I might as well have been sponsored by Reebok. It was Nineties and I was head to toe!”

TALENT SEEKING

After a spell in London Mitch moved back to Birmingham with his husband largely to start a family and he’s loving being back. Now with twins, Mitch’s role as a tutor in performing arts means he has a solid base for the children while inspiring young people and still performing outside college hours. “I’ve always taught between jobs as lots of performers do, but this is different. Generally, I’ve taught in drama schools where the students know exactly what they want to do and believe they will get there. Here, every kid is so different. There’s a lot of raw talent and they really don’t know how good they are. This is my passion and seeing the next generation of performers cut their teeth means the world. It doesn’t seem too long ago since I was doing the same.”

So significant was England’s gold medal winning victory in the Commonwealth Games in 2018, it’s one of those sporting moments that begs the question: ‘Where were you?’ Since that stunning triumph, the popularity of netball has grown exponentially with approximately 320,000 adults now playing the sport fortnightly in the UK while other team sport participation has plateaued.

We’ve a while to wait for the home Commonwealth Games in 2022, but you can get your netball fix right here in Brum next month when the brand new international tournament, Vitality Netball Nations Cup, rolls into town. A round robin format between England, Jamaica, South Africa and current World Champions New Zealand, it promises to be explosive. Ahead of the tournament we caught up with England defender Fran Williams to find out what makes the sport so special.

BIG IMPRESSION

Fran has built up quite a CV. The local Wasps defender plays in the Vitality Netball Superleague in addition to her national commitments. She captained the England under-21 team and made her senior Vitality Roses (England’s elite team) debut against Uganda last year, making an immediate impression on the national side. She was selected for the England squad for the Vitality Netball International Series as part of the Quad Series in January this year and will feature in the Nations Cup next month.

Playing the sport since she was nine-years-old, Fran knew pretty much straight away that netball was the sport for her. She says: “I’ve always loved competing and it requires so many skills – fitness, strength, the fast-paced change of direction.” By aged 14/15 years, Fran realised the sport could be more than a hobby and she was progressing quickly through county level followed by regional academy before joining the England pathway.

A balance was required between netball and schoolwork which was a bit tough. Doing homework in the car featured at times. Travelling long distances to train and play was the hardest part of the process, although you could say it made more time for homework on the move. Silver linings and all that!

Fran says: “Funding kicks in at international level, so parents support along the way is key.” Now training ‘full-time’ although she is studying economics part-time at University of Birmingham too, Fran can really focus. She explains: “I’m a full-time athlete now which means proper rest and recovery. Some girls have to pick up work, but I’m lucky.”

BEST AND WORST

Some of the squad have known one another since their teenage years progressing through the same pathway programmes as well as touring together and it makes for a bonding experience. Of the team spirit Fran says: “We’re away on long tours together. You see the best and worst of your team-mates. You experience the same pain and successes, high and lows, so you do get close.”

Head Coach of the Vitality Roses, Jess Thirlby says of the Nations Cup: “The competition is higher than ever and teams are out to prove themselves following the incredible exposure of the World Cup. Not only will we be gaining a valuable opportunity to face some of the world’s best teams, we will also be competing in a completely brand new international competition.”

Fran rates Birmingham’s sporting facilities and regularly plays at Arena Birmingham in Superleague as well as in international competitions and says a lively home crowd has the ability to lift a team hugely. “A big home crowd makes a massive difference particularly in close matches.”

Let’s get behind the Roses!

Generally, the talented sportspeople we interview for these pages have been beavering away at their chosen event since they were still in single figures, so we were surprised by Abazz. She only stepped on to an athletics track as a 15-year-old – a reluctant one at that – so her rise to the top has been rapid.

Now Abazz has been chosen by Team England to receive one of only five Sir John Hanson Young Talent Scholarships designed to help talented young athletes progress in the run up to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. The scholarship of £10,000 supports the youngsters in their quest to achieve their sporting goals and for Abazz, means she can really focus. There’s a small matter of studying for her degree alongside training, but as one of her heroes, Dina Asher-Smith managed it pretty well, Abazz is using the world champion as inspiration.

MUM’S THE WORD

Abazz was always active as a child, competing in the likes of Thai boxing, netball and semi-professional dancing, but aged 14 she gave up sport as is the path of a lot of teenage girls. Abazz’s mum found it hard to watch her daughter do nothing for nine months and one day marched her off to local athletics club Birchfield Harriers.

Abazz recalls: “She told me I had to do something. I really didn’t want to go and I cried!” Abazz stayed in the club’s academy for three months then started jumping with a coach focusing on long jump initially. She says: “Long jump wasn’t my thing!” Triple jump it turns out is Abazz’s thing although there were some physical challenges to overcome. She explains: “Triple jump is difficult. I’m really tall and lacked co-ordination. By the age of 13, I was 5ft 9in and by 15, I was 5ft 11in. I was tall and thin, so strength work was really important.”

The following year, Abazz entered the English Schools championship and came third. In 2017, at the national championships and ranked 15, the aim was to finish in the top eight. She came away with a silver medal. In 2018, Abazz was crowned English schools champion and U20 English champion which is an incredible feat in such a short space of time.

JUGGLING TIME

Now studying geography at University College London (UCL), Abazz is juggling a lot. Training six days a week – sometimes twice a day – with recovery on Sunday, she’s putting in the same hours as a full-time job in addition to her studies. Training in Uxbridge means a one-and-a-half-hour journey just to get there. Sometimes she gets home at 9.30pm for recovery and stretching. It’s a different university experience to most under graduates and she says can be a bit lonely at times, but she’s totally committed to making it.

UCL has been super-supportive. As an athlete scholar, Abazz enjoys free gym membership, access to physiotherapists, a nutritionist and psychologist. There are just 18 athlete scholars at the university each with a personalised sports co-ordinator which helps a lot. The £10,000 Sir John Hanson Scholarship from Team England at least means she doesn’t have to work on top of that which was Abazz’s reality last year meaning that recovery time suffered.

SKY’S THE LIMIT

Last year there were some niggling injuries, but she’s back on form. It’s the second year with her new coach and they have an ‘honest relationship’ that’s working well. Immediate goals include improving placing at the senior national championships, competing more abroad on the international circuit and putting less pressure on individual competitions.

Long term, the sky’s the limit. Competing at a home games in Birmingham at the stadium Abazz trained in for four years would mean a lot. She says: “To look around Alexander Stadium and see my whole family there would be incredible.”

Formed just this year, Midlands four-piece pop-punk band, Like Giants have been named finalists in the annual Fireball Hottest Band competition with the chance of performing on stage with some of their heroes in the Fuelling the Fire tour.

Now in its fourth year, the competition, organised by Fireball and Academy Events sees judges choose just one band from each region across the UK to open a gig at the respective regional O2 Academy performing with bands such as this year’s headliners Less Than Jake as well as Goldfinger and Save Ferris among others.

MIND-BLOWING

For a band just starting out, it’s pretty impressive. Frontman Dan says: “We didn’t get our social channels up and running until May but saw the Fireball comp on Facebook and thought we’d apply. We were all so stoked when we got the e-mail to say we were finalists. To stand on the same stage as bands like Less Than Jake is mind-blowing.”

The band is busy gigging across the country, last month London, Edinburgh, Glasgow, Derby taking their brand of pop-punk to as many people who’ll listen, getting their name out and building up experience while holding down full-time jobs.

The four-piece consists of Dan on lead vocals and guitar, Sam on guitar, Billy on bass and Ben the drummer. In a round about way they all ended up together after Dan came up with a few song ideas to which friend Sam added some guitar and brought Billy into the fold to add some bass who knew Ben and they’ve been together since. They share the writing responsibilities with inspiration coming from personal experience mainly as well as random words or a book. Dan says: “Any story close to us really. We just want to make sure every song is relatable.” Generally, a catchy chorus comes first.

ESCAPISM

They’ve worked with producer Matt O’Grady who has produced for bands like Deaf Havana which was a bit of a dream. Dan says: “We met him, he was nice enough and we just hit it off.” The vibe is upbeat and happy and for those three minutes the band wants the listener to feel good. They regularly receive messages from youngsters suffering from depression, which band members have been affected by to, so this escapism is important.

The judges of Fireball Hottest Band described Like Giants as ‘bringing with them heavier riff-driven tracks, with hard-hitting, but also soft melodic vocal melodies which has helped set them apart from the ever-expanding pop-punk genre’. The band’s influences include Neck Deep, A Day to Remember and State Champs. Debut EP Sovereign is out now which includes their first single Cut and Run (check out Spotify).

RIGHT DEAL

Though not signed to a label yet, the guys have got their heads screwed on and feel the time’s not right just now. “We’re too new to push for a better experience if that makes sense.” Instead, the band is focusing on writing, performing and building their following. I’m sure if they were offered the right deal they wouldn’t say no, but they just not chasing it right now. The right deal is important. Top of the wish list are Hopeless Records and Pure Noise Records. Long term goals are a major tour and lots of festivals. Short term, beyond Fireball, the band is planning to get back into the studio as well as more gigging around the UK before heading to New York at the end of November.

Photography by Kayleigh Pope www.kayleighpope.co.uk

Life could hardly have been better for TV star Holly Matthews. After starting her acting career at the age of 11 and being part of award-winning kids TV show Byker Grove for seven years, Holly went on to appear in Waterloo Road, The Bill, Doctors and Casualty, among others. She was also a regular of stage, films and radio.

Then Holly’s life was turned upside down and her world changed forever when husband Ross was diagnosed with a brain tumour. Despite two-and-a-half years of gruelling surgery and treatment, Ross – son of ex-Aston Villa footballer Andy Blair – passed away just two weeks after his birthday in 2017. He was 32.

HAPPY ME PROJECT

With two young daughters, Brooke and Texas, Holly had a decision to make. Them or acting. It was no contest. “I pulled back from acting to be the mum that my girls needed,” she said. “There was no headspace for acting in my life.” Yet… in the way that these things are supposed to work out, from tragedy came hope – and a whole new career and life for Holly as an inspirational self-development coach.

After Ross’s death, Holly launched the Happy Me Project online and has toured the UK with motivational workshops and seminars. Her Bossing It academy has run coaching courses of six, eight and 12 weeks. She is also a paid vlogger creating content for Channel Mum. She has been asked to blog for founder Arianna Huffington and the Huffington Post. And her YouTube channel has more than 2.5million views. She has also been a regular spreading her motivational messages on daytime TV with the likes of Lorraine Kelly.

YOUTUBE SMASH

“Sometimes I don’t realise quite how I fit everything in to my time,” said Holly. “I am the mum on the school run, I run workshops in places like Manchester and Nottingham, I do interviews with local radio, press interviews, film and create content for my YouTube channel and I’ve just started writing a new book.” (She has already co-authored two books which are Amazon best-sellers.)

Holly adds: “I’ve never worked in a structured job – with acting it is always feast or famine. I think I have a naturally entrepreneurial mind and as an actor I always worked in self-development and got used to always bouncing back. I was what I guess you could call a closet meditator. I was doing it all intuitively. These days people are more aware of the mind, its health and development.”

Holly will be part of an inspirational line-up of speakers at the inaugural Being Well Festival at Coventry’s Ricoh Arena next month. The free-to-attend event aims to promote happier and healthier lives by educating people about their health and general wellness.

UNBREAKABLE MOTTO

In typically direct fashion, Holly calls herself ‘actress, vlogger, speaker and no-bullshit development coach’. She says: “I adore helping people see their own potential and live a life where they can be free to choose. I want to show you that life can be tough and yet it can be amazing at the same time. It just depends on how you look at it.”

When we spoke to Holly she was just launching a range of necklaces with Mantra Jewellery in Leamington Spa, in gold, rose gold or silver each bearing on a bar of metal the word ‘Unbreakable’. A visible and constant reminder of positivity to the wearer and all those around her.

Holly is well aware that what she does could be seen by some as almost evangelical, but she says: “I’m not into that American guru stuff, it’s not about me. The Being Well Festival allows me to be very straight-talking and because it is a free event, allows me to reach people who haven’t experienced this kind of thing.”

Holly says creating a good life for herself and her daughters is “what I live and breathe every day”. And she adds: “That doesn’t mean tough stuff isn’t happening. It means looking the tiger in the eye, facing life head-on and choosing happiness regardless.”

The multi-award-winning Ballet Black, launched in 2001 by Ballet Now Consortium member Casso Pancho, aims to provide role models for young black and Asian dancers naturally bringing a more culturally diverse audience to ballet. Fresh from Birmingham’s world class Elmhurst Ballet School, Ebony Thomas is one of the company’s shining lights and is coming back to the city to perform in a collaboration with Birmingham Royal Ballet at the Hippodrome this month. As a boy, and a black boy at that, ballet wasn’t Ebony’s first choice of extra-curricular activity.

Always sporty and into football, cricket and rugby, Ebony hadn’t considered dancing as a hobby. His mum had a bit of a ‘ballet is for girls’ attitude too, so it really wasn’t on the radar. By chance, Ebony was at a friend’s house on the day he had a ballet lesson and was roped in. He explains: “I didn’t even know my friend did ballet! He took me to one of his classes and it was okay.”

THANKS TEACHER!

Not immediately in love with it, Ebony stuck with ballet largely thanks to his teacher at Kingston Ballet School who was ‘encouraging without being pushy’ and he slowly got more into it. Six years later, Ebony was chosen to play one of the page boys in Sleeping Beauty at Covent Garden which was a bit of a turning point. He took classes with the Royal Ballet Junior Associates for three years and performed several times with the Royal Ballet Company. “Up until this point I was still playing football and rugby, but I had to make a decision.”

Aged just 11, Ebony was offered a place boarding at Elmhurst Ballet School in Edgbaston which was a bit of a dream. He says: “As an only child it was great suddenly being around so many people. When you’re growing up aged 14, 15, 16 it’s good to be surrounded by friends. It was probably nice for parents too!”

THE NUTCRACKER

Ebony benefitted from the school’s strong links with Birmingham Royal Ballet, dancing in The Nutcracker as well collaborations with the Rep and performing at Symphony Hall which was a highlight. He’s danced overseas at the Virginia Arts Festival in the US as well as David Bintley’s Argonauts, Sir Peter Wright’s Coppélia and the Don Quixote pas de deux choreographed by Marius Petipa. Of Brum, Ebony says: “It’s world class. I spent nine years in Birmingham. It’s my second home and it’s so nice to be back with Ballet Black.”

Since joining the company in 2017, Ebony has danced in ballets by Martin Lawrance, Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa and Arthur Pita, and created roles in The Suit by Cathy Marston. He says he’s just trying to learn as much as possible and perform lots. Ultimately, Ebony wants to work hard and save to be able to afford a property in London. We say, forget that and move to Brum. It’s way cooler. Just saying…

Charlotte Rigg is 17 and holds both junior and senior county and regional 200m breaststroke records – and this month she is off to Budapest as part of a squad of 10 elite youngsters hoping to come home with medals for Britain.

She earned her GB place on the back of a blistering performance at the British Swimming Championships in Glasgow earlier in the year where she secured the times she needed to compete against the world’s best juniors. Thrilled to be part of the team in the Hungarian capital, Charlotte had already been selected for the European Juniors in Helsinki last year and representing Swim England in Nice this year. There’s no doubt her star is rising!

Charlotte began club swimming aged just five, where she progressed quickly and was soon scouted by City of Birmingham. By the age of 11 she was training six times a week. She said: “I developed a passion for swimming when I was in Year Five. It’s hard and it pushes me to my limits but it’s always worth it. I find it really rewarding and the successes always drive me forward.”

TOUGH TRAINING

Currently she trains a whopping nine times a week, including pool and gym sessions with coach Carl Grosvenor, as well as studying for A-levels. Her teachers at Solihull School have been very supportive and encouraged her every step of the way. She explains: “I get time off during the day to go to the gym and when I miss school due to competitions abroad, the teachers see me after school to help. They have been really good.”

Director of sport at Solihull School, Steven Thompson, says: “Charlotte is extremely dedicated to her sport and her recent successes and GB recognition are testament to that. Everyone at Solihull School will be keeping a keen eye on results from Budapest and we wish Charlotte and the team the best of luck.”

PARENT POWER

As always, behind every superstar youngster there are parents who have also put in the hard yards supporting, fetching, carrying, picking up the pieces when things don’t quite go to plan and Charlotte’s parents are no different. “My parents have always been 100 per cent supportive,” says Charlotte. Not just with the practical ferrying around the country, but the emotional stuff. She adds: “Mum and dad have been there through the setbacks too. They’re always there to encourage me to take a step back, take a breath and regroup. Dealing with the knocks is an important part of sport.”

The level of commitment is extraordinary and there are sacrifices, such as socialising with friends that are necessary to fit in the training. So what is it about the sport that Charlotte enjoys? “I just love racing,” she says. “It brings out another side of me. And I Iove pushing myself to the limit and seeing the rewards.”

LONG LEGS

Breaststroke is Charlotte’s strength which she in part puts down to having long legs. “It’s where the power comes from,” she explains. Competing for Team GB in the 50m, 100m and 200m breaststroke events in Budapest is a bit of a dream, but there’s another goal not too far from home that she would relish too – the Commonwealth Games in Brum in 2022.

“A home Games is always awesome, but this would be a ‘home’ home games if you see what I mean! It would mean my friends and family can come and support too.” She also says the swimming facilities in Birmingham currently aren’t brilliant, but plans for the new aquatic centre look great which is an added bonus of the Games.

In the short term, Charlotte has her sights set on making the finals in Budapest. We’ll be watching eagerly and cheering her on…

One hundred years ago this October, a Bach enthusiast and musicologist gave a lecture on the German composer at the original Midland Institute building next to Birmingham Town Hall. It’s unlikely that Dr Bernard Jackson could have imagined in his wildest dreams that from such humble beginnings would spring one of the UK’s most respected choirs, now celebrating its centenary.

In the intervening years, Birmingham Bach Society, as it was then known, grew from small ensembles of 12 singers to the magnificent 80-strong Birmingham Bach Choir of 2019. Here at Birmingham Living we love covering and promoting the rich and diverse musical heritage of this great city of ours. The Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, Birmingham Royal Ballet, the Conservatoire Folk Ensemble and the People’s Orchestra are just six of the inspiring institutions that have featured in our pages. This month we’re proud to add Birmingham Bach Choir, led by its inspiring conductor and music director Paul Spicer, to the list.

STAR PATRON

The choir’s centenary year has already proved notable with famed opera star and baritone Roderick Williams OBE becoming its patron. Roderick said: “I’m delighted to be associated with the choir. Living as I do in the Midlands makes this pretty much my local choir. My association with Paul Spicer goes back more than 30 years, so I am especially pleased to support the work he has done, and continues to do, with this proud and magnificent choir.”

The choir’s centenary celebrations feature a number of special concerts, including a recital by Roderick, a moving evening of Afro-American spirituals and a 100 Gala Concert in Lichfield Cathedral in November. The choir has already sung before Prince Harry as well as successfully toured France.

Paul, who is marking his 27th year as conductor, took charge of the choir in 1992 from Richard Butt who developed it through what was acknowledged as a ‘golden era’ which saw debts paid off, major financial support offered by the Arts Council and recitals by music legends such as violinist Yehudi Menuhin.

GROWING REPERTOIRE

Under Paul’s leadership the choir’s outstanding Bach and Baroque traditions have continued but the repertoire has been extended into 20th century and contemporary English and European music, particularly works by the likes of Edward Elgar and Benjamin Britten among others. In its home city, the choir gives concerts in Birmingham Cathedral, the CBSO Centre and Adrian Boult Hall as well as at other Midlands venues including Lichfield Cathedral, the Arts House, Stratford-upon-Avon, Evesham and Pershore Abbeys, Wolverhampton Grand Theatre and Malvern Priory. Recent foreign tours also include Italy and Germany.

The singers come from all walks of life and are of all ages, ranging from 20 to 70 years. Auditions for the choir are exacting and every three years every singer is re-auditioned. “I guess you would call it a stocktaking exercise,” says Paul. “We aim to keep standards as high as possible. In general people who come to us have had a lot of previous experience. For example, they can leave other choirs for a variety of reasons – the CBSO Chorus for instance has a strict age policy as part of its remit, so we might get singers coming from there who unfortunately suddenly find themselves to old but still have excellent voices.”

GREATEST CHALLENGE

The selection process is also extremely targeted. “We can have someone come to us with a perfectly good voice but they will be rejected because we already have similar voices,” said Paul. “It is very important that we have the right balance of voices.” Getting the balance of the choir right is relatively simple compared to the choir’s greatest challenge – funding.

The days of generous grants from the likes of the Arts Council are long gone thanks to Government cutbacks over the years.

“Yes, finances are a huge challenge,” Paul confirms. “When I first came here we got some grants, but all that has disappeared. We are fortunate that we have fantastic people in the choir who are good at various things like fund-raising and marketing. We have a good team and people are very generous. There are also firms out there who like to have their name associated with specific performances. Our approach has to be forward-thinking and modern. Obviously the greatest thing would be if a major business or institution came forward and sponsored the choir. That’s the dream!”

Paul adds: “Birmingham Bach Choir stands comparison with any of the choirs or choral groups in Birmingham, the wider region and the UK as a whole. The standard of our singing is fantastic and I am always immensely very proud of the choir.”

Here’s to another even more successful 100 years!

Lovely Brummie Sarah Manners of The Bill, Casualty and Doctors fame as well as Circles by Rachel De La Hay, now lives in London with her other half and their daughter. While she is relishing spending time with her little girl ‘just being a mum’ and doesn’t want to miss a thing, there are certain jobs she finds hard to turn down.

A remarkable short film documenting Birmingham legend ‘Blind Dave’ Heeley’s mammoth effort to run seven marathons across seven continents in seven days to raise funds for charity was one of those. Called 7 Days: The Story of ‘Blind Dave’ Heeley produced by another Brummie, Nigel Martin Davey at Pixel Revolution Films and directed by Ian and Dominic Higgins, the film has been gaining a lot of love from the industry picking up numerous awards at festivals in Europe and the US.

INSPIRATIONAL

Sarah plays Dave’s wife Debbie Heeley and says taking on the role was a no-brainer. She says: “I was so happy to do this. What an amazing man. He does things that most able-bodied people can’t.” Sarah got to know Dave’s family including his ‘lovely’ daughters and was staggered by his story. “Not many people know that as well as raising a huge amount of money for charity, Dave’s a genius at woodwork. He actually uses a circular saw and builds things, blind! It’s astonishing.”

The 45-minute film is a true story of grit and determination starring Jack Lane and Robert Harrison alongside Sarah and premiered in April. A screening at Dave’s beloved West Bromwich Albion – his marathon effort raised funds for the club’s Albion Foundation – was a success.

Dave says: “This doesn’t happen to people like me, I still can’t get my head around it. I feel very privileged that Nige and the team thought about covering my story. It’s still a dream, a lovely dream at that.” Sarah never expected the film to win awards, so that’s a very nice bonus.

NANNY NO-NO

While Sarah’s picky with projects and says she never wants a nanny, she would interrupt her mothering duties for another job should it be offered. Her dream gig The Archers. “It’s such an institution and would allow me to pop home and see the folks regularly!” When Sarah’s in the Midlands there’s plenty of family to catch up with. “I’m one of four children and all the rest of the family still live in the area. There’s nothing we like better than going for a lovely walk on Lickey Hills or for a meal in the local villages.”

A former Blue Coat and King Edward’s Grammar School for Girls pupil, Birmingham still has a certain pull for Sarah and she says it’s the people she loves the most about the place. “I come away thinking how nice everyone is.” In contrast she feels people get the wrong idea about London where she’s lived since 1993.

“Yes, the Tube is cramped and horrible and everyone is squeezed in, but there are pockets of London that are great and Central London is walkable which gives a different perspective.” She adds: “I’ve just done a photo-shoot in Bermondsey which was very un-London-like. Warm and friendly with everyone chatting.”

REALITY OF TV

The reality of a regular acting job, let’s say on The Bill would mean a one-and-a-half-hour trip from one end of the Tube to the other and getting home at around 7.30pm. Sarah explains: “I want my daughter to have a normal upbringing. I’m very happy to dip in and out of acting, but she’s my priority.”

Sarah puts her grounded attitude down to being a Brummie. She’s retrained as a pilates teacher which gives her flexibility to work around motherhood and which she credits with her positive outlook.

“I think being fit and taking an interest in fitness makes you a more positive and rounded person,” she explained. “That’s where the pilates comes in. Looking back, I think I would love to have been a physiotherapist actually…”

Talented Bromsgrove School pupil Anya Butler has successfully bagged herself a place to study animation at the prestigious California Institute of the Arts (CalArts) which has been a dream for years for a number of reasons, not least because of its close proximity to LA, its impressive alumni and the college’s founder Walt Disney.

Anya explains: “Alex Hirsch, the creator of my favourite kids’ TV show Gravity Falls, was the reason I discovered the school but other notable animation alumni include Tim Burton, John Lasseter (founder of Pixar), Stephen Hillenburg (creator or Spongebob Squarepants), Pendleton Ward (creator of Adventure Time) and Pete Docter (director of Monsters Inc). The list goes on!”

INTENSE PROCESS

On a Californian family holiday aged 15, Anya toured the school and was instantly blown away and two years later the application process began which was pretty intense. “I had to create an online portfolio which demonstrated a variety of skills and ideas – mostly life drawing – which came to 32 pieces. This included a demo reel of my current animations.” There was also a sketchbook to submit which Anya drew in almost every day from September to December as well as school transcripts, at least two letters of recommendation, a statement explaining her interests and aspirations and a short video introduction. Anya had no free time to speak of, but she says it was worth it.

Since announcing to the careers department in year 9 that she would like to go to CalArts, the school’s backing has been significant allowing Anya to use the art department facilities whenever she needed to, supporting her when juggling homework with portfolio preparation and hiring her to create posters for school events and artwork for the school magazine. Anya says: “Although I did the research and preparation myself, I knew that if I ever had any difficulty the school was right behind me and I had plenty of people to talk to.”

MIDNIGHT MAGIC

On hearing she had been offered a place, Anya couldn’t believe it. She remembers: “It was midnight when I found out and I woke up all my roommates because I couldn’t keep the news to myself. I felt ecstatic!” It’s a big move but one that Anya feels prepared for, in part thanks to a summer school she attended at CalArts last year. “It is a little daunting – it’s a big change from the English countryside. The overall feeling is excitement though. I’ve been dreaming to be accepted into CalArts for over five years.”

Anya takes inspiration from many places and often refers to childhood experiences including her upbringing in rural England as well as a Soviet cartoon she used to watch with her Russian mother. As well as her hero Alex Hirsch, she is also a fan of the artist behind the identity of the band Gorillaz, Jamie Hewlett. Anya says: “The blending of mediums fascinates me and I love the cartoon members of the band. They are effortlessly able to adapt to changes within the real world and therefore feel as real as you and I.”

KIDS TV SHOW

While Anya’s focus is animation and she enjoys character design and storyboarding, she doesn’t have a specialism within that field yet and is keeping her options open trying as many different genres and techniques as possible. Her future goals are clear though. Anya says: “In the long run, I’d like to create my own children’s TV show. However, on a grander scale, I hope to inspire as many young people as I can to be better people. I want my work to encourage free thinking and open mindedness. In general, I’d like to create work that has a positive impact on people and society.”

George Goodwin is a full-time professional triathlete. Having graduated from the University of Stirling with a degree in sports and exercise sciences he’s embracing the challenges of life as a pro – last year was his first – and relishes the gruelling training regime as well as competing.

With new sponsors on board in the form of Kuche and Bagno headed by keen triathlete Lisa Melvin, as well as his long-term relationship with Zoot who have supplied George’s kit since he was 15-years-old, he’s ready.

As a junior, George raced at Elite level for GB British Triathlon in world and European championships winning national champs, European duathlon championships and placing 20th at the world junior triathlon championships in 2015. He credits his parents with giving him the opportunity to try lots of different activities as a child which allowed him to find what he was good at.

PERFECT TIMING

George remembers: “I was running and cycling a lot. I joined an athletics club as well as swimming club although I found my physiology wasn’t quite up there for swimming.” Rugby junior triathlon club launched just at the right time for George 12 years ago and he’s never looked back.

School was always really supportive, “particularly Mr Price” says George. George recalls being able to leave sixth form early one day a week to train, but recognises that it would have been a different story if he wasn’t a diligent student when he was in the classroom. University was obviously more flexible and training ploughed on despite the harsh character-building climate in Stirling at times. George says: “It’s a beautiful place but there were some brutal winters! My last winter there was a particularly bad one. Looking back I’m not sure how I did it.” George enjoys the training element though. He says: “I like being outside for four or five hours a day and I like getting better and seeing improvements from hard work.”

RECORD-BREAKING

Since 2017, George has been competing in the longer 70.3 distance races as opposed to the Olympic distance you might be used to seeing the Brownlee brothers compete in. The 70.3 refers to the distance in miles covered which consists of a gruelling 1.2-mile swim, 56-mile bike ride and a 13.1-mile run and is also known as a half Ironman. It proved a good move. In his first year at this distance George won the Castle Triathlon Series breaking long held records at events in Cheshire, France and Kent.

In the same year, he also won the British middle distance championship, breaking a course record that had stood for seven years and in addition to the longer distances George also won the BUCS (British Universities and Colleges Sport) standard distance triathlon, came third at BUCS sprint triathlon and sixth at the British elite championship. At the Vitruvian triathlon at Rutland Water last autumn George dominated the race and won with a whopping 13-minute margin.

FOCUS AND FUEL

When we caught up with George he was about to launch into racing season having been training hard since November, kicking off with the 70.3 Barcelona event in mid-May. Consistency and focus are key, which George has in spades. Fuelling the body can be a challenge though. George says: “We burn so many calories per day I have to shovel the food in!”

While George finds the Brownlee brothers inspiring, he says he wouldn’t call them heroes. “I’m not sure sports people should be looked up to like that. Sport is a selfish past-time most of the time. Having said that I’m inspired by Jonathan and Alistair and they’ve definitely raised the profile of the sport. After all there aren’t many triathletes doing Aldi ads!”

In terms of ambition, George has his sight set on getting to the 70.3 world championships and in the longer term would like to podium at Ironman.

Sarah-Jane Perry is ranked number six in the world. She’s won numerous Tour titles – too many to mention here – is a former British national champion, rocked the triumphant England team that won the European Team Championships in 2017, took a silver medal at the Commonwealth Games and is on the charge for more wins this month at the ETCs held on home turf at Edgbaston Priory Club.

Throwing down between 10 and 13 training sessions per week, Sarah-Jane’s daily schedule sounds gruelling, incorporating morning sessions on court with her coach or a training group followed by a bike session, circuits or weights plus a match, followed by pilates or yoga in the evening. Meticulous about taking good care of her body, Sarah-Jane packs in plenty of physio, too.

BIG CHALLENGE

She explains: “It’s vital for me to fit in recovery work such as massage, physio and chiropractic treatment as well. I use the English Institute of Sport hub at Alexander Stadium in Perry Bar for physio at least once a week.” Surgery on a serious elbow injury in December has been one of Sarah-Jane’s biggest career challenges to date and not one she’d like to repeat.

Sarah-Jane started playing the game at the tender age of five at Four Oaks Squash Club and began competing in local tournaments aged 11, turning professional in her third year at university in 2011 beating Tania Bailey in the final of the Manor Open to take her first Tour title. A further three titles in the following 12 months took her into the world’s top 30 where she’s performed at the highest level consistently making quarter finals, semis and ultimately winning titles.

SQUASH BUG

The sport bug took hold pretty early on in life and as a child, Sarah-Jane would take part in any activity, but it was squash that really got her going. She says: “I love the diversity of squash. Every player has their own strengths and style which makes for some titanic battles both physically and tactically.”

Sarah’s had to deal with the mindset – other people’s not her own – that she didn’t fit the typical squash mould at a statuesque six foot. “When I was younger my main challenge was overcoming other people’s prejudices of what a player should be and look like, which was almost the opposite of who I am,” she said. Sarah-Jane’s performances have done the talking, not least beating one of her heroes Nicol David in the final of the Oracle NetSuite Open in San Francisco.

TRUE HERO

Of her fellow competitor, Sarah-Jane is full of praise: “Nicol David is a true hero. Not only has she won eight world titles but has been an inspirational role model throughout her career. Like me, she’s passionate about empowering women through sport and is using her platform to continue this past her retirement.” Nicol David is due to retire this month.

Sarah-Jane’s goals are single-minded: “Short term it’s to move up the rankings but ultimately I dream of becoming number one and winning the world championships. Winning gold at the Commonwealth Games in 2022 is also a huge aspiration of mine.” The prospect of competing at home in Birmingham is very exciting.

Sarah-Jane says: “We don’t have many major events in the UK so we really look forward to them when they do happen. It will be amazing to have so many familiar faces in the crowd and some noisy home supporters! Birmingham has so much to offer visitors and is also the hub of squash in the UK.”

Fourteen-year-old Lewis Bailey who performs as Athena Heart could never have dreamed that something so crushing could have turned out to be such a positive. Being banned from his school talent show at the last minute after working on his act for weeks in the lead up has actually given him a voice.

The support he’s experienced, not just from friends at school – eight people dropped out of the talent show in protest at Lewis’s ban – but from the biggest names in the drag world and some of his heroes has been life affirming.

It’s not clear why the school banned Lewis other than they felt it was ‘inappropriate for the intended audience’ although Lewis is quick to point out that it wasn’t a raunchy act, there was no bad language or sexual innuendo, just him, dressed as a woman dancing to tracks by Ariana Grande among others. Dance is Lewis’s passion which he’s been doing since he was three years old.

THIS MORNING

Since the story broke, Lewis has performed at various gay pride events as well as at venues across the country. He met the cast of Kinky Boots at the Hippodrome last month who showered him with love and support as well as the cast of Everyone’s Talking About Jamie, a tale that strikes a chord. He’s appeared on This Morning telling his story to Ruth Langsford and an emotional Rylan Clark, not for fame and fortune but because he wants other people to see that it’s okay not to conform.

Lewis remembers first encountering drag while watching Ru Paul’s Drag Race with his sister. He loved it and wanted to create the same art. His supportive mum suggested he could probably do it better. Lewis began experimenting with make-up although it took a while to perfect. He recalls: “I just had these massive black eyebrows at first!” He began posting pictures online every day of different looks.

HARD YARDS

The talent show was a chance to showcase his act and he spent weeks perfecting his performance to be told just the day before he couldn’t be part of it. As it was a non-uniform day, Lewis turned up in drag instead. The name Athena Heart came from a combination of Lewis’s love of Greek Mythology (Greek goddess Athena) and Chicago (murderous siren Roxie Hart). Juggling performing with school work is about to get harder as Lewis is in Year 10 studying for his GCSEs which will intensify from September. He’s prepared to put in the hard yards though. He explains: “I’m focused on school and if I’m tired from performing on a school night, I don’t show it.”

Opening Brighton’s Gay Pride with one of Lewis’s faves, Martha D’Arthur has been a highlight so far. He says: “It’s just a spectacular art form. I want to show kids that it’s okay to be who you are.”

LAGGING BEHIND

Although Lewis’s immediate family are hugely supportive, he’s experienced negativity from some members of his extended family as well as random people in the street. Lewis occasionally goes to the local shop as Athena just to see what the reaction is and while most people are nice, the odd one will shout insults like, ‘look at the faggot’. Lewis ignores it.

The Midlands drag scene seems to be lagging behind other regions. Lewis says: “There’s Sequin Show Stoppers, but drag is not that big in Birmingham. Hopefully that will change.” Lewis is focused on a career in drag and wants to travel the world performing. Having made a sizeable impression already and with more events lined up for the summer, we’ll be seeing much more of Athena Heart.

After competing at the Commonwealth Games last year on Australia’s Gold Coast, Mimi thought it might be time to hang up her ribbons aged just 24 which is ‘old’ in gymnastics terms. However, getting involved in the successful Birmingham 2022 bid has whet her appetite for making the team and competing on home turf.

Despite training in Brum at GMAC alongside fellow Young, Gifted and Brummie subjects, Dom Cunningham and Joe Fraser, Mimi has never competed in Birmingham. Mimi explains: “Rhythmic gymnastics is always held at the Echo Arena in Liverpool for some reason, so it would be amazing to make it to Birmingham 2022.”

Despite success in multiple disciplines beginning with gold in the Junior British Championships in 2010, it wasn’t obvious when Mimi was small that she would be shining on the rhythmic gymnastics stage – even her parents were surprised. She says she was so uncoordinated as an infant that she only crawled backwards, never forwards!

Having started going to Tumble Tots classes aged two years and loving it, Mimi began recreational gymnastics. When Beth Tweddle’s breakthrough onto the world stage began in earnest, Mimi dreamed of being like her. She recalls: “I said to my coach, ‘I want to be an Olympic gymnast,’ and she told me I’d never be good enough!” Charming.

BLOWN AWAY

Then when Mimi saw a girl performing rhythmic gymnastics at a competition she was absolutely blown away. She says: “I just thought ‘wow’ and I switched to rhythmic gymnastics straight away. I was terrible at first and my co-ordination was awful, but I worked really hard.”

Rhythmic gymnastics combines the sport element requiring incredible strength and flexibility with artistic flair. Competitors perform on the floor to music with skilful use of equipment such as ribbons, a ball, hoop or club. Mimi says her strength has always been her expression and she was talent-spotted aged just 13 and took part in a successful squad trial. She has been competing at a high level ever since.

I wonder what is it about the sport that she loves so much? Mimi explains: “I just find it mesmerising. It’s so visual and every routine is different and I love performing. I always listen to the audience in the few seconds between finishing a routine and the applause starting. If there’s absolute silence I know it went well and it’s the best feeling in the world.”

WORK ETHIC

Rhythmic gymnastics is self-funded, so before the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games Mimi was training 35 hours a week while working part time as a PE teacher. But she says: “It was completely worth it.” Even at school Mimi had a strong work ethic. When teachers offered her homework extensions because they knew she was training intensively, she refused, choosing to stay up late and get the work in on time.

Now at the ripe old age of 24 faced with potential retirement from the sport after 2022, Mimi’s pleased to have had to work. She explains: “Gymnastics is a young person’s sport, so it’s good to get some work behind me.” Mimi’s also planning to launch her own business – sport related naturally – so watch this space.

There are youngsters who have moved up from the junior squad to seniors and Mimi feels like the mummy of the group. She says: “It’s nice to be able to share my experience and guide them through.” Mimi’s doing everything she can on the health and well-being front in order to be in tip-top shape for selection for Birmingham 2022. That’s the aim. “Provided I get there, the home games in 2022 will be my last competition. I always go into a competition to make the podium, so that would be my aim.” Good luck Mimi!

When Xhosa Cole picked up a saxophone aged 12 he had no idea where it would lead. In November last year, a 16-minute set and four other talented musicians stood between Xhosa and one of the music industry’s most prestigious prizes for young people in the country.

During the final of the BBC Young Jazz Musician, Xhosa performed his own composition titled Moving Ladywood – a nod to his home town – as well as pieces by Johnny Green and John Coltrane. Backed by a jazz trio led by Gwilym Simcock, Xhosa was up against fellow finalists Reuben Goldmark (piano), Fergus McCreadie (piano), Seth Tackaberry (bass) and James Owston (bass).

CELEBRATION OF JAZZ

Keeping the nerves in check, Xhosa delivered an outstanding performance that wowed the judges at the Southbank Centre’s Queen Elizabeth Hall. Of his win, Xhosa said: “It’s been amazing to represent and have been represented at this prestigious celebration of jazz music. The calibre of musicianship and passion for jazz music has been incredibly inspiring to be a part of.”

The 22-year-old who grew up in Handsworth and now lives in Ladywood is a flautist and composer as well as saxophonist. He’s written works for the Ideas of Noise Festival and worked on Birmingham’s for-Wards project as well as releasing an improvised single with electronic duo EIF called Autumn Conversations. Having first played the tenor at Ladywood Community School of Music, founded by legendary saxophonist and flautist Andy Hamilton, Xhosa also joined a weekly jazz band and was supported by Birmingham’s Music Services which meant he could own his own saxophone. Joining as many classes and workshops he could squeeze in, Xhosa was hooked.

EMERGING TALENT

THSH’s Jazzlines summer schools provided increased opportunities for Xhosa to play. Jazzlines aims to nurture emerging talent and offer performance opportunities across the city. Xhosa explains: “It was a new thing to get students from the inner city creating jazz and playing jazz. It was in partnership with Birmingham Conservatoire and we had some amazing tutors and guests.”

He adds: “For the first three years I did the summer schools and workshops and met so many amazing and inspiring people. They were fortunate to get some more funding which meant we didn’t just have an annual get-together over the summer, but we now had a regular monthly group where we could develop our skills, work on collaborating with other young creatives and absorb as much as we could from the brilliant tutors we had.”

During the Jazzlines summer school of 2015 Xhosa was undecided between classical and jazz saxophone, but a conversation with Percy Pursglove (musician, composer, major force in the jazz world) made up his mind. He remembers: “When Percy tells you to do the jazz course, you do the jazz course – and my music and my life would probably be totally different if I’d chosen classical.”

PLAYING WITH GREATS

Thanks to the contacts at THSH the youngsters on the workshops were able to meet and play with some prestigious musicians such as the Jeff Williams Quartet and John O’Gallagher among many other greats. Xhosa explains: “When they came and did their performance we were able to have a workshop with them and we were invited to their rehearsal. Also, we had the opportunity to use the Patrick Studio at Symphony Hall and go to the Conservatoire and take part in their seminars and workshops. All of this gave us the chance to get some world class advice on ways in which we could push our music forward.”

Having benefited from the city’s Music Service and youth engagement, Xhosa is keen to encourage other young musicians. He says: “I chaperoned a summer school and that was amazing to see all the young musicians completely giving it their all – it was really inspiring. I know a lot of the parents and I see their children now are where I was, going to gigs in their school uniform. Some of those children are inspired by me, but I’m also inspired by them!”

Ranked number one tennis player in the Midlands in his age group and number four in the country, Max Walker likes winning and puts in the hard yards to get there. He trains every day, clocking up roughly 12 hours of training a week at a number of venues.

His club is Wolverhampton Lawn Tennis and Squash Club but he also trains twice a week at the Midlands Regional Development Centre in Nottingham and is part of a selected group of U14 high performance juniors who benefit from coaching at Loughborough University. His role model is 17-time Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal – so nothing less than winning will do. Like his hero, he says he ‘likes winning a lot’.

EARLY DAYS

Max has always loved his tennis but when he was aged nine he changed coaches, which seemed to be the catalyst for success. Within six months of making the change he started to excel. This year Max triumphed at the Four Nations Junior Championships with the England U12 team beating top players from Scotland, Wales and Ireland and on securing his first win for his country, he says: “I really enjoyed it. The best part was when I played a match against one of the Irish players and I knew that if I won then we would win the under-12s. It was a very close match, but it was a great feeling when I won.”

Max was also part of the Nottingham Tennis Centre team that was crowned National Premier Division U12 champions and he reached the National County Finals for Staffordshire. Competing most weekends in the LTA’s regional and national tour events, Max also travels to play in mainland Europe giving him experience of competing against top juniors from across the continent. There’s a good group of friends on the tour who Max has become close to. In fact his schedule means he spends more time with tennis pals than school friends.

TENNIS VS SCHOOL

A stint at Wimbledon in 2017 with his team mates, in which they were tasked with showcasing the talents of the next generation of British tennis players, whet Max’s appetite and made him want to be there for real competing at the highest level. The commitment physically and mentally (and financially adds Max’s mum!) is immense and teamed with rigorous schooling at King Edward’s School it’s a bit of a juggle, but one that works.

The school is thoroughly supportive, so Max is able to leave early on certain days and gets extra time to do homework if needed. He regularly plays for the school tennis team often competing against older players. Simon Tinley who is the school’s head of tennis said: “Not only is Max a very talented tennis player but he has a good temperament. I think he should definitely be aiming for Junior Wimbledon.”

One of Max’s more immediate goals is winning the national championship of which he says confidently: “That would be great. I’m perfectly capable.” Rafa Nadal is Max’s ultimate tennis idol whose immense success he’d like to emulate. He says of Nadal: “He has a good work ethic and always gives 100 per cent energy.” Clearly Max is talented and we’ve no doubt if work ethic and attitude mean anything in tennis, he is perfectly equipped to follow in his hero’s footsteps. Watch this space!

So, remember your teachers? Did they go to Boy George’s birthday bash or jet off to Helsinki for a gig alongside the world’s greatest DJ at the weekend? Or perhaps they topped the UK Club charts for three weeks in the summer holidays? Thought not. Paul Morrell, who lectures in media studies part time at Birmingham Metropolitan College in Great Barr has done all three and then some and is gaining quite a reputation on the music scene. So much so, he now has representation on both sides of the Atlantic and his main club mix of American songstress, Kelly Clarkson’s track Heat is about to be released on Warner Music.

With nearly 50,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, Paul has an impressive catalogue of official remixes and original productions which include Mutya Buena, Kimberly Wyatt and Boy George among other big names. He’s set to release a new original single, Up In Flames featuring the vocals of Amanda Wilson who achieved success with the Freemasons as well as providing vocals for Avici’s debut single, Seek Bromance.

VIDEO IN BRUM

Paul describes Up In Flames as ‘an anthemic big room house record with a catchy vocal’. The release includes remixes from Dollrockers & Gamechasers as well as a video shot in Brum which is directed and produced by two of Paul’s talented students, Taylor Bould and Jacob Furnell.

DJ-ing since he was 15 and alongside Judge Jules aged just 17 (brilliant but ‘intimidating’), Paul has always wanted a serious career in music although his parents had other ideas. He says: “They were keen for me to get a ‘proper job’ and I went to university and trained to be a teacher. I guess it’s an example of do what you love and you’ll get there.” At one point Paul was teaching full time and DJ-ing all weekend, sleeping through Sunday and repeating the process of which he says: “It really wasn’t sustainable!”

When DJ-ing alongside Sonique, she asked him to remix her 2000 hit Feels So Good which he did. She also invited him to Boy George’s birthday bash which proved to be hugely enjoyable and frankly career progressingly useful. Teaching until four o’clock on the day of the party, Paul drove down to London and arrived with people like Pete Burns, Spandau Ballet and the late Steve Strange which all sounds a bit surreal. He was up at the crack of dawn the morning after to drive back to the day job having met his now manager on this side of the pond, Natalie who also introduced him to her father who manages the likes of Will Smith on the other side of the pond. Paul’s now represented by both and his career’s flying.

WORLD’S BEST

As well as being the main room resident DJ at London’s biggest gay super club XXL – Paul has mixed two compilation albums for them – he played at the prestigious Matinee Circuit festival in Barcelona, as well as supporting the world’s number one DJs Martin Garrix, Tiesto and Armin Van Buuren to a crowd of 30,000 at the Weekend Festival in Helsinki.

Paul also holds residencies at XXL Birmingham, the Gallery at Ministry of Sound and is a regular on the main stage at Birmingham Pride where he has performed for five years supporting artists such as Dua Lipa, Rudimental and Katy B. Of Birmingham Paul reckons the club scene has declined in recent years with the loss of God’s Kitchen and Gatecrasher among others. He says: “There are pockets of vibrance like the Rainbow Warehouse which does some great stuff, but the city has suffered a bit.”

Increasingly sought after as a producer as well as a DJ, Paul’s remix of Motorcycle As The Rush Comes reached number one in the UK Club Charts staying on the top spot for three weeks in the summer. A handful of exciting projects are due to be released shortly such as an official remix of Bloom for Australian superstar Troye Sivan as well as a remix of Sweet But Psycho for up and coming American vocalist Ava Max who also features on David Guetta’s new single.

There’s nothing like being engulfed by the joyful wall of sound from a top gospel choir to lift the spirits. This year, Birmingham’s own Town Hall Gospel Choir celebrates its tenth birthday, and inspiring director Colin Anderson has been at the helm since its inception in 2008. He’s steered the group of talented voices through the BBC Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year competition triumphantly.

It all started with the reopening of Town Hall in 2007 after its £35million renovation which culminated in a week of celebrations including a big concert featuring the likes of Ruby Turner, Soweto Kinch and Town Hall Associate Artists Black Voices. A choir of 90 singers was recruited from the city’s gospel communities to participate in the celebrations to perform a reimagined soulful gospel version of Handel’s Messiah.

DATE WITH BBC

The choir was initially auditioned and trained by Town Hall Associates Black Voices director, Ken Burton. Colin was one of those 90 voices and he remembers: “It was a great extravaganza. We redid it in 2008 which was recorded for BBC Radio 3.” The choir was such a success that it was felt it absolutely deserved to be continued. A recruitment drive for a permanent gospel choir at the Town Hall attracted an amazing level of interest. Colin was installed as choir director and it’s been going strong ever since originally rehearsing at the old Conservatoire. He says: “I was blessed. I sang as part of the original choir, applied for the position and got it.”

The choir is essentially a non-professional community choir who describe themselves as a ‘family of individuals from all walks of life who have come together in one accord, and with one unifying passion. Singing.’ The community element is lovely but make no mistake, the audition process and subsequent rehearsals aren’t easy. Colin likes each auditionee to sit in on a couple of sessions, so they can see just what’s required. With over two hours of rehearsing on a Tuesday and three hours on a Sunday, it’s quite a commitment.

CHOIR OF THE YEAR

Colin lives in London, but spends two or three days in Birmingham every week. He says: “The breadth of musicianship and standard is really high. We don’t actually sing a lot of standard gospel. What I love doing is taking what gospel groups do and turning into choir.”

Entering the first ever BBC Songs of Praise Gospel Choir of the Year in 2013 was exhilarating and the group really had no idea how they would fair. Hosted by David Grant, the competition was broadcast from Town Hall which made being involved and ultimately winning, even sweeter. In the final the 30-strong choir beat five church and community choirs from across the UK to take the title.

Colin’s background is classical choral but for the last 20 years he has focused on gospel style and technique. He says: “I love the energy and the gospel message. It’s uplifting.” He’s keen to point out that despite gospel’s roots, singers of any faith are welcome to audition. The choir takes traditional hymns and gives them a gospel twist. Versatility is one of the group’s strengths and they’re as happy performing acapella as with a big band or full orchestra.

OLYMPIC SPIRIT

The choir has performed overseas as far afield as France and Portugal. Closer to home some of their stand-out projects include Equinox: Cultures in Harmony, a celebration of the Olympic spirit of achievement, endeavour and friendship which was performed alongside 400 choral and percussion performers reflecting the cultural diversity of Birmingham. In celebration of the 50th anniversary of Jamaican Independence, the singers joined Jazz Jamaica All Stars, Urban Soul Orchestra and lead vocalist of Aswad, Brinsley Forde, to perform an orchestral interpretation of Bob Marley and The Wailers’ iconic album Catch a Fire. And when Grand Central opened, the choir was asked to join Ruby Turner for a performance in the vast space to celebrate its launch. Christmas is a busy time and Colin and the choir are working towards many performances over the festive period – too many to mention here – but if you get a chance to listen to them live, you’ll be all the more uplifted for it.

The Wolverhampton-born (yes we know not strictly a Brummie, but we’ve let it slide…) musician is thrilled to have been given a Tuesday night slot on BBC WM. The show, which is called the Midlands Source, features music, arts and culture with Vital chatting to a mixed bag of guests from jewellers and tree surgeons to rappers and musicians with the common theme of celebrating the region.

He explains: “I chill with three or four guests. There’s great conversation and I delve into their lives touching on topics such as life, culture, family and always music.” Vital loves the idea of radio. He says: “It’s so different to TV. When you’re listening to radio, you’re locked in and you’re part of the conversation. I hope people feel that about the show.”

HUSTLER

Vital first picked up a mic aged 14 and started burning CDs to sell for £1. He recalls: “That was my little hustle!” He became the ‘king of myspace’ trying different techniques and watched his following grow. By 18 he was taking his music more seriously and on graduating from university he was interviewed on Midlands Today and has performed on BBC 1Xtra.

Many musicians we’ve interviewed in these pages grapple with the dilemma of moving to London which remains undoubtedly the centre of the UK music scene or staying in the Midlands. A fair number of artists we’ve chatted to stay here and do perfectly well – Lady Sanity being a prime example. Vital explains: “I fight with that every day but I couldn’t make that move. It’s too far from my family and would feel a bit empty. So empty that I don’t think I’d be able to make music.”

SUPPORT

Vital’s close to his mum who he speaks to ‘all the time’. In fact, along with Kevin Hart and Will Smith she’s one of his heroes. While financial support hasn’t been an option, Vital’s mum has always had his back. Not that the family was on the breadline, he’s keen to point out, but like many families across the country there were choices to be made when he was growing up. He explains: “Mum would say to me, ‘I have £100. I can either throw you a party or you can have a toy’ and she would let me decide.”

Funding a career in music is difficult without backing, which Vital recognises and one of his ambitions is to live comfortably enough to be able to help youngsters through that period of getting started. He says: “Young people need help. I’d love to be in a position to say to someone, ‘here’s some space to do your thing’ or ‘here’s some money to invest’.”

PRAISED

Since launching in September, Vital’s new BBC show has received a lot of praise, so much so that Wolverhampton South East MP Pat McFadden sent a hand-written letter congratulating him. Vital says: “Having my own show is one of the greatest feelings, especially that it is on the BBC. I want everyone from Birmingham, Wolverhampton and the Black Country to see the show as a place to showcase and celebrate who they and we are.”

When Lewis Howard went to the theatre to see War Horse as a teenager 10 years ago he says he was “blown away” by the sheer majesty, drama and emotion of it all. Little could he have imagined that one day he would become part of the award-winning story of horses living and dying on the front line with the British cavalry in the First World War.

The former student of the University of Birmingham plays the role of the Heart of Joey, a horse from Devon who was sold to the cavalry and shipped to France. Along with Tom Quinn, originally from Redditch, and a third actor, Lewis brings Joey – one of the awesome ground-breaking puppets that snort, gallop and charge – to life on stage in the National Theatre’s hit production which is touring the UK.

EXCITED AND HUMBLED

Lewis, who graduated from Birmingham’s School of Acting, part of UCB in 2012 with a BA honours degree, said: “It’s my first job for the National Theatre so I am very excited and humbled to be part of this production which coincides with the centenary commemorations of the end of the First World War.”

Since leaving university, Birmingham-born Lewis has performed as Callum in Swivelhead at Pleasance Courtyard during last year’s Edinburgh Festival Fringe and has featured as Jesse alongside Adeel Akhtar in the 2016 film The Big Return of Ray Lamere, as well as playing roles in various Shakespeare productions.

Anyone who has seen War Horse will know just how amazing the full-size horse puppets look on stage. Their actions are so life-like that it is easy to forget that they aren’t real flesh and blood. The movements which bring so much drama and emotion to audiences are down to the incredible skills of Lewis and his fellow puppeteers. Indeed, describing Lewis as a puppeteer considerably underplays his role because while largely masked by the horse’s frame, he is still acting in the truest sense of the word.

ARDUOUS AUDITIONS

Lewis recalls the arduous audition process which he had to go through to land the part. “My manager put me forward to the National and initially I, along with many other actors, were assessed on our physicality to do the job with a three-hour crash course on puppetry. I then had to go through two more workshop auditions, each last three or four hours. These were to judge our acting ability.”

A final call-back assessed Lewis’s ability to work with and get on with others as part of a team. “It’s vital to be able to work as a unit when there are three of you in the horse,” Lewis explained. “You have to really get along and know each other’s moves and ways because the three of us cannot talk to each other as we are performing. We have to be three actors working as one in complete unison”

For any theatre virgins out there, don’t think for one minute that acting is reduced to a minor role in playing Joey. It is the actors who make Joey live and breathe and feel. “When you first start rehearsing, you have to think about and practice just making the horse walk,” explained Lewis. “It’s 90 per cent trying to make the puppet work and 10 per cent acting. Eventually it becomes the other way round and it is all about the acting and conveying the character and feelings of Joey. The mechanical part of moving the puppet becomes natural, just second nature.”

CREATIVE FAMILY

Lewis comes from a creative family – his father is an artist and printmaker, while his mother works at incorporating art for wellbeing organisations. Speaking of his time at Birmingham University, Lewis said: “I had a brilliant three years at Birmingham School of Acting, honing skills on how to better my performances but also, and more crucially, how to work with many different people and enjoy teamwork – something vital on a show like War Horse.”

And for Lewis there is nothing greater than the feedback he gets as an actor from his audiences. “War Horse is an amazing play and the moment when the last act is over and the curtain goes down and when you hear and feel the adulation of the audience… it’s just so moving and so amazing. There is nothing to compare to it.”

Actor John Marquez wasn’t getting too excited when he got a part playing a bungling policeman in a new TV comedy-drama set in a quiet Cornish fishing village. His expectations weren’t much more than appearing in one or maybe two episodes. More than a decade and eight series later ITV’s hit show Doc Martin is still going strong – as is John’s character, PC Joe Penhale. In fact, the comical copper has become a viewers’ favourite over the years as a central character alongside Dr Martin Ellingham, played by Martin Clunes.

THE MESSIAH

“The show has been wonderful to be a part of,” said Coventry-born John. “Although I’ve been in it a long time, it’s always fresh and exciting to film. And the great thing is that because we film it in blocks every two years, it leaves me plenty of time to do other things and play other roles whether in TV or theatre.” Doc Martin filming takes place from mid-March until the end of August in Port Issac which becomes the fictional village of Portwenn for TV. With the next block of filming due in 2019, John has had plenty of time to ‘stretch’ his acting skills in other directions – like this month, for instance, when he stars alongside Hugh Dennis and Lesley Garret in a new comedy of biblical proportions, The Messiah, at Birmingham Rep.

Billed as “the funniest and most magical nativity you’ll ever see”, The Messiah is written by Patrick Barlow, who also wrote the Olivier Award-winning West End hit, The 39 Steps. Fittingly for a Midlands’ lad whose mum originally comes from Birmingham, The Messiah is set in Birmingham and centres on a travelling theatre troupe of two actors and an opera singer who arrive in the city on camels to enact ‘the greatest story ever told’. Audiences should expect the sublime, the ridiculous and the truly angelic, says John.

QUIRKY HUMOUR

“I was very fortunate to get the part,” adds John. “I got to know Patrick Barlow over the years and got a phone call. I remember going to see the original Messiah with Jim Broadbent in it. I guess you could say my humour is a bit more quirky than you normally see on TV, which is why I am looking forward so much to The Messiah.” John has been in rehearsals for the show – which premieres in Birmingham before going on tour across the UK – since early September.

Returning to the Midlands will be a special moment for John, who went to Bablake School, Coventry before leaving the city as an 18-year-old and following his older brother Martin, also an actor, to London. “I’m very lucky with being in Doc Martin – being in it doesn’t stop me going out an about as normal, going to the shops. I often think if you are in one of the big soaps it’s much more difficult because you are much more recognizable and some people can get a bit funny with you. Anyone who does know me, likes me because they like Doc Martin.”

BROTHERLY LOVE

While John is best known as PC Penhale, his career has been incredibly varied. On TV he has appeared with Ronnie Barker in Porridge, in Death in Paradise and In The Club. On stage he has performed at the National Theatre and in many West End shows as well as his ‘home’ theatres, Coventry Belgrade, Birmingham Rep and the Royal Shakespeare Company. Of his remaining ambitions he says: “I’ve done lots of good stuff in the theatre, but I would like to do a play with my brother who encouraged me to become an actor like him. That would make me very happy. I also want to do something with Harry Enfield and he has been talking about something he’s planning which would be great.”   Boxout:

At a small local festival in June when our expectations of great music were less than Pyramid Stage proportions, we were stunned by Arcadia Roots who blew our Birkenstocks off. A band influenced by an eclectic mix of people and genres, they describe their unique sound as psychedelic reggae among other things.

The band is flying high having been selected by Glastonbury judges to support Bastille at the festival’s Pilton Party last year and rocking the BBC Introducing Stage at Lakefest 2017. They have another set at Lakefest 2018 this month where they’ll perform on the main stage with bands like The Darkness. They’ll also be at the One Love Festival which is one of the UK’s major reggae and dub festivals.

INTRODUCTIONS

Dave Small is on lead vocals and percussion. And when we say percussion and lead vocals, he’s not a man for sitting behind a drum kit while crooning. He’s up on his feet centre stage surrounded by a selection of drums that look straight out of Africa with incredible energy. The band’s energy is their thing actually. It’s the thing that stops you in your tracks and makes you end your conversation and take notice.

With Dave are Josh Terry and Tate Taylor on bass, Dan Gauden on electric guitar while Tom Callinswood plays guitar, cigar box and djembe – a West African drum. Dave had previously played with all of the band members in some form before they came together to form Arcadia Roots. Some of the band went to the same school but didn’t really know one another until music brought them together. It was while jamming with other musicians at the Cock and Magpie in Bewdley they met Dan whose style of playing is heavily influenced by U2’s The Edge.

GOT TO GROOVE

The band’s sound and style has been created by blending many genres including world, blues, soul, reggae, trance, rock and dance music. Some of the boy’s favourite bands and influences include Led Zeppelin, Jimi Hendrix, U2, Tinariwen (African desert rock) and Fleetwood Mac among others.

Vocalists they look up to are Otis Redding, Bob Marley, Paul Rodgers and Robert Plant. You can hear the African influence heavily – not surprising since Dave travels across the west coast of Africa playing a variety of percussion instruments and singing with local people. He says: “It’s had a major impact on my writing. It’s got to groove! The rhythmic backbone is very important.”

The next step would be part of a major tour with any of their musical heroes, but ultimately in terms of dream gigs, a huge crowd of fans singing their own songs back at them would be brilliant whether that’s at a festival or a packed stadium. A slot on Later with Jools Holland would please the band too and we can definitely see that happening.

LOCAL SCENE

The band’s ambitions are to see as much of the world as possible while making a living doing what they love i.e. writing, playing music and making audiences happy with their unique sound. Of the Midlands music scene, the band feel you have to keep it real to crack it.

They say they are proud to come from such a rich and successful heritage of musical artists from all over the West Midlands. “We seem to be a very ‘working-class’ music scene. Midlanders don’t tolerate pretentious musicians the way some other areas seem to,” says Dave. “You have to ‘keep it real’. There are gigs everywhere across the region and that can only be a good thing.”

It’s more than 20 years since the release of Ocean Colour Scene’s second album and the one that set the Brummie band up for stardom, Moseley Shoals. The glorious Riverboat Song was snapped up by one of the band’s early champions, Chris Evans, for hit show TFI Friday at a time when it was winning in the ratings stakes. With its unmistakable riff, the track made a massive impact – a perfect storm if you like.

The band went on to produce nine albums – three of which went top five – and had a run of nine successive top 20 hit singles. They supported Oasis at Knebworth, played the Royal Albert Hall and completed the biggest arena tour of any band to date. They’ve enjoyed a phenomenal career, toured the world and are still happiest when playing live.

THREE BLIND MICE

Back in the day, and like millions of kids across the land, Simon started strumming Three Blind Mice aged nine during a childhood in Brum which he describes as ‘extremely happy’. Clearly he progressed from nursery rhymes and some years later was in a band with bass player Damon. Oscar then joined the duo followed by one of his drinking buddies Steve and Ocean Colour Scene was complete.

The band could be found in the Barrel Organ or Northern Sweat at Birmingham Institute. In terms of influences they were an eclectic mix. Simon remembers: “When I was a kid it was all hard rock – Sabbath and the like – which I never got into. Then punk and new romanticism happened and that wasn’t my thing either. I grew up listening to the Beatles, Simon and Garfunkel, The Kinks, Bob Dylan.” He adds: “That teamed with Steve’s sixties Jam and Weller influences came together in our sound I suppose.”

It wasn’t exactly an overnight success though. The first album flopped spectacularly in 1992 followed by years of hard graft before the triumphant breakthrough in 1996. Simon recalls: “We were holed up in a studio in King’s Heath writing loads of songs. Chris Craddock – Steve’s father – pretty much bankrolled Shoals. We lived off beans on toast.”

WELLER AND OASIS

Simon was a journalist for a spell at the Birmingham Mail and Post among other local titles, however it wasn’t the dream. He says: “I didn’t like being told off by balding middle-aged men who were better at their job than me.” Music was always the goal.

Meeting Paul Weller and supporting him on his 1993 tour boosted the band and gave them the confidence they needed. Then when Noel Gallagher heard a demo tape that was doing the rounds and invited the band to tour with Oasis things really took off and they signed to MCA records. Supporting Oasis at Knebworth still remains a massive highlight as was knocking the Gallagher brothers off the UK album chart number one spot in 1997 with Moseley Shoals’ follow up, Marchin’ Already. Playing the NEC for the first time to a home crowd was special too.

HARD GRAFT

Over two decades is a lifetime in the music industry and I wonder what the secret of the band’s success is? “I think it’s because we grafted and we didn’t have overnight success. I wouldn’t have had it any other way.” Not that he’s knocking programmes such as the X Factor that offer instant success – depending on what your definition of success is. He explains: “I hate knocking other people’s fun. That kind of show is an entertainment programme aimed at children. One of the criticisms they get is that the acts are too groomed. Well what was Motown? They were manufactured, they had stylists and had fantastic songs written for them. It’s not so different.”

Playing live is where the band is happiest and their schedule of gigs is pretty full, however there’s enough downtime for Simon to enjoy the quiet life walking his beloved daschund by the river in Stratford-upon-Avon. He says: “I’m 53! I’m glad we did what we did 30 years ago. I wouldn’t want to be doing it now.” So, what’s next? “There’s more touring on the horizon and we need to start recording and make an album.” He adds: “Mind you I’m such a luddite in the studio! Steve’s great at that stuff and has a studio at his house in Devon.”

DAY AT THE RACES

Next month’s concert at Wolverhampton Racecourse will focus on singles. Simon says: “I’m amazed at how many singles we wrote!” The trend for gigging at racecourses is on the rise and having seen James at Worcester racecourse I can see it makes total sense. From a band’s perspective it’s pretty awesome too. Simon adds: “The facilities are the best! Basically, your dressing room is the hospitality suite, which is nice.”

At the time of writing, Abigail Connolly is the only certified female sommelier in Birmingham which is shocking given the city’s vibrant food and wine scene and its clutch of Michelin stars. Having vowed never to go into the family firm – the 100-year-old Birmingham institution Connolly’s Wine – that number was nearly nought.

In an industry filled with men in moleskin trousers and bright socks, Abigail’s star is shining bright, but how did she get there? Abigail tells us: “It’s a weird one! I always said I would never go into the family business and went to UCB to study for a Culinary Arts degree. Six months in, I realised it wasn’t for me.”

Abigail loved the service side of the industry, so she started working in restaurants, generally high end such as a particularly successful stint at Carter’s of Moseley where tasting menus with wine pairings are the thing. It whet her appetite for the drinks side of the business and Abigail trained hard to become a sommelier.

EARLY DAYS

She qualified as a certified sommelier last year which ordinarily takes three years to accomplish, but with her background in wine she did it in 18 months, culminating in an intense three-part exam. Now firmly in the family fold, she’s happy she ‘gave in’. She says: “It’s great actually! I love it.”

The opening of bar Arch13 attached to Connolly’s Wine shop is keeping Abigail on her toes. She says: “Arch13 is my baby. It’s what I do. It’s early days but it’s been really busy so far. It’s a far cry from my grandad’s business with just a barrel of white and a barrel of red!” Serving charcuterie from the top drawer along with an impressive selection of cheeses and naturally a huge variety of wine, we reckon her grandad would be gobsmacked.

It’s a tough industry with unsociable hours, but one that Abigail thrives on. “I’m used to hospitality. The weekends can be crazy, but I just love talking to people and recommending something that makes their eyes light up,” she explained.

MAN’S WORLD

Of the lack of females at the top of the wine game in the Midlands, Abigail’s a bit confused too although admits that at industry events there is a distinct lack of women, perhaps a good thwack of snobbery and plenty of the afore-mentioned moleskin trousers. She explains: “It’s still a man’s world. You get a lot of old fellas wearing red trousers and I can understand why it seems a bit stuffy.

“When I did my exam there were only three women in a room of 30 people.” Women’s palates are just as good as men’s – some would say superior — so it seems crackers. Abigail also says there are times when people have looked through her in search of the male sommelier to recommend a bottle of wine or asked if her dad’s around to give them some advice! She says: “Thankfully it’s happening less and less and things are getting better.”

WHAT’S NEXT

In terms of ambition, Abigail is focusing on making Arch13 the best it can be and collaborating with her family visiting vineyards to source new wines to bring to the city. They’re looking to update the shop too which Abigail will be heavily involved in.

“I’d also like to see Birmingham and the West Midlands having an increasingly strong wine representation. It’s definitely improving and events like Birmingham Wine Weekend help, but we’ve some way to go yet.”

Young choreographer George Williamson will see his ballet Embrace world premiered in London this month followed by Birmingham on 20 June. Embrace has been created almost entirely in Birmingham with George becoming a regular at the Birmingham Royal Ballet studios working collaboratively with dancers since January, as well as spending time in New York with commissioned composer, Sarah Kirkland-Snider.

A very personal piece, Embrace explores the idea of sexuality and identity and how they can conflict with societal expectations. George explains: “I knew the sort of story I wanted to tell and researched several angles before developing the narrative as it is today, a story arc that I hope makes the movement itself more immediate and impactful. This is a very personal ballet for me, one I feel deeply connected to, and I hope that comes across.”

MAGICAL LANGUAGE

Dance has been part of George’s life for as long as he can remember and having pushed his parents to take him to classes he immediately fell in love with it spending many evenings, weekends and holidays in the studio and at competitions. As a child George was always active and sporty, but it was dance that made him feel most himself. He says: “It let me be creative and impulsive. I love the freedom it can bring, as well as the impact it can have on all sorts of audiences. It’s like a magical language.”

Aged just 13, George applied to ballet school without telling his parents and won a place at Elmhurst Ballet School in Edgbaston. “It was a bit of a shock when I won a place but my parents let me make the move to Birmingham where I began my training, before moving down to London to attend English National Ballet School.” While at ballet school George realised that he didn’t actually want to be a professional ballet dancer and, instead, found his true passion in choreography. He recalls: “I was always keen on creating dances, making things up and trying things out. That said, it wasn’t until English National Ballet School that I had the opportunity to begin choreographing.”

There were several competitions open to students and George jumped at every chance. He won the Choreographic Competition for three consecutive years along with the CTRL-ALT-SHIFT Award. George’s ballets included Round the Corner in 2009 which was presented at the Peacock Theatre and the City of London Festival as well as Ana-Chro-Po for the English National Ballet School’s summer performance.

PIVOTAL MOMENT

After just a year out of school as a professional dancer with the Polish National Ballet and having choreographed Animus for the company, George was given an incredible opportunity by Wayne Ealing, then artistic director at English National Ballet, to create his first professional commission, to rework Firebird at the Colosseum in London which was well received and proved a pivotal moment.

While awards and accolades are not the be all and end all for George, they are encouraging. He says: “It’s always encouraging to have pieces recognised in a positive way. Especially when you are relatively new, it can feel daunting to try and forge a career as a choreographer. The opportunities can be scarce and it can be a bit of a lonely journey in comparison to working as a dancer for a company.”

For now, all the focus is on Embrace, but George is excited and ambitious about the future. “I would love to have a big enough body of work behind me to be able to choose the opportunities I take, and the types of work I can devote myself to developing. I want to work with companies and other artist who are uncompromising in their passion for committing to their own unique style, breaking boundaries and attracting new audiences to their work.”

Winning a WhatsOnStage Award voted for by the public for your West End debut would be dreamy for any young actor or actress, but for the Midlands own Lucie Shorthouse it was just the icing on the cake. Critically acclaimed Everybody’s Talking About Jamie was Lucie’s biggest job to date having most notably filmed a cameo in Clean Break, appeared in Doctors and played a victim in In The Line of Duty as well as featuring in The Sound of Music Live.

She relished her first musical theatre role playing Jamie’s supportive best friend Pritti Pasha and embraced the West End musical with gusto finding the experience ‘everything she imagined it could be’ with a ‘dream cast’ to boot. With five Olivier Award nominations under its belt, there’s now talk of the production going Stateside and if she was asked to cross the pond with it Lucie would jump at it.

DRAG QUEEN AT 16

Directed by Jonathan Butterell, the play was inspired by the 2011 BBC Three documentary Jamie: Drag Queen at 16 and was written by Tom MacRae with music by Dan Gillespie Sells. It’s inspired by the true story of Jamie Campbell, played by John McCrea, who grew up on a Sheffield council estate struggling to fit in, feel accepted and ultimately be himself. Lucie explains: “It’s just about people celebrating their own truth with all the trials and tribulations that go with that. Diversity, authenticity, sitting in your own truth, that’s liberating and it’s joyful.”

Among the wealth of rave reviews, the Independent describes it as ‘a joyous punch in the air about following your dreams and being yourself’. The workshop for the show was the first professional job Lucie had with no guarantee she’d actually be cast, but she remembers thinking even then it was something special and a story that needed to be told.

With Muslim characters vastly under-represented on stage, Lucie was thrilled to be bucking that trend and felt a responsibility to do it right. She explains: “Pritti is not the token Muslim girl in a hijab. She’s a rich, rounded character that’s integral to the story who is not defined by being a Muslim. And I love how open-minded she is.” She adds: “It’s a responsibility to be playing a character you don’t see that often and I know there’ll be young audience members who are seeing themselves represented on stage for perhaps the first time.”

VICTORY FOR DIVERSITY

When Lucie won the WhatsOnStage Award for best supporting actress she saw it almost as a victory for diversity. “It was a public vote so I didn’t think I had a chance. It suggests the public wants to see more of this sort of character.” Not that Lucie gives much time to dreaming of winning awards. “That’s not why I do it,” she says emphatically.

She’d also rather not be famous although we suspect it might be too late for that such has been the popularity of Everybody’s Talking About Jamie. Having said that, Lucie says nobody recognises her without her character’s hijab, so she can fly under the radar a bit.

As a shy child who danced a bit, although apparently with ‘bad feet’, Lucie grew up in Tamworth where the ‘only other brown people she saw were her own family’ who moved from Kenya and settled in the Midlands. “I’m really proud to be from the Midlands and I come home as often as I can. There’s so much space and the theatre scene in Birmingham is rich and exciting. I’ve lost my Brummie accent though except when I’m angry or drunk! It comes out then.”

Lucie got into drama at school and then university. She studied English and Drama at Cambridge and says modestly: “I was quite academic.” Having thought university would get the drama bug out of her system, Cambridge Footlights only served to fuel the love and after graduation Lucie enrolled at Italia Conti in London where she studied for two years.

SPICY MARIA VON TRAPP

She trained in drama not musical theatre at Italia Conti and didn’t see her career going down that path particularly, not that she’d turn it down in the future, but Lucie would love to do more TV work too. She says: “TV is so exciting at the moment and the quality is so high. It’s a lot more technical. You don’t necessarily film things in order. I’m still learning to master that.”

Lucie’s focus is making exciting work like playing a ‘spicy brown Maria von Trapp’ – a reference to her role in Sound of Music Live. Top of the wish list for the future would be working with Charlie Brooker. “He’s a genius – Black Mirror is so clever,” she says.

There are ‘down-times’ as an actress and Lucie is philosophical about that. “I got very down about it in the past, but it’s important not to put all your self-worth into your job, there is more than that.”

Lucie’s energy, warmth and obvious talent have got us excited about what’s next. For what it’s worth, we predict more great work followed by the very things she doesn’t desire a great deal – awards and fame – sorry Lucie!

Year 11 pupil Asmita Chaudhari is the badminton U19 English mixed doubles champion and a bronze medallist in the women’s doubles at the English National Championships. Competing well above her age group, Asmita relishes the challenge.

Exam pressure – she’ll be taking her GCSEs in the summer – doesn’t faze her either. With the support of her teachers at Edgbaston High School for Girls, studying and badminton manage to rub along together very successfully.

There’s another kind of pressure too. Asmita’s parents relocated the family to Birmingham from Newcastle in 2014 purely so that she could progress in the game. Being in the Midlands makes training and competing much easier because as well as being put through her paces locally, Asmita trains three times a week in Milton Keynes which would be a mammoth trek from the North East. It’s an extraordinary display of commitment and there can be no doubt she has the unquestionable support of her parents.

IN THE FAMILY

Asmita’s brother played badminton from the age of six and five years later was competing nationally, so she had that experience to draw on. Asmita says: “I used to travel with him and watch, then I started playing aged eight.” Asmita’s mother says she could see that there was something special about her daughter from a very early age in terms of being able to think under pressure and the fact that she instinctively knew what to do which set her apart from many other excellent players.

She played her first tournament aged nine and won a few matches, then triumphed in a county match and started playing with Badminton England U11. At this stage Asmita says she was still playing for fun really, but once she got to U13 level and started to win easily it got a became more serious. She progressed to a higher age group, won the county championships in Northumberland and now plays regularly at U19 and is part of the junior England programme, competing and winning in categories well above her age group.

SENIOR SUCCESS

Doubles is Asmita’s speciality playing with Annie Lado in the women’s game and William Jones in the mixed event. Asmita explains that domestically you choose your own partner and internationally you’re paired up. She’s settled with her partners and is riding high often beating much older and experienced players triumphing over some of the world’s top pairings on the senior stage.

Asmita’s hero is Thailand’s Intanon Ratchanok who is known for her relaxed hitting motion and balletic movement. She was the first Thai woman to become number one in the world. Asmita would like to emulate her hero’s success which she’s well on the way to doing – all while studying for those all-important exams. Good luck Asmita!

SUPER SHUTTLER 

Here are just some of Asmita’s achievements so far:

2017 U19 Wimbledon Badminton Tournament – women’s doubles semi-finalist, mixed doubles winner.

2017 U17 European Championships in Prague – team event bronze medal with England, individual quarter finalist, women’s doubles 2nd round.

2016 U15 Eight Nations competition in Switzerland – U15 women’s doubles winner, mixed doubles semi-finalist

2016 Danish Junior Cup – U17 girls’ singles quarter-finalist, women’s doubles semi-finalist (bronze)

2016 Badminton England, Milton Keynes – U17 women’s doubles winner, singles and mixed doubles silver

Galal Yafai is in Australia’s Gold Coast preparing for the Commonwealth Games having flown out at the end of last month with his 11 Team England boxing comrades for an intense 10-day training camp. We caught up with him before his trip and found an ambitious talent, hungry for success following in the footsteps of his older boxing brothers, Khalid and Gamal.

Not always committed to the sport, Galal stopped for a while in his teens to focus on football and only came back to the sport aged 18 after a few years off. Within four years back training at Birmingham City he was placed firmly in the GB squad and earned a surprise place at the Rio Olympics by defeating Samuel Carmona Heredia of Spain in the semi-final of the 2016 European Boxing Olympic Qualification Tournament.

WORLD STAGE

Bursting onto the world stage felt pretty special. He says: “It was an amazing feeling really and totally unexpected.” The former Jaguar Land Rover employee was gaining a reputation as the one to watch. Galal is part of the British Lionheart’s crop of talented young boxers, but had tough competition for his place on the team. He held off the unbeaten Harvey Horn to take the light flyweight spot and has been an impressive part of the group ever since.

His World Series Boxing (WSB) debut in London resulted in a win against Mexican Guerreros Joselito Velazquez followed by a spectacular semi-final performance against Astana Arlans Kazakhstan’s Yerzhan Zhomart that cemented his place. The Lionheart’s recently triumphed against Italia Thunder at the Echo Arena in Liverpool, winning all five bouts with Galal beating Frederico Serra emphatically.

With older brothers also involved in the sport, boxing was a natural step. “I knew what to expect as I’d seen them go through it. I had an idea of how hard it was for them, so I had a bit of a head start. Part of me just wanted to be like them.” All three boys train at Birmingham City amateur boxing club. Thankfully the brothers are different weights so have never had to fight one another, other than ‘over a chocolate bar at home’!

MUM’S THE WORD

I feel for Galal’s mother watching all of her boys go through such a punishing sport, but Galal says she’s used to it. “She’s pretty calm. She flies all over the place to watch me fight. With three sons boxing, she’s got used to it.” I asked that most predictable of question that all boxers get asked, what’s it like to be hit? Galal was charming and didn’t make me feel he’d been asked a thousand times. “It does hurt, but after years of sparring you just get used to it. The first time you get hit on the nose mind you it really hurts!”

As part of Team GB training is full-time and from Monday to Friday Galal is with his team-mates in Sheffield. “There are 30 boxers all training together. We all get on pretty well and its good to be part of a team. As a boxer I’m usually fighting for me, so you prepare for that, but it’s good being together.”

Turning professional is on Galal’s radar in the not too distant future. He explains: “Everyone wants to go professional, be on the telly and earn lots of money, but I’d like to go to 2020 Olympics in Tokyo. Home Commonwealth Games 2022 would be brilliant, but I’ll probably be professional by then.”

His former employer, Jaguar Land Rover has been incredibly supportive. Galal says: “They’ve really looked after me. They’ve said if the boxing doesn’t work out they’ll have me back.” That’s lovely and all that, but we’re hoping he doesn’t need the bac- up. We’ll be watching the Commonwealth Games with interest and rooting for Galal.

BEEN THERE DONE THAT

I was born in Birmingham and lived in ‘deprived’ areas, such as Alum Rock, Bordesley Green and Small Heath. I joined South and City College as a security officer in 2003. In 2010, my blind sister passed away aged 30 and I started to do charity work for Acorns Hospice and Children’s Hospital in her memory. A year later, my brother-in-law was stabbed to death in a local park. As a result, I started engaging with youths in the early hours in local parks and streets to keep them away from crime and drugs. I asked South and City College principal Mike Hopkins if I could use the college at weekends and I set up sports initiatives, with numbers growing every week. I started engaging with leisure centres and parks across the city and also set up an academy to help Asian girls being forced to quit education at 15 to be sent abroad into arrange marriages. I formed All 4 Youth & Community.

IT’S WHAT I DO

I am South and City College community liaison officer. I engage with job and leisure centres, Birmingham City Council and youth organisations to find ways to get youths back into education.

WHAT I’D LIKE TO SEE

More leisure centres so we could get more young people occupied and off the streets. People in power must keep delivering the message that education is the key to success and keeping away from trouble. One day, I would love to have my own team I lead at the college and reach out to more youths all over the city.

BIGGEST SUCCESS

Working with more than 21,000 youths who were involved in crime and drugs and collaborating with over 50 youth organisations and signing up over 7,000 young women who have progressed in further education and employment. I was very proud to be named as a Pride of Birmingham winner and to be awarded the BEM by the Queen. I have won 25 national awards and was named in the Top 10 Global Humanitarian List alongside Barrack Obama and Angelina Jolie.

BIGGEST LESSON LEARNED

I was asked by Carol Vorderman at the Pride of Britain awards how dangerous it was for me to roam around the streets looking for gangs and I replied that I would never advise others to do it! My situation made me do what I did, otherwise I could never have imagined doing this kind of work.

WHAT I LIKE ABOUT BRUM

Being a proud Brummie, I love the diversity in Birmingham and if you saw our academy you’d see how youths from all faiths participate in activities and celebrate each other’s festivals together.

DOWNTIME

I like keeping busy and engaging with more people so we can help them. I write for two national newspapers and appear on TV, mainly to discuss community engagement and youth initiatives. I do like the odd game of snooker, though…

Photography by @brandonphotoss (instagram.com/brandonphotoss)

We know the glorious people of Wolverhampton loathe being referred to as Brummie, but forgive us this once. Young, Gifted and from Wolverhampton doesn’t have quite the same ring to it. Possibly the coolest tutor on the planet, grime artist Zeo Zeonardo teaches hip hop to youngsters by day introducing them to beats, lyrics, producing and marketing. Lucky pupils.

The rising talent recently supported US hip hop star and one of his heroes, Hopsin, on his Savageville UK tour. He has worked with established artists such as JME, DJ Q at BBC 1Xtra, Trilla and Bassboy and has been featured by UK tastemakers including SBTV, GRM Daily and RWD Magazine. Previous tracks My Face and Liars gained significant attention and now monumental single Wolverine 2 which has a stunning video shot in Cape Verde is about to be released. His early attempts at performing weren’t an instant hit mind you.

FALSE START

Zeo recalls: “My friends would write raps and get me to sing them. I couldn’t sing! Every time I tried to rap I stuttered. While I never wanted to be a rapper, I was so determined to get through a rap without stammering.” He managed it thankfully. A teacher at Zeo’s school introduced him to a studio setting aged 17 which put him on a path to performing and producing that he’s grateful for.

At local youth clubs Zeo went to in Wolverhampton, kids were all about grime and people would just grab a microphone and start performing. A youth club CD was put out which featured Zeo. He says: “I was rubbish, but people heard it and said it was good. Then I went into the barbershop and they told me people were taking the mick. I was so angry. I thought ‘I’m not gonna stop ‘til I’m the best in Wolves!’” He squirrelled himself away in his bedroom and fuelled by his anger the lyrics flowed. It still makes him angry now!

As part of a crew Zeo would perform in different studios and youth clubs growing up. “One week there’d be 15 people at the youth club, then we’d perform and there’d be 300 the following week. The people who ran the club were so confused!” When you’re part of crew, Zeo explains there’s always an undercurrent of violence because even if the crew you’re part of is not particularly violent – which his wasn’t – it only takes one member to upset someone they shouldn’t for the whole group to become embroiled in it. Zeo left the crew to concentrate on solo projects. “It was easy to leave as there was no intimidation among us. Some kids are scared to leave a crew because of the threat of violence. We weren’t like that.” Of Wolverhampton Zeo says: “I don’t live there now, but I wouldn’t change a thing about growing up. It felt like the centre of the grime universe! It was exciting.”

GOING SOLO

Zeo’s first solo project included making CDs and giving them out at carnivals. He enjoyed airtime on 1Xtra and BBC Asian Network. He says: “I thought ‘this is quite good I could make a bit of money’.” Then bassline music happened. Zeo’s friend became a DJ and it all kicked off. Zeo says: “I thought ‘actually I could make quite a lot of money!’ Then bassline died down.”

For the past year or two Zeo’s been make his own music and putting on his own shows. He explains: “GRM Daily can love one of your tracks one day and put it on their channel, but not rate the next single, so it can be hard.” Zeo’s taken control and decided not to release anything through other channels and he’s concentrating on building up his You Tube following and making sure each thing is bigger than the last. Committed to his kids in the classroom too from which he’s uncovered some talent, Mr Zeonardo says: “It’s an amazing job!”

Back in the day, a teacher told Richard Mason he should be a plumber, so he could earn some money and support a family which at 15 felt a bit premature! When he told his family he wanted to be an actor they laughed and pondered how long it would last. Now, with Oscar-winning short film Stuttered under his belt, a stint on daytime TV’s Doctors and a feature film due out this month, the working-class lad from Halesowen is doing alright. Although, if Steven McKnight is reading this, an audition for Peaky Blinders would be grand!

Other than performing for his nan and her friends, Richard wasn’t into acting as a boy. In fact, the thought of the dreaded school play was toe-curling to him. School generally was something to be endured and Richard’s loathing of the place could well have pushed him down an acting path. He recalls: “My educational background was pretty much sitting at the back of the classroom, not talking and staring out the window. I hated school, I had no friends and I knew I had to break into an entirely new place.”

Having trained with Birmingham City FC’s youth squad until injury took its toll, Richard moved to London to pursue an acting career and won a scholarship to the Giles Foreman Centre where he studied for three years. “I just packed up and moved to London. It was thrilling. I felt alive for the first time,” he says.

BILLY BIG BOLLOCKS

Richard thought he’d sit in Piccadilly Circus and wait for the world to take him in. “Looking back, I simply turned up in London and had no idea of this city. Then, it was a case of just being available and open to opportunity. There are so many key moments that led onto something else, I believe everything I saw and did, good and bad, had a knock-on effect and helped me find my base here and grow up a little bit. I was a bit of a livewire when I first arrived!”

Richard doesn’t have great memories from before he left the region and says his favourite part of Birmingham is the train out of it! He recalls nights out in Brum when he was 18 where he’d be on Broad Street playing at being ‘Billy Big Bollocks’, so the move to London felt fresh and new.

When feature film Scott and Sid came along, Richard jumped at the chance. Due out this month, Scott and Sid is an independent film based on a true story of triumph against adversity, about friendship and coming-of-age as two mates navigate the distance from dream to reality and never succumbing to an ordinary life – whatever that is.

Richard plays Scott, an unloved foster child who has been expelled from multiple schools, is rootless and uncontainable alongside fellow Midlander, Tom Blyth who plays Sid. Richard and Tom lived with the real-life Scott (Elliot) and Sid (Sadowskyi) – who also wrote, produced and directed the film – in York for weeks prior to filming to get to know them and their lives. The film, and in particular Scott’s character, appealed to Richard. He says: “I was attracted at how loose Scott was and how Scott and Sid went into something with an attitude of both love and don’t give a shit. Risk taking is something that has always attracted me.”

GENUINE AND REAL

Scott Elliott and Sid Sadowskyj had never written, produced or directed a film before and the audition process was less than conventional, so Richard took quite a punt, but just felt it was right. After sending an audition tape Richard got a call from the pair who wanted to meet him. Richard naturally expected a standard audition.

“I met Scott in Covent Garden and I was looking around for a man in his late forties I presumed. How wrong I was! Scott said, ‘tell me a restaurant you want to eat in.’ I could barely afford to ever eat out, so I had no idea where to go.” The meeting went well and shortly afterwards he travelled to York to meet Sid and spent the weekend there.

“It was the most unusual casting session I think I’ve ever had, yet by far the most real and genuine.” This is something that Richard swears by. Whether it’s film, TV or stage, he must feel he’s working with great people who believe in what they’re doing otherwise, ‘what’s the point?’

ACTING HEROES

Of filming Scott and Sid, Richard recalls: “We were filming in a beautiful part of the country. I’d never been to York before and spending three months with such artistic people was great.” Producer Sid says: “Richard is definitely a name to look out for. He has a great head on his shoulders, this is just the start for him.”

Richard’s heroes include namesakes Richard Burton and Richard Harris along with Oliver Reed. He enthuses: “They were the greats, I tend to want to associate myself with hell-raisers. They were so much more than just actors as you always got such a humanity from them. And that’s what I aspire to, being able to be intimate and tell stories.” And not plumbing!

Let’s face it, the daily commute is a bit of a bind. A necessity not a joy. Same old route, same old people, nothing new. People rarely even look up anymore. For Kris Askey this became an opportunity. He’d been hankering after increased hours behind the lens, but with a full-time job as a graphic designer at Free Radio and limited spare time at the weekend, his time was squeezed, which is how the commute came into play.

Kris began utilising the journey to work to pursue what was his hobby at the time, photography and began documenting the everyday life of Birmingham and its people to stunning effect. “I had about 28 minutes from Moor Street station to Brindleyplace in the morning and a bit more time after work,” he said. “I suddenly had an extra five hours a week.”

BEAUTIFUL AND GRITTY

The resulting images show Birmingham at its beautiful and gritty best. A local lad born in Walsall, Kris found himself viewing Birmingham from a new perspective. “It was right on my doorstep and I had to walk through it twice a day, but I’d never photographed it in the way I would a place I was visiting for the first time. There’s a tendency to be complacent about the things you see and experience every day.” The route didn’t change as it was pretty direct, but there were an immeasurable number of situations and exchanges everyday on that same stretch.

Rather than waiting in the street for something to happen, Kris preferred to move through the city, seeking out interesting things/people. “I like candid, reportage style shots. Sometimes I wouldn’t see anything for days and then a hundred things would happen before my eyes.”

Because the city is changing so rapidly, looking back over the photos from two years ago is an eye-opener. There are scenes that just don’t exist anymore. It’s a valuable project and one than Kris wants to keep working on for another few years to really feel the changing shape of Brum. He says: “To publish a book of the project would be good. Once I’ve documented five years of the city that would be great.” While the photos are essentially of the street, Kris feels they’d be nothing without the people in them. “If you take the people out of the city, you remove the life from it. It just becomes an empty space.”

RADIO TA TA

In 2016, Kris took the plunge and left his job at Free Radio to pursue photography as a career. “It was scary to make the break and it took quite a long time to get myself into the position mentally. I’d been at Free Radio for five years,” says Kris. The station had been supportive of his photography and often let Kris photograph artists that came in to be interviewed. Before he left, Kris was asked to deck out the reception area with his shots to give it more of a cool vibe. “It didn’t look like a radio station or feel like you were walking into a creative work space, so it was nice to do.”

Now that Kris had more time to devote to photography he ventured from his old commuter route extending his documentation of the city resulting in a riveting body of work, such as the view from the roof of Aston University or the Old Fire Station flyover. Last year he got to photograph backstage at an empty Hippodrome for the first time which was interesting. Kris is also enjoying cherry-picking his projects and being in charge of the creative process – and outcome – and not banging someone else’s drum. Regular client work as well as street photography make for a great creative mix. “Being able to pay your bills doing something you love and not comprising is a success in my book.”

TESTED LOYALTIES

Kris has sworn by his trusty Nikon since 2011, but he’s just been lent a Fujifilm model which is testing his loyalty! “You’ve caught me at an odd moment. It’s smaller, lighter and good quality, so I may be tempted.” Lighter actually matters a lot says Kris. “Aside from editing I’m on my feet all the time, so I need to look after my back.”

Of his favourite bits of Birmingham, Kris says: “I have a little bit of a thing for a stretch down Colmore Row and also Moor Street station. I’ve spent so much time there over the years.” Despite Kris and presumably you, the Birmingham Living reader appreciating the city’s beauty and great potential, he thinks the city is underrated: “The city gets a bad rep, but over the past half-a-decade it’s really stepped up its game. It’s truly multi-cultural, there’s a wealth of talent and I think it’s underestimated.” He adds: “I think Birmingham has a lot more to offer than say Manchester.” Hear, hear!

Being crowned British all-round champion in his first national senior competition was a big deal for plucky teenager Joe Fraser. He’d planned to break into the senior scene successfully after achieving big in the junior ranks, but not necessarily winning the title which he describes as ‘unbelievable’ making all the hard work worth it.

On the back of such a brilliant year, Joe’s now gunning for Commonwealth Games and World Championships selection with an eye firmly on the Tokyo Olympics, too. Training at Birmingham’s world class facility in Perry Barr he’s spurred on by the prospect of being involved in a home World Championships at Arena Birmingham next year.

As an energetic five-year-old, Joe liked nothing more than somersaulting on the settee. His mum – perhaps for the sake of the sofa – decided to channel his energy into gymnastics at the City of Birmingham club which Joe loved, but wasn’t exceptional. However, when a new coach joined the club in 2008 he saw something in Joe.

“The coach liked my work ethic and pushed me,” said Joe. “A year later I made the national team aged 11.” At this point training cranked up to 20 hours-a-week and while it could have been tough juggling school work and gymnastics, Joe’s school was incredibly supportive. “The school could see that it was a good opportunity. They helped by giving me homework in advance, so rather than playing catch up I was actually ahead.”

Now aged 18, Joe still trains at the City of Birmingham club with coach Lee Woolls. He trains full-time, six-hours-a-day concentrating on strength, conditioning and flexibility and has a nutritionist to keep him at his optimum weight. But what is it about the sport that he finds thrilling? “There are endless opportunities to perform. It’s such a high,” he explained. Joe also enjoys the friendly nature of the sport. Junior and senior national teams train together resulting in fantastic team spirit. Travelling is a big part of the sport and over the years Joe has spent a lot of time away from his parents who are ‘100 per cent supportive’ and fly to see him compete when they can.

With the World championships coming to Arena Birmingham in March and the city’s Commonwealth Games bid in the mix, it’s not a bad sporting period for Brum. Of the home World Championships Jane Allen, CEO of British Gymnastics, said: “We’re delighted to bring this world class gymnastics event to Birmingham – a city that has produced some of the most successful British gymnasts in history.” The city has a world class training facility in the Gymnastics and Martial Arts Centre (GMAC) in Perry Barr which is a dedicated dual sports centre that opened in 2008.”

Joe’s hero is Japan’s Kohei Uchimura who is widely regarded as the best gymnast of all time and by Joe a ‘legend’. Competing against him was interesting. Naturally Uchimura came out on top – as Joe says ‘he never comes second in anything!’ Perhaps Joe could be the one to knock his hero off the top spot. He’s certainly ambitious. He said: “I’d love some Olympic medals.” Joe’s aiming for both the Tokyo and Paris games. He’s also keen to recommend the sport to youngsters. “You need to enjoy and love sport to be successful and gymnastics is massively enjoyable.” He’s grateful to Max Whitlock and Louis Smith for raising the profile of men’s gymnastics. We reckon young gymnasts in years to come will be thanking their hero, Joe Fraser.

JOE’S CV

2015 European Youth Olympics, all-around champion

2017 British Championships, all-around champion

2017 European Championships all-around, fifth place

Talented teenager Lewis Anderson is taking the squash world by storm after becoming the first Warwickshire man in 32 years to claim a national title in the sport. He was crowned Under 17 British junior champion after first beating the number one seed and then winning a five-set thriller in the final.

Lewis has trained at Edgbaston Priory Club since he was eight-years-old and showed promise from the get-go. Having tried a bit of tennis, Lewis was walking round the club with his grandad when he spotted a group of kids playing squash at club night and thought it looked cool.

He jumped at the chance to join in and it wasn’t long before he began one-to-one sessions with coach Mike Edmunds who he still has a close relationship with today. Mike chatted to Lewis’s parents to say he had a good eye for the ball and asked if he’d like to play more. Competitions followed, none more fierce than with his triathlete dad! Lewis said: “Whoever won got 50p. Dad always won initially but once I got to 10, I started winning every match!”

TOUGH CHOICE

Lewis took part in his first proper tournament in Manchester in 2011 where he took third place. At club championships at the Priory in the same year he came second. Regional and county success followed and at just 11, Lewis was on course for the national team. As happy with a football at his feet as with a racquet in his hand, there came a point aged 13 when Lewis had to choose between that and squash. “It was a tough one but I chose squash because I thought I had far more potential,” he recalls.

Lewis had a run of good results following that decision including runner-up in the England finals, as well as being picked for the national team. He won a county tournament and a silver level event which is just one step below the gold events such as junior British championships.

Now with the national squad in Manchester as well as in Edgbaston with coach Mike Harris at the Priory, Lewis is training five or six times a week except in the run-up to a competition when he has a ‘light week’. Teaming that tremendous level of commitment with his studies is a juggling act, but Lewis seems to handle the pressure well. He said: “I had a tournament in Prague two days before my first GCSE exam which wasn’t ideal, but it was a great experience.”

Lewis is unusual in the sport because he doesn’t stick to a set way of playing. He likes to mix his game up a bit which is risky, but it’s working so far. He explained: “I love how creative I can be. Most players have a set way to play, but I like to change my game and be creative in matches which is different to most of my opponents.”

NAIL-BITING

The junior British championships title was a joy for Lewis if not hard work! He admitted he had to “muster every ounce of concentration” to power through the nail-biting five-setter and come out on top to beat Scotland’s Alisdair Prott.

Clearly Lewis is on track for a glittering squash career and is looking forward to moving up to the Under 19 category, but he knows the value of a good education too. He said: “I’d like to keep as many avenues open as possible. University in America on a squash scholarship would be the dream. That way I can study for a degree while playing. In the US it’s encouraged in a way that it’s not at home.”

Lewis also has a bit of sound advice for youngsters taking up sport too. “Enjoy it and don’t commit too soon.”

Katharine Merry has competed at some of the greatest sporting events in the most amazing stadia on the planet. But the athlete-turned-TV and radio presenter who was the fastest 400 metres runner in the world at both junior and senior levels, says there is nowhere to compare with ‘home’ – Birmingham’s Alexander Stadium.

She is confident that ‘the Alex’ – which has produced some of the UK’s finest athletes down the years – is set to embark on a golden age like it has never seen before. Besides being the base of the famous Birchfield Harriers club, of which Katharine is vice-president, the stadium is shaping up to become the undisputed home of British athletics, eclipsing London’s Olympic stadium.

With the stadium slated to undergo a major transformation as the centerpiece of Birmingham’s Commonwealth Games 2022 bid, Katharine says: “It’s such an exciting time for sport in Birmingham in particular and the Midlands in general. The legacy it will bring to future generations will be amazing. It will motivate so many youngsters to take up the sport while bringing in valuable income to the area. Athletics needs a permanent home, and that will be Birmingham.”

WORLD-BEATER

Katharine is a rare athlete who had outstanding success at junior and senior level before being forced to retire due to injury. Born in Dunchurch, she started running aged 10 before joining Birchfield at 13 and training at Tudor Grange, Solihull. She was selected to run for Britain, winning championships and medals over a six-year period before representing her country as a senior. Katharine famously won bronze in the 400 metres Cathy Freeman race at the 2000 Sydney Olympics and the following year became the world number one. She was coached by 100 metres gold medallist Linford Christie as part of his Cardiff-based squad. Three years later she had to quit due to a foot injury – and found her new love for broadcasting.

“I started getting involved in the whole TV punditry thing during the time I was suffering with injury,” she explains. “I was getting injured a lot so I was available when TV and radio wanted comment from someone who was involved in the sport. In the years since, I’ve made a conscious effort to expand my career in broadcasting.”

Katharine’s credits include being a regular guest on TV and radio shows including A Question of Sport, Pointless and Celebrity Mastermind. She is the only female TV lead commentator in athletics, working at numerous Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, European Championships, as well as lead commentator for Channel 4 at the Paralympics and Paralympic World Cup events.

PRINCE HARRY

She covers a wide range of sports away from athletics, including triathlon, beach volleyball and continues to be one of Sky’s lead commentators on their netball coverage. Katharine is also an in-demand live events presenter and has hosted major athletics championships in the UK, Europe and America as well as the inaugural Invictus Games – when Prince Harry personally thanked her for helping to make the event such as huge success. Katharine was also in Rio for the Paralympic Games as a commentator for Channel 4.

This month she is off to Monaco to be the host presenter at the annual IAAF Gala Awards, which recognise the world’s best athletes. “In March, I will be the infield host commentator at the World Indoor Athletics Championships at Arena Birmingham – the first time the event has returned to the city for 15 years,” adds Katharine.

Unsurprisingly, time is precious in the busy Merry household. “But I still do the school run with my son and daughter,” she says. “I tend to be away with my work in blocks of five or 10 days so I can generally fit stuff in. Summer is mad though, I only have one or two weeks free.”

Katharine is a keen Aston Villa supporter – unlike her Coventry City supporting parents. “They were born and bred in Coventry,” says Katharine, “but I became a Villa fan as a youngsters because I really fancied Gary Shaw…”

The Indian Brewery Company on Livery Street is a lively bar and street food eatery that’s about to take over the unit next door, doubling its footprint. Founded by Jaspal Purewal  as a small brewery in Warwickshire producing a handful of beers, the business has grown rapidly and now employs more than 20 people.

After going through the motions in a part-time job, Jaspal realised pretty quickly that he didn’t want to work for someone else. He applied to the Peter Jones Enterprise Academy in Solihull and wrote a cracking business plan in order to bag a place on the course. The business plan focused on producing a range of beers – ‘real ale brewed by an Indian’. Jaspal recalled: “That process meant that when I graduated I knew what I wanted to do.”

FAMILY AFFAIR

Jaspal stumbled across the ideal brewery quite by chance as he drove past it on the way to his auntie’s house in Warwickshire. Jaspal and his mother pulled over for a quick nosey around the brewery and ended up meeting the owner and signing a deal on the spot. The owner was planning to move on in six months’ time, so Jaspal took up a role working with him and learning the ropes with a view to taking over the premises along with the staff at the end of the process. Michael, who he’s worked with since that time is now Jaspal’s head brewer.

A move to Birmingham last year saw Jaspal introduce a lager as well as real ale. “We toyed over the name for ages and then settled on Birmingham Lager of course!” Jaspal said. Initially the lager began life in a can, but quickly progressed to a keg which pitted it against the big boys in the industry. Established brands are able to offer incredibly low prices to bars and restaurants which Jaspal just couldn’t match. He stood his ground refusing to drop his prices which as a small brewer would have been disastrous. It worked. Indian Brewery products are now stocked in many bars including 22 branches of Wetherspoons which is notoriously price driven, as well as restaurants and stores such as Harvey Nichols. “When the e-mails came in it was like we had won the lottery! Harvey Nichols was a six-week process convincing head office in London, so it was exciting.” Harvey Nichols is now one of their top customers.

FRIDAY THE THIRTEENTH

Jaspal started to dream about opening a bar of his own which his mum thought was a crazy idea, but when he saw the site of the old Brewsmiths coffee shop he jumped at it. With the keys in his hands Jaspal stalled. He recalled: “The thing is I had the keys for a year without touching the place as I didn’t know what to do.” After 12 months he bit the bullet. Without large investment – just family input and sales from the product – it was all hands on deck as he and his brothers grafted to make the place come alive.

Anything apart from skilled trades like electrics they did themselves furnishing the place via B&Q mainly. They’d planned to open last Christmas, but that slipped to January 2017 – Friday the 13th actually! “Friends thought I was mad opening on that date. We had an accident on the way to the opening, so we did start to wonder if it was the right call…”

The soft launch turned into a packed bar within a few hours. Of the bar’s success, he said: “It was the first street food bar in Birmingham – there are more now – but we were the first, so it was new for people.”

It’s important to Jaspal to use local products where possible, so as well as brewing his own beer and lager, the bar uses bread from Peel & Stone and coffee from Quarter Horse which they grind on the premises. Jaspal has taken on the building next door, so it will double in size and staff numbers will rise to 30.

“I’m more confident now. I know what I’m doing. There are areas we can improve on and it will be a complete refurb. No trips to B&Q this time!” Expansion won’t stop there as Jaspal has his sights set on the capital next. So, watch this space!

Alexander Rhys is testament to what can be achieved if you have talent, ambition and the will to follow your dream. At the age of 14 Alexander says he ‘realised something wasn’t quite right’ as he suffered from excessive levels of anxiety. Unlike most teenagers, he was weighed down with unremitting levels of worry and he was diagnosed with Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD).

Now 29, Alexander looks back and says: “OCD has always been a problem, but when I discovered painting I found it very helpful and therapeutic. It gives me a feeling of zen.” The artist, who is based between his home studio at Stryx, Minerva Works, Fazeley Street and London, has had his work sold and published in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago and Amsterdam, as well as London.

HANDBAGS

And as we spoke, Alexander had just been approached by a textile designer in Hong Kong who had seen some of his work and wants to use it on a new range of handbags exclusive to then Liberty store in London. “Things couldn’t be going better,” said Alexander, “but I am very conscious not to take anything for granted.”

Born in Barnt Green, Alexander went to his local C of E school, St Andrew’s, before transferring to St John’s Bromsgrove and then sixth form at Bromsgrove School. He did a foundation in art and design at Bournville College before getting his degree in Fine Art and Design at Bath University.

He recalls: “When you leave uni, there are a lot of you graduating at the same time with degrees, so getting the job you want is really difficult. I was fortunate that I sold a piece of my work from my end of year show to a luxury hotel in Bath and that gave me the impetus to think I could make a career out of my art and move forward with my work.”

Alexander did lots of research to find out his best route to progress as an artist and found the Prince’s Trust, which he says “changed my life”. He put forward a detailed business plan to the Trust, impressed at the subsequent interviews and won the funding and support he needed.

DISTINCTIVE

“The Trust has given me the belief and the opportunity to have my own business,” he says. “They helped me to get clients in New York, Miami and Istanbul and many other places around the world, as well as here at home.” Alexander’s modern and highly distinctive style developed from his Fine Art studies where he explored the role of art in therapy.

His unique works manipulate acrylics with the aim to take the viewer on a journey of finding the ordinary, extraordinary. His global and diverse clients include outdoor advertising giants Clear Channel and leading Kenyan hip-hop artist Octopizzio. He launched his online gallery and store to provide the opportunity for people to enjoy and purchase his work.

Recently he has also been working on a collaboration project with talented musicians from Birmingham Conservatoire. “They created a piece of music taking inspiration from my paintings. I then created a series of paintings from a piece of music that they created – it’s an on-going conversation,” explained Alexander.

Alexander’s works are created using lots of different materials from in and around the studio. No object is too unlikely to be used. “I’ve just started to paint with bricks,” he says. “I walk the streets and am always on the look-out for discarded objects, bits of glass, bricks whatever. I like using different objects and different surfaces. I don’t even use a brush.

EARLY START

“I use oils and acrylics and spray paint too. I usually go to the studio and start working at 2am in the morning. I find I can get creative when I’m there at that time.” As well as his work for the Liberty designs and a busy ongoing schedule of exhibitions, Alexander is also working on commissions for some new apartments.

He continues to have strong ties with the Prince’s Trust. “I still go to the Trust’s offices in Digbeth and I help by giving talks to people about how the Trust can help them.” Alexander also has work in the Trust’s store in London. “I have sold more than 30 pieces through the store,” he says. Despite being kept busy, he is wary of thinking he’s ‘made it’.

“I believe in keeping my feet firmly on the ground, come what may,” he says.

Jazmin Sawyers is a woman of many talents. Not content with being one of Team GB’s rising stars – she is Commonwealth and European long jump silver medallist and came an impressive eighth in Rio – she also has a World Junior bobsleigh gold medal in the trophy cabinet and unexpectedly popped up on The Voice, storming the blind auditions to bag a place on team Will.i.am. Versatility seems an understatement.

Make no mistake though, athletics is Jazmin’s first love while music is a hobby. She made it clear to Will.i.am that athletics came first and I wonder if that affected his decision to send Jazmin home in the battle round. She doesn’t think so and just thoroughly enjoyed the ‘amazing’ experience.

Rather than being a distraction, Jazmin says that music has enhanced her training. “I need something outside of training to engage my brain and music provides that. It’s nice to have on the side but the focus is sport.”

BOBSLEIGH

Like most children, Jazmin tried athletics at school aged nine and took to it immediately. At 11 she started training at a club and by 14, she’d competed in her first competition abroad. “I loved it and thought I want more of this.” Incredibly driven, Jazmin persuaded her parents to let her apply for a scholarship to Millfield School in Somerset where the sporting facilities are top notch. They relented. Jazmin boarded from the age of 16 and relished every minute. “I know it doesn’t suit everyone but I loved boarding.”

Millfield gave Jazmin opportunities she wouldn’t have ordinarily had like bobsleigh of all things. It requires the same explosive power and speed as long jump, so she was in her element. Training at a special facility at Bath University as well as Austria, Germany and Latvia to get the necessary experience on ice, it was quite intense for a while, but worth it when she came away from the 2012 Winter Youth Olympics with a gold medal. Post-2012 Jazmin has focused on long jump but would like to revisit bobsleigh at some point in the future.

Training while studying for a law degree at the University of Bristol meant a few sacrifices that she was happy to make. “I didn’t lead a normal uni life. With studying and training there wasn’t a lot of time left for socialising.” Dreaming of Olympic glory since she was a child they were small sacrifices to make.

Jazmin was ‘gutted’ with eighth place in Rio which was her Olympic debut aged 22 and disappointed with her performance at the World Championships in London earlier this year. She competes to win, so anything less than gold isn’t where she wants to be. Her ambitions for Tokyo 2020 are clear. “Gold all the way.” Along the route to Tokyo there are smaller goals and competitions that will reveal any weaknesses that can be ironed out and help her to get faster.

NAILING IT

Based in Birmingham with her coach, 2004 Olympic heptathlete Kelly Sotherton, the regime is full-on with Jazmin training six days a week with double sessions twice a week. Jazmin receives Lottery funding, so is able to focus full time, but not everyone is so fortunate. “To fit training around a normal job wouldn’t be possible. Without funding this wouldn’t be an option.”

Jazmin’s jam at competitions is her nails. They are always immaculate which makes her feel ‘sorted and ready.’ She has Olympic rings, Union Jacks, whatever takes her fancy. Today they’re bright red. She’s recently become an ambassador for nail brand Semilac based in Solihull and swears by them. “I reckon they last until the nails grow out. I’ve had these on for five weeks.” There isn’t a chip in sight despite spending a lot of her life in sand as well as weight-lifting and training extensively.

Of Birmingham’s sporting events Jazmin is full of praise. She said: “There’s so much going on. The British Championships are always brilliant plus the best indoor event in the calendar is in Birmingham. Athletes look forward to coming here.”

We’ll be following Jazmin’s journey to Tokyo keenly and willing her to fulfil her gold ambitions.

A late starter in racing terms, Jake Hughes has been playing catch-up for the past seven years. Now aged 23 with his sights firmly set on Formula 1, he’s rocking the European Formula 3 championship as part of the Hitech GP team after dominated Formula 4. A member of the British Racing Drivers Club Superstars programme and Motor Sports Association elite Team UK driver programme, Jake’s talent is not in question – but getting into the top flight is frustratingly as much about money as ability.

Jake got into motorsport by chance after having a go at karting at a friend’s 15th birthday party in Oldbury. The owner of the track thought Jake looked like he knew what he was doing and suggested he took it further. He went to Andy Cox Racing in Bromsgrove, took part in a practice day in the Cotswolds and loved it. Clocking Jake’s talent, Andy Cox said to his father: “I’m so sorry. I have some bad news. Your son is about to cost you a lot of money.” He wasn’t wrong. Jake had always been football mad and his dad used to moan about the cost of soccer boots so racing was a shock to the system!

LATE TO THE PARTY

Drivers usually get into karting from eight to 16 before progressing to cars between 16 and 20 – so at aged 16 Jake was pretty late to the party. A lot of hard work teamed with natural talent and determination got him on a par with the best. “There’s no grass roots funding like there is with other sports which means you have to stand out,” explained Jake. “You need to make an impression and attract sponsors which forces you to keep winning.” It also matures you pronto as Jake found out. He’s gone from being fairly shy to travelling round Europe, meeting new people and dealing with the media regularly.

The intense physical side of racing is sometimes overlooked as Formula 1 can appear easy from a viewer perspective, but Jake explains it’s anything but. From a cardiovascular point of view, a two-hour grand prix is on a par with a marathon. Add into the mix the 3G and 4G pressure on drivers and it doesn’t sound so easy. He says: “The training is similar to boxing. You need to be incredibly fit and strong and above all be able to concentrate in tough circumstances for prolonged periods – in temperatures of 50 degrees wearing a fire-proof suit with 4Gs putting the neck under immense strain. Drivers can lose 4kg in one race.”

Jake’s been double training in the few days before we caught up which means cycling, interval sessions and strength work, particularly for the upper body and neck. “Neck strength is most important. It hurts.” Speaking of getting hurt, clearly there are safer sports than racing and Jake’s mum struggles with it.

POOR MUM!

He remembers: “The family travelled out to Macau in China for the Formula 3 world championships which is a 12-hour flight and my mum didn’t even watch the racing! She looked the other way.” Jake’s favourite quote from ex-Formula 1 world champion Mario Andretti probably doesn’t help… ‘If everything seems under control you’re not going fast enough.’

With Formula 1 winking, Jake explains why it’s harder than just being a talented driver. “The four top teams can afford to pay drivers but the midfield and back marker teams just about break even and don’t tend to pay much, if at all.” With a season costing £15million it’s tough, but Jake’s determined to get there. More than 20 titles in Formula 1 have been won by drivers who did it via Formula 3 such as Nico Rosberg, Sebastian Vettel, Lewis Hamilton and Michael Schumacher among other greats. So, watch this space…

When she was just nine-years-old Nyanda Foday went with her parents on what was supposed to be a one-year stay in their home country of Sierra Leone. “They wanted me to experience where they had originally come from,” says Nyanda. But eight months in and Nyanda caught malaria and typhoid and was rushed back to Britain. Born and raised in London, the family moved to Birmingham to be near where her grandparents lived.

Nyanda, now 18, plays down the drama but acknowledges it changed the direction of her life. She has remained in Birmingham ever since, attending King Edward VI School, Handsworth and then sixth form at Bishop Vesey’s Grammar School – she is nervously awaiting her A-Level results as we write…

Nyanda also came into contact with Birmingham-based youth and social media collective Beatfreaks. “I attended a monthly open mic night called Poetry Jam and for me that was the pivotal factor that put me onto poetry,” said Nyanda. All of which eventually led to her being named as the current Birmingham Young Poet Laureate.

POETRY OVER PROSE

“I’ve been writing poetry for a very long time but before I started engaging in the poetry scene I was primarily a fan of prose,” she explains. “I think a key factor in making the switch initially was that I could sit down and write a poem in a way that you just can’t with a novel – and it became an easier way for me to express myself and work through whatever was on my mind.”

As Young Poet Laureate, Nyanda sees her role as “representing young people in Birmingham in poetry, and also to represent poetry in young people”. And she adds: “I get to perform in lots of different places, which is always incredibly exciting for me. I actually got asked to perform for International Women’s Day to a group of women my age and older, and that was so humbling and honestly, strange to me.

“However, the most amazing opportunity I’ve had was easily performing at the National Holocaust Memorial Day in January. The event was respectful and incredibly humbling. The opportunity to meet the speakers was one of the greatest I’ve ever had, and I think I’ll remember that day for the rest of my life. It’s easy for things like that to slip into history as something that happened in the past and is finished, so meeting people who were there completely shatters that illusion, which is heart-breaking but really important I think.”

THE SPOKEN WORD

Nyanda almost exclusively writes for the spoken word “because I’m big on performance, and I care a lot about the way my words sound when they’re put together”. She adds: “I write in quite a personal style that comes from a very introspective approach. I think almost all of my poems are me figuring something out about the way I interpret a certain situation, or understand a concept. Sometimes I just write something that sounds good and poetic, but I never really like those poems after the fact. My poems tend to be long, quite dark (true to typical teenage angst) and thoughtful.”

As well as writing poetry and studying for exams, Nyanda has retained close links with Beatfreaks – as well as attending their events she is also on their Youth Steering Committee. “There’s something incredible about being surrounded by spoken word artists of different skills and talents and being able to take it all in in such a supportive atmosphere. Combine that with the performer in me, and nothing could have motivated me more than Poetry Jam to become one of those people on the stage, motivating other people to try something new.”

BIOLOGY? REALLY?

So, it’s a given then that poetry will be her future? Not as a career because Nyanda is hoping – exam grades willing – that she will get to go to Manchester University to study biology. “I want to have a career looking at biology in animal behavior,” she explains.

“I will always want to do poetry, and when I’m old and grey I want to have notebooks full of my poetry that people can look at and consider, which is really egotistical, but also honestly what I would like. Because my poetry is so personal, it’s something that I’m happy for people to know me by and remember me by. I think if someone read all of my poems they could probably have a better understanding of me as a person that some people that I’ve been friends with for years.

“I have a lot of respect for the people that do pursue poetry because it isn’t easy – like any job in the arts it requires persistence, innovation and luck, so I’m quite fortunate to have another area that I genuinely want to make a name for myself in.”

So… fingers crossed everyone for those A-Level grades!

CYCLICAL

(An extract from a poem by Birmingham Young Poet Laureate, Nyanda Foday)

Our world is cyclical

And with each cycle

Of sleep

Of seasons

Of life

Everything that has ever been is still there.

We go on because we are part of a bigger cycle and we continue

We cannot forget the forms that have been deconstructed

Instead we must take their very essence to reconstruct new forms of beauty

We must make love of their love

We must take meaning from their meaning

Form our memories using their memories

We must make new memories

We must grow in their wake using all that they have given us

We must trust in the flow of the cycle to carry us

We must pay homage to the previous forms of the atoms that hold us

We are bound to know new forms in a distant future but the forms we hold today, we shape

We will be stronger for the trials and tribulations that our bodies have faced in past generations

This is issue number 58, so we’ve interviewed our fair share of impressive youngsters for this feature and yet we were bowled over by Joshua Williams more than any other. And it’s not that he has a skill that you can put your finger on like a concert pianist or international sportsperson.

He is thoroughly charming, self-deprecating, determined and a grafter which has resulted in a life that defies his homeless status just three years ago. For instance, the Bank of England has awarded Joshua one of only three scholarships in the country after a rigorous selection process throughout which he knew he was on the back foot academically and needed to be genuine and memorable. He’s now studying politics and international relations at the University of Birmingham and will go straight into a £30,000-a-year internship at the Bank on graduation. His is a fascinating story and aged 19 it’s only the start.

Not blessed with the beginnings in life Joshua was placed in a homeless hostel aged 16 when his mother’s relationship fell apart. He could have joined the rest of the cohort in the hostel drinking and smoking but he was determined to change his situation and make something of himself. Joshua recalled: “I kept myself to myself. Seeing people getting drunk and smoking weed just made me feel sad and I knew I wanted to strive for a better life. I didn’t want to accept the minimum.”

He left the hostel, moved into supported living and started modelling after being scouted in London. When he was approached by someone at a fashion show who suggested he entered the Mr Birmingham competition, he wasn’t keen. “I just thought that’s not for me. It’s just not happening, but then I considered the opportunities it might throw up and I agreed.” Joshua insists the competition wasn’t just about looks and if it was he wouldn’t have won thanks to his ‘jiggly belly’. The competition is less pageant-like and ‘in your face’ than the female equivalent but nonetheless pretty daunting. Joshua said: “After I won, I got through to Mr England at the Ricoh Arena and I thought holy crap what have I done!” Although he wasn’t crowned Mr England – he came third – the regional title has opened doors and enabled Joshua to do a lot of campaigning for local charities. It’s also boosted his self-esteem beyond recognition. Having suffered with mental health issues throughout his early teens, Joshua said: “It’s really helped. I couldn’t speak to people properly before or make eye contact.”

More than a pretty face, Joshua launched the Elite Fashion Show aimed at boosting Birmingham’s fashion scene. “Birmingham is often unfairly overlooked, so I wanted to celebrate the city and what it has to offer,” he explained. The focus is on local talent but there’s an international flavour too with designers from around the globe getting involved. The event is not for profit and supports local charities – this year it’s LoveBrum. It was important for Joshua to keep ticket prices down too. “It’s so unfair that events aimed at teenagers like the Clothes Show are so expensive to attend. I wanted Elite to be accessible.”

Higher education was next on Joshua’s wish list and without the funds or support it takes just to get to university, he began researching scholarship schemes. He applied for a few and was knocked back, but progressed the Bank of England scheme’s application process successfully. “ I went through the interview process just being myself. I knew I wasn’t the brightest of the applicants and I don’t have the greatest set of exam results, so I had to impress in other ways and thankfully they liked me and saw potential.” The other two students awarded scholarships were straight A* pupils.

After a whirlwind few years we wonder what’s next for Mr Birmingham? “I’ve only ever wanted stability. I’m not into riches and fame. I just want to be safe and happy,” he said.

Local country singer-songwriter Sally Rea Morris has been into music for as long as she can remember, but things just got a little bit more serious. After winning the opportunity to support the X Factor’s Sam Bailey in March, Sally has left her job in events and hospitality at The Belfry and is pursuing her dream to make a living from her music.

It was while at The Belfry that Sally’s music career took an up-turn. In the hotel’s talent competition, Belfry’s Got Talent which was judged by Sam Bailey, Sally triumphed and relished her prize supporting Sam on stage. While Sally was used to gigging, she hadn’t performed in a theatre setting and was wowed by the experience. She said: “It was amazing. A theatre audience is so different and all the attention is on you”.

Surrounded by music as a child, it was obvious early on that Sally was a bit special. She said: “I’ve always loved music. My dad had guitars and there were all kinds of instruments at home”. Sally started writing music aged 12, performed in school choirs and was a regular in the city of Birmingham Young Voices choir. Clearly creative, Sally was baffled when taking her options at school it wasn’t possible to choose music and art. It was one or the other. She opted for music and went on to complete a Btec in music at college too.

AMERICAN DREAM

Always performing, Sally was a regular on Birmingham’s music scene gigging around town while studying. Not content with promoting her own talents, she started running an open mic night at the Roadhouse that became hugely successful and uncovered some great local talent like Esther Turner. “Aged just 15 at the time Esther has gone on to do really well. She’s supported The Jacksons among others. I’m really proud of that,” said Sally.

Clearly America is the centre of the country music universe and Sally loves it. An internship in events and hospitality in the US meant she was able to absorb the country vibe first-hand which cemented her passion for the genre. “I began open mic singing while I was out there. It allowed me to travel and I met loads of amazing people.” She plans to spend a lot more time there and was preparing to go to Nashville just after we spoke.

Leaving The Belfry was a bit daunting, but the company has been incredibly supportive making it clear the door is always open. Sally’s focused on writing and recording working with Gavin Monaghan in the studio preparing to put a record out with her band Gasoline and Matches. Influences include US country star Butch Walker who Sally was lucky enough to meet. She recalled: “They say never meet your idols in case you’re disappointed, but it wasn’t the case. We were in a bar drinking vodka at 2am! He’s just a great guy. Really charismatic.”

With only one major country music event in the UK, Sally would like to see more. “There’s C2C at the O2 in London which is pretty big, but that’s it. It’s an amazing genre with really passionate fans. There should be more here in the UK.” With her events grounding we wouldn’t bet against her forging ahead and organising her own.

Despite her penchant for the US, Birmingham will always be home. Sally explained: “It’s such a young energetic city. The shopping is second to none and there are new restaurants popping up all the time. Independents are thriving. Places like Digbeth Dining Club are doing great things. I can’t see myself living anywhere else. Birmingham’s home.”

Three years ago, a diagnosis of Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (EDS) – a rare condition with multiple debilitating symptoms – could have been the end of Danielle’s sporting life. Competing on the world stage definitely wasn’t on her radar, but thanks to her plucky spirit, talent and the introduction of a new form of competitive cheerleading called ParaCheer, Danielle did just that. All while holding down the day job!

From a dancing background Danielle had always been active and competed on the dance team at university to a high level as well as cheerleading, but having struggled with inexplicable joint pain from a young age, she opted for routine surgery on a shoulder in 2013. It was then the path to a diagnosis of EDS began. Danielle explained: “The physio dealing with my rehab felt something wasn’t right.” Despite ligaments being tightened and reattached, Danielle’s shoulder started to sublux (drift) again.

SENSE OF RELIEF

When Danielle’s mum read an article about someone with EDS she felt it described her daughter’s condition perfectly and the family pushed for a referral to a top rheumatologist in Manchester. There was a sense of relief. Danielle recalled: “Everything started to make sense. I was no longer someone with lots of things going wrong. I was an individual with Ehlers Danlos. I could start educating myself and developing coping mechanisms.”

Danielle’s main EDS issues are joint instability, chronic pain and fatigue, irritable bowel syndrome, food intolerances, soft and fragile skin, delicate veins, bruising easily plus a number of others. Strong medication for the pain and fatigue has its own issues, but Danielle has learned to listen to her body and adjust her lifestyle accordingly. “I try to get on with life but there are days when I can’t and because EDS isn’t a well-known condition I find myself constantly explaining it.”

When a second bout of shoulder surgery failed Danielle was told she’d never be able to dance or compete in cheerleading again which was a horrible blow. “I felt like my health was defining what I could and couldn’t do.” Feeling low and trying to come to terms with her situation, Danielle was introduced to Team England ParaCheer by a friend who’d been part of the launch of ParaCheer at the ICU Cheerleading World Championships the previous year.

Founded by Team England athlete and coach Rick Rodgers who was left in a wheelchair after an accident, ParaCheer involves physically disabled and able-bodied athletes competing together on integrated teams. With renewed hope Danielle signed up for the Team England trials feeling more than a tad anxious. She wasn’t the only athlete with EDS which was a boost. Danielle performed well and was offered a place on the freestyle pom team. Freestyle pom originates from side-line cheerleading and drill teams, but has been developed in to a dance style of its own with strong synchronisation and visual effect, clean precise movement and pom technique.

MEDAL PROSPECTS

Training with Team England – although it ‘wipes her out’ – has made Danielle realise she’s able to do anything she puts her mind to just in an alternative way and she’s honoured to travel to the World Championships for two reasons. She explained: “It’s a privilege to compete for my country and show the world what we can do even with disabilities.” Travelling to Florida will be a thrilling experience and Danielle is full of praise for the ‘amazing coaches’. This year Team England has two at the champiosnhips with a medal a realistic prospect. There’s also a campaign for cheerleading to become an Olympic sport which is ‘incredibly exciting’.

Lucky pupils in prep school at St George’s School in Edgbaston, where pupils know Danielle as Miss Cheetham ,benefit from her talents as she enjoys teaching Key Stage 1 and 2 dancing and cheerleading. They’ll be watching Miss Cheetham’s progress with interest no doubt, as will we.

If you’ve seen Billy Elliot the Musical you’ll understand how intense the role of the young Billy is. If you haven’t where have you been? On stage almost throughout the entire production, the role of Billy requires incredible stamina and energy. It’s no mean feat. There are four talented ‘Billys’ touring currently who rotate in the role and one of them is Brum’s very own Lewis Smallman who’s thrilled to be ‘coming home for a bit’.

Dancing since the age of six at Arabesque Dance School in Perry Barr, Lewis had his first stint on the Hippodrome stage in Swan Lake and is excited to be back. Now aged 13, it took a while to get the part of Billy with a lengthy audition process – roughly two years – and over 100 boys competing for the part.

HOME AND AWAY

Once whittled down to just 11, the young actors attended a summer school which put them through their paces further before the company made a final decision. Lewis took it all in his stride, mind you. He said he was ‘a little bit nervous’. His mum on the other hand, he says, cried when he got a place on the summer school.

Having been chosen as one of the four Billys, things got more intense living away from home. He explains why it’s all worth it: “I found it a bit hard settling in. I’d never been away from home before, but being on stage is fun and cool. It’s what I want to do.” Combining rehearsing and performing with schoolwork is important to the company. It’s a well-thought out and well-practised regime at the company with two tutors on hand for schooling in the morning and rehearsals in the afternoon.

There are seven full-time chaperones touring to look after the cast and to manage logistics of getting people in the right place at the right time. Head chaperone Simon Potter, who we suspect is the lynchpin in the whole operation, explained: “Billy carries the whole show. It’s mentally tough and requires immense stamina. All of the boys are at the top of their game.” He adds: “It can be hard for parents and siblings. Life carries on as normal.” I wondered how hard it is for the Billys to step back in to normal life if indeed they do. Simon added: “If you stop it’s hard to pick it back up at the same level. It’s better to stay at the top of your game. Lewis has lots of options, professional theatre school perhaps.”

CHOCOLATE FACTORY

Many of the Billys have gone on to do great things. Starring in Matthew Bourne productions for example and not forgetting Tom Holland who played Spiderman on the big screen. Lewis isn’t sure what he’ll do next, but he says: “I’d like to do some TV although Charlie and the Chocolate Factory would be good too.”

With such a long lead time from auditioning to performing some of the Billys have naturally outgrown the part and look too old, but Lewis has been lucky enough to perform the whole tour of more than 100 shows which will end in July. We’ll be watching Lewis’s career with interest.

FORMER BILLYS DOING GREAT THINGS:

• Tom Holland has starred in Marvel’s Spiderman as well as The Impossible
• Dean-Charles Chapman played Tommen Baratheon in Game of Thrones
• Liam Mower has starred in Matthew Bourne’s Swan Lake, The Nutcracker and The Car Men

Siena Horton is not only a slalom supremo rocking Great Britain’s U16 alpine racing team. She’s also pretty nifty on the hockey pitch too. When Siena’s off piste, she stars in Bromsgrove School’s first team as well as Stourport U15 Girls who came fifth in the national championships. She played for Mercia Lynx at England’s U15 HIPAC tournament in October and is part of the England Hockey Performance Centre programme. Phew!

Skiing is Siena’s first love though which has been a big part of her life since stepping onto the slopes aged only two. Having access to a chalet in Colorado meant that skiing in the holidays and Christmases was the norm as a small child. Siena’s parents and grandparents are keen skiers – her grandfather is still skiing aged 76 – and by the age of five Siena was mixing it with the grown-ups and could tackle any slope. Although she may have enjoyed the odd shoulder ride from dad when her legs got tired!

GETTING SERIOUS

The sport became more than a hobby when Siena started racing aged 11. She recalled: “I never really thought I was that good, then I won an indoor race and it all started from there.” Training in Milton Keynes meant a trip south every Saturday and sometimes Tuesdays, but it was all worth it. She was selected for the GB squad last year in the U14 category competing in Andorra and Topolino, Italy.

Sponsored by Atomic Ski, Siena now races in the U16 team which is a big step up with some competitors nearly two years older. She’s not fazed by that and recently came fourth in the slalom and eighth in the giant slalom at the Ski Interkriterium International Race in the Czech Republic which drew competitors from 11 nations.

Siena trains with Ambition Racing based in Leogang, Austria – a programme for elite skiers – which means weeks at a time away from home and school. The mornings are reserved for intense training on the slopes while the afternoon is set aside for school work. Siena’s school, Bromsgrove School, is on board providing her with appropriate school work and support during the weeks she misses.

On being away from home Siena said: “At first it was a struggle but I got used to it quickly.” Naturally, Siena’s parents travel to see her race and a couple of weeks is generally the longest they go without seeing one another. A five-and-a-half week stint in New Zealand over the summer was the longest Siena has been away but it was an ‘amazing’ experience which she’ll probably repeat again this year.

CONDITIONING

When she’s at home and attending school Siena, whose hockey prowess means she’s a sports scholar at Bromsgrove School, makes the most of the school’s facilities working on strength and conditioning which really helps with skiing as well as hockey.

Although not generally regarded as a skiing nation, Siena assures me Great Britain is competing on the world stage. Brit Dave Ryding is ranked number two in the world and many young skiers who are benefitting from the kind of top-flight training programme Siena is used to are coming through too.

Siena would love to get to the Youth Olympics and Youth World Championships when she’s eligible to qualify. Two of her older team-mates from Ambition made the cut this year, so it’s highly realistic. She’d like to emulate her heroes, top US ski champions Lindsay Vonn and Mikaela Shiffrin, who she trained next to last year but was too self-conscious to say hi. We reckon in a few years they’ll be making a beeline for Siena.

How many coffee pods do you go through in a day? We reckon at Brum Living Towers we consign at least 30 of the little blighters to landfill every single day and we’re not alone. Cue talented designer Rhys Ellis whose stunning work transforms the nuisance material to catwalk chic with striking results. His eureka moment came in Milan where drinking coffee is like breathing, and now the fashion world is starting to sit up and take notice.

Lucky enough to bag free studio space at super cool Gallery Six at the Old Truman Brewery in London, Rhys is working on a new collection that will feature wearable day-to-day pieces to be sold through retailers as well as his signature couture style. There are roughly 6,000 pods in each dress. Each pod is treated and manipulated by hand then attached to a mesh structure allowing Rhys to mould the garments. It sounds pretty technical and quite a feat of engineering as well as clever design. The structural quality means it’s no surprise to learn that Alexander McQueen is one of Rhys’s heroes.

FOOTBALL VS FASHION

Not always into fashion or saving the planet, football was Rhys’s jam throughout his teens which he played to a very high standard until a nasty injury spelled the end. While he was completing a foundation course in sculpture and textiles at Birmingham City University and wondering what to do with his life, one of Rhys’s tutors suggested fashion design which struck a chord. He took her sound advice and embarked on a BA in Fashion Design at BCU.

As part of his course Rhys spent a year in Milan which cemented his career path. “I mixed with loads of people from the creative industry including architects and interior designers which was phenomenal,” he said. He learned from a highly respected 74-year-old tailor who had ‘trained Armani before he became Armani’ if you see what we mean. It was important for Rhys to get this traditional tailoring experience. He explained: “I wanted to be able to make clothes not just draw them for someone else to make.”

With this grounding under his belt, Rhys then went to train with someone at the other end of the design spectrum, Iris Vanherpen in Amsterdam. Iris’s designs are futuristic and she’s hugely into technology, so it couldn’t have been more different and Rhys came back buzzing with ideas. He began networking with hotels, schools and universities mooting the idea of taking their used coffee pods off their hands.

Rhys has found the fashion world to be utterly supportive. “I’d heard bad things about this industry, but I haven’t experienced any of it. Whether that’s down to the environmental thing I’m not sure.” He’s referring to things like being offered free studio space which is a huge bonus and means he’s in the heart of a creative hub in an accessible part of town allowing him to get up and running without the financial pressure of renting in the capital.

The first collection took five months with influences including art, sea creatures and history. A number of pieces from the Spring/Summer 17 collection will be displayed at Selfridges Birmingham for the next couple of months as part of the store’s Material World project. For Rhys who worked at the iconic store as a student it’s incredible to have his creations on show. “It makes me so proud to see my work on display in my home city.”

We travel into it every day, we walk around it, we even eat and sleep in it… but how many of us actually take notice of how beautiful this great city of ours is? Life’s too hectic, time’s too short to stand, stare and admire. But not for talented local photographer Verity Milligan. As her reveal, Verity sees that which we don’t, and she’s in no doubt that Birmingham and its surroundings are breath-taking especially when viewed through the lens of her camera.

Brilliantly creative and simply stunning, her images of the city architecture and landscapes have not just attracted local attention and acclaim. Two years ago a national newspaper spotted Verity’s work and ran an article about ‘the photographer who is changing the perception of Birmingham’. Verity says: “From that moment on the whole thing has gone crazy. The Daily Mail article talked about how my pictures showed the changing face of Birmingham, and as a result I had so many people contact me wanting me to do work and commissions for them – not just locally but across the country.”

IT JUST CLICKED

What’s all the more amazing is that Verity didn’t pick up a camera until she was 25. The Leicester University student had always been artistic growing up but had her mind set on being a painter. “But I struggled with paint,” she says. “When I picked up a camera and started clicking away I realised that just like paint it allowed me to show the world as I wanted. I’ve not looked back since.”

Living with her partner in Acocks Green, Verity has many strands to her photography career. She divides her time between working on commissions, shooting on her own time and selling prints of her amazing landscapes of Birmingham and Britain as a whole, producing calendars, lecturing on photography and film-making at Leicester University and even still keeping her hand in on the occasional wedding.

“They are all different pieces of the puzzle to make photography a commercial success,” she says. Verity is also looking to move into fashion photography – “but fashion in the landscape”. She adds: “This could be urban landscape or up a hill somewhere. One thing I am not is a studio photographer. For me it is all about being outdoors somewhere.”

Social media plays a big role in getting Verity’s talent out there. Her website is packed with gorgeous pictures she has taken in Birmingham and elsewhere. Her Brum portfolio includes stunning views of the canals, Lickey Hill at sunrise, the Jewellery Quarter, misty Fox Hollies Park and spectacular mono and colour images of the commercial centre at day and night.

DREAM SHOOT

If you prefer to widen you horizon, Verity has also shot around the country, including in the Lake District, the Peak District, the West Country and Isle of Skye. Her ultimate dream shoot would be to follow in the footsteps of famous American photographer, the late Ansel Adams whose remarkable black and white landscapes of the US West, such as Yosemite National Park, have been widely reproduced in books and on posters and calendars. “That would be amazing to go and shoot all the major national parks in the US and Canada. The scenery is breathtaking,” she says.

As you can tell, Verity loves everything to do with photography. “Some people relax by sitting and watching a good film or TV but I relax by doing some picture or film editing,” she says. “I never sit down, I’m always on the go.”

Currently, this talented camera lady – whose past commissions include work for Visit Engalnd, Visit Britain and picturing the hills and dales for a Yorkshire Tea campaign – is collaborating with Marketing Birmingham and their projects for 2017. Verity is also working on a couple of other exciting Birmingham-based ideas, but she says: “I can’t talk about those just yet!” We can’t wait to see what she’s got in store…

Amy Campbell spends a lot of her time in a spin and since taking up gymnastics aged just four and then specialising in tumbling from the age of seven, she hasn’t stopped. A member of the GB tumbling squad, Amy recently scooped a gold medal in the Loule Cup in Portugal which was her third international assignment.

The Loule Cup is a an annual trampoline and tumbling competition that attracts teams from around the world including Russia, Greece, Sweden, France, Germany and Japan among others. A win was a massive achievement for the tumbling teen and a personal best score in her final tumbling pass was the icing on the cake.

Now in Year 9 at Edgbaston High School for Girls, Amy found out about her GB call up aged 11. Training four days a week at Revolution Gymnastics in Harborne as well as working on fitness at home for at least an hour a day, Amy’s schedule is jam-packed. Naturally there are sacrifices Amy makes, like not being able to celebrate friend’s birthdays on occasion, but she takes it in her stride.

With World Championships every year apart from Olympic years, Amy has much to work towards in the sporting arena as well as approaching a more intense time at school. There’s also a campaign to make tumbling an Olympic sport which she’s hopeful about too. Ambitions are high and Amy would love to follow in the footsteps of her hero, the ‘incredible’ American artistic gymnast Simone Biles who wowed in Rio.

Lucky enough not to have suffered any injuries other than requiring a bit of strapping to an ankle, Amy’s in good shape. We’ll be following her progress closely and willing her on to more golden glory.

Famously, they reduced Simon Cowell to tears. It’s safe to say that The Neales took Britain’s Got Talent by storm in a way previously unseen since singer Susan Boyle. Like Boyle six years earlier, the four-part family harmony group from Birmingham made the show’s final in 2015 and didn’t win. But they became overnight stars with millions of viewers and millions more worldwide on YouTube and social media.

“Britain’s Got Talent is one of the biggest TV shows in the world, so reaching the live final was pretty incredible to say the least,” said James. “You’re in a bit of a bubble during the show because it really is one of those special shows that the whole nation is talking about whilst it’s on.”

The foursome – dad Laurie and sons James, Dan and Phil – went into the show as amateurs with no experience and with no expectations but after reaching the final they knew that the real test was going to be how they progressed once the show had finished. They have been careful to balance their fame with their day jobs – Laurie and James are both lawyers, while Dan works for Deutsche Bank in Birmingham and Phil for a major supermarket chain.

SOLD-OUT GIGS

“It’s been a lot of hard work, but thankfully there’s four of us to share the workload,” said James. “We make sure we all have fun together, whether it is on stage, on the road, in the studio or just when we’re at home. We’re delighted that over the past year since the show, we’ve sold out some great venues across the country, raised tens of thousands of pounds for charity, met loads of inspirational people and made some unforgettable memories. Topping it off, in June our debut single I’ll Be There which went straight into the Official UK Charts at number 22, peaking at number six. We continue to take things one step at a time though.”

The Neales auditioned for BGT after years of Laurie, now 60, nagging his sons. Laurie had always been passionate about singing but a heart attack 10 years ago which brought him close to death convinced him to make up for lost time. “ Music is my therapy to de-stress after I almost worked my way into the grave,” said Laurie. “Enjoying music with my sons is all I ever wanted to do.”

James and his brothers are convinced that their BGT fame has drawn the family even closer together. “We’ve learned a lot more about each other and probably seen sides we wouldn’t have seen otherwise,” he said. “I’ve learned that Dan isn’t always as quiet as he sometimes seems, that Phil has an answer for everything and that my dad, at the age of 60, is more of a heart-throb than all three of us!

“And mum has loved it too – it’s meant that she’s seen a lot more of us when we were back rehearsing for gigs every weekend. She’s been interviewed for various lifestyle magazines keen to hear her story, and it’s shown her that if she does want to get back into modeling then the door is definitely still open.” Mother Joanne first met Laurie when they shared student digs in London – he was studying law while she was training at Rambert School of Ballet. Joanne went on to become a dancer and model and the two have been married for nearly 35 years.

Of the future, James revealed that The Neales are writing their own songs with the help of a top team of writers and producers. “From a recording perspective, we’re hoping to do some collaborations with cool artists,” he added. “We’d love to hear our songs feature on TV or in films.

CHRISTMAS SPECIAL

“When it comes to gigs, we have to be realistic as to what we can sustain alongside our day jobs. We certainly hope to continue to share a stage together for years to come as we absolutely love putting on a great show.”

Among the foursome’s highlights is their annual sell-out Christmas show. Last year it was at Town Hall and just last month they brought their Countdown to Christmas – The Neales show to the Core Theatre, Solihull. “We had a great time in Solihull,” said James. “At some point we’d love to appear back again at Birmingham Hippodrome as that’s where it all started with our first audition for BGT.”

So, what about a dream gig? “That would be to appear on the Late Late Show with James Corden because like the rest of the world – we all love him!”

After chatting to talented mixologist James Bowker who works his cocktail wizardry at The Edgbaston, we realised we’ve wildly underestimated what goes into creating the perfect menu. For instance, high flier James is busy concocting an inventive new menu with 36 drinks inspired by Birmingham that won’t hit the bar until February. Having researched Brum’s history extensively for inspiration, sourced the best ingredients and spirits – many of them local – he’ll spend time fine-tuning the details until every drink reflects the spirit of the bar and the concept.

Earlier in the year James reached the GB finals of the world’s biggest cocktail competition, World Class, and with 100 semi-finalists and only 10 mixologists in the final that’s an awesome achievement. And if you’re imagining a room full of hip young things furiously chucking bottles around a la Cruise forget it. There are numerous rounds that require super skills, precision, knowledge and inventiveness. Attention to detail is key, like being able to recognise five different tequilas through smell alone.

CANNY MOVE

James began working in his local pub aged just 15 and fell in love with the industry. He revelled in chatting to guests and worked many events from fine dining to weddings. He started dabbling in cocktails and made a canny move to the Jekyll and Hyde where he cut his teeth learning a huge amount. When one of his colleagues moved to The Edgbaston and asked him to follow suit, he declined as the offer was to work on the floor and he’d got the cocktail bug. His colleague came back and offered James a bartender role at which point he snapped her hand off.

The face of cocktails is changing and James says that over the past few years people are less fussed about the strength of their cocktails and they’re more focused on quality. People care more about what they put in to their bodies and James responds to that – organic ingredients are standard for example.

The creative freedom James enjoys makes his job pretty perfect. He’s ambitious and dedicated to making the bar the best it can be with more competitions in the pipeline to raise his and The Edgbaston’s profile further.

Gabrielle Killick has lived a bit of a whirlwind since embarking on a three-year intensive course at Birmingham School of Acting (BSA), and even more so since she graduated last summer. In her second year she took her one-woman show, May I Take Your Order, to the Edinburgh Fringe Festival which whet her appetite for stand-up. She was then voted best newcomer at Birmingham Festival within a month of graduating and is now shooting an independent film that’s set for release in 2017. BSA was a no-brainer for Gabby which she fell for as soon as she stepped through Millennium Point’s shiny doors. She recalls: “It’s this great conservatoire of creative things and I just knew I wanted to be there.” Competition for places was fierce and a tough audition process followed which Gabby excelled in despite being one of the youngest applicants.

REVELATION

Although Gabby’s training was predominantly theatre she’ll try her hand at anything. She says: “I want to get to 50 and think I gave it absolutely everything.” Stand-up has been a revelation and while she still finds it nerve-wracking, the pay-off is worth it. “I love laughing and I love making people laugh. It’s also given me the confidence to perform alone.” Winning best newcomer at Birmingham Festival has opened doors and Gabby has just filmed No Fruit At The Bottom produced by Jeztatopia in which she plays a sexy, edgy character called Sophie who has an affair with her sister’s manipulative boyfriend. It’s currently in editing and expected to be released in early 2017. There’ll be no rest for Gabby though. She’s back on the comedy circuit this month with her show Girlfriend from Hell which went down a storm in London. She offers advice on everything from how to get into a nightclub when you’re too drunk to what to do when you lose your skirt. Ambitions? “No question. I’m going for the Oscars!” We’d back her.

Great artists are always notoriously hard on themselves. From the likes of Van Gogh, Monet and Turner to Lichtenstein, Warhol and Hockney, the pursuit of personal creative excellence is what it’s all about. It’s certainly the driving force for our very own Temper. Temper, real name Aaron Bird, is Brum’s highest profile contemporary artist. His work is sought after by collectors and commissioned by major multi-nationals. But despite this success the artist who started out as a kid with a spray paint can on the streets of Wolverhampton says he’s not in it for the money – and we believe him. A more down-to-earth, regular, even shy, guy you couldn’t wish to meet. Over the years he’s left decorating the derelict factory and street walls behind to create some of the most dramatic and dynamic portraits in graffiti art. His latest collection of work goes on show at Castle Fine Art at the ICC this month. Yet typical of the man, he was already restless for fresh invigorating challenges when we spoke to him ahead of the unveiling of the new exhibition of 15 paintings called Timeless – a celebration of his first-ever collection, The Good Die Young.

PIVOTAL POINT

“The next 12 months are pivotal in my future,” he says. “I need to make decent plans for where my artwork should be. I want to elevate my journey. Really push the boundaries again. I would like to think that I can move forwards and embrace technology more. I want to do more 3D work. I feel like a Stone Age person – I’ve worked with people who use computer design but I’ve never really let myself understand it. I want to change that too.” Temper’s artistic journey began when the council worker’s son picked up a can of spray paint for the first time at the age of 10. Growing up in Wolverhampton’s Eastside, Temper remembers: “When I was a child my grandad used to carefully unfold cigarette packets and flatten them out so I could draw on the inside of them. That was the only time I ever got to draw as a kid.” Aged 11, the Deansfield schoolboy came into contact with fellow graffiti artist Goldie in Wolverhampton, and within six months he was creating his own street art. Influenced by the hip-hop culture arriving in the UK from America, he spent the next few years illegally spraying tags, bubble letters and images on subways and factory walls while struggling in a succession of jobs from forklift truck driving to grave digging and bricklaying

SOLO FIRST

In the 90s Temper was finally being paid for his craft, giving live demonstrations and even set up his own T-shirt business. In 1995 he created his first collection on canvas. In 2001, he was commissioned by Coca-Cola to design the iconic design for Sprite drink cans – the resulting artwork appearing on more than 100 million cans and bottles across Europe in what was the biggest-ever graffiti advertising campaign. In the same year he became the first graffiti artist to have a solo show in a major public gallery with more than 38,000 people viewing his Minuteman exhibition at Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery. Further lucrative commissions followed, including ones from advertising giant Saatchi and Saatchi and billionaire Chelsea football owner Roman Abramovich. Further collections of his work also followed with Post Graphaelite making him nearly £1.5million. His art didn’t come without huge personal costs however as he endured the loss of family members which saw him have four nervous breakdowns and an attempted suicide. His best known collection The Good Die Young mirrors his personal tragedies by marking 27 iconic figures whose lives ended prematurely, including John Lennon, Martin Luther King and Marilyn Monroe. His other graffiti collections have included A New Day featuring 24 figurative nudes representing 24 hours in a day which sold out within five minutes of being unveiled at The Mailbox. In 2014, Temper launched a collection called cover:versions drawn from LP covers, including Black Sabbath’s Paranoid and The Beatles’ Revolver. For the first time he used oil and acrylics combined and painted with brushes.

ALLERGIC REACTION

After using turps to clean his brushes he suffered an allergic chemical reaction which put him in isolation in Wolverhampton’s Penn Hospital for a month! “I was told I was lucky not to have brain disease as a result,” he says. The 44-year-old artist says he also now wants to develop further as a sculptor, following on from The Lovely People bronze pieces created for The Cube. “Once this new collection is done with then I will sit down and see what Temper wants to do. I will also look at going back and doing more sketches like always used to do.” Temper still finds time to give something back to Birmingham. He spray painted two of the giant owls in last year’s Big Hoot auction for the Children’s Hospital – each fetching the two highest bids of £18,000 and £15,000.

Whether it’s coaching, captaining wheelchair football teams or leading after-school clubs for disabled children, it’s sport that gets Amir Ali excited. Born with dystrophic dwarfism and scoliosis, Amir has used a power chair all of his life and attended Wilson Stuart Specialist School as a child where he was always competitive having a go at any sport on offer. But it wasn’t until he left school that his sporting career began in earnest. Amir’s former teachers invited him to come back and coach at an after-school sports club for children with a range of impairments called the Rockets. Honoured to do so, he accepted and enjoyed motivating the kids and watching them flourish. He still does. Due to Amir’s clear enthusiasm and leadership skills at the club, a friend approached him and asked him to coach a new power wheelchair football team also called The Rockets which he accepted. It became apparent pretty quickly that Amir would be a big asset on the pitch as well as off it, so his co-coaches encouraged him to play and soon he was captaining the side. Amir said: “When they asked me I said yes straight away. I was young and it meant a lot to me. One of my coaches, Martin Mills, has always backed me which has given me immense confidence.”

TOP FLIGHT

The team had some success in the regional league, but when they were approached by Aston Villa Football Club they didn’t need asking twice! With the club’s support they were able to join the Wheelchair Football Association National League and were renamed the Villa Rockets. The team has gone from strength to strength and in 2010 captained by Amir they were promoted to the top flight of the Premiership Division. “It’s really good exercise. You’re driving around for 40 minutes a game and your body is very tense – not to mention it’s great fun!” Amir still runs after-school clubs and is determined to encourage young disabled people into sport. He credits his school and family for instilling a love of sport in him which he wants to do for other youngsters. “Having received overwhelming support from my family, teachers and coaches while I was growing up, I always try to give my students and teammates the same level of support,” Amir explained. So inspirational is Amir that he was approached by national charity Together We Will to become one of its ambassadors for 2016. The charity aims to motivate disabled people to become more active, something Amir can clearly vouch for. He believes above all else that the confidence sport fosters is invaluable. He said: “Confidence is the greatest benefit. You get to meet people who may have similar conditions and interests which helps you learn and grow. Be bold, be brave and go for it!”

We pass them every day of our lives and barely give them a glance. Nondescript warehouses, old run-down industrial buildings, angular modern office blocks, dual carriageways plunging into dark unwelcoming underpasses. But Tom Bird doesn’t see them like that. To the 26-year-old Birmingham photographer they are potential works of art, presenting him with an opportunity to turn a picture into a dramatic and thought-provoking canvas. Tom’s vision and talent for seeing the unusual in our city earned him a place as one of only 16 contemporary UK artists invited to exhibit in a show staged by leading fine art publishers Washington Green. As the youngest contributor taking part, his amazing images sat alongside works from much more established artists. “I first photographed Queensway Tunnel in 2009 when it was closed for maintenance,” said Tom of one of his images. “The new shot in the exhibition was when it was closed off again. I knew what I wanted to do and just walked down the road, set up and took the shot. It worked out really well.”

BOURNVILLE COLLEGE

When you see Tom’s work it’s hard to realise that it’s only a handful of years since he graduated from Birmingham City University with an honours degree. And less than two years since he was working for a car dealership in Oldbury. His family is from Wolverhampton and he attended Birchfield School and Oldswinford School, Stourbridge before moving to Birmingham to go to college. “I was originally thinking I would go to Manchester University to study geography,” he recalls. “But a close friend talked me into going and doing art foundation with him at Bournville College. I started playing around with photography and found that I really enjoyed it and had a talent for it. “When I finally left BCU with my degree, I was still trying to decide what I should do with it. I needed to make a living. I worked as a sales assistant in various shops and then I went and worked at Syntner BMW as their first proper car photographer. It proved to be a very strict and stringent with how BMW would allow their cars to be shot, but it gave me a real sense of corporate and commercial work which I still like to do.” Tom says he made the decision to set up his own business because he wanted to pursue more creative avenues with his photography and “I thought I can do this, it can’t be that hard”. He came up the name Infinity Project, got himself a new camera, a website and used the contacts he had been building up to get started earning some money. “I wanted to focus on the creative side of photography and most of the people I was dealing with wanted me to go down that route too otherwise they wouldn’t have been interested in what I could give them,” he explained. It would be a mistake to think of Tom as a landscape artist. “I really enjoy anything around lifestyle,” he said. “I’ve always been interested in design oriented things, like furniture.” He has produced work for a number of local clients, including I Choose Birmingham, Horton Estates (with some amazing ongoing pictures of the renovation work inside the listed Grand Hotel, Colmore Row), Two Cats Kitchen (creatively presenting plates of food), Allied Irish Bank (where he has 44 prints on permanent display) and Resorts World.

POP-UP GALLERY

But it’s turning photography into pure art that drives him moving forward. He wants to gain a high profile in Birmingham for being known for cutting edge creative work. He also says: “I want to do a pop-up gallery at some point. More needs to be done for contemporary arts space in the city. I want to have my own permanent gallery space where I can exhibit my work with that of other artists. A retail unit but not presented as a shop, or an industrial unit maybe under a railway arch or something. Somewhere artists can showcase their work, with everything from furniture to ceramics and more.” Tom adds: “Photography is very popular now, everyone has a digital DLR, but when I started at uni it wasn’t like that. I am fortunate that I have learned so much which other people are only now beginning to understand.” After wowing the critics at the Washington Green show, he’s now onto his next project. “I’m starting a new creative collection on the different formation of clouds,” he said. The sky truly is the limit for this talented Brummie…

At 6ft 5ins Pharrell Wallace-Steele towers above his peers at St George’s School in Edgbaston – and he’s still just 13-years-old! That makes him the ideal build for basketball, which he happens to be rather good at! Pharrell joined City of Birmingham basketball club aged 10 but admits: “I wasn’t very good at first.” We think he’s being modest as he started playing at a high level unusually swiftly. Just a year after joining the club, Pharrell was picked to play in the Under-12 West Midlands squad as centre and has gone on to train with the England Under-14 development team at one of basketball’s regional performance centres.

HOUSTON HERO

There isn’t an official squad at Pharrell’s age group, but the performance centre programme is a good indicator of his ability. He’s aiming for the Under-16 England squad and beyond, and all the signs are that this talented youngster will go far. Pharrell’s hero is retired NBA superstar Hakeem Olajuwon who played for the back-to-back championship-winning Houston Rockets. Mind you, Pharrell has a way to grow to match up to his idol – Hakeem hit the tape measure at 7ft! But there’s still plenty of time for the local lad to make up those inches… What’s more, City of Birmingham has a successful history of club players going on to compete internationally in recent years, so he’s in the right place to achieve his ambitions and certainly has the right attitude. He trains hard, fitting it in around schoolwork and St George’s fully supports Pharrell’s efforts. When he’s not training at the club in Neachells he can be found in the gym building up vital strength and stamina or doing his nightly push-ups and sit-ups. And how does he relax? He goes for a jog of course!

Before Anton launched fashion label Sneaker Club he was heavily involved in the DJ scene in the UK and across Europe for seven successful years. Rather than working solo as many DJs do, Anton was part of a collective… well two actually. First came Logistics which was a large bunch and then Sneaker Club consisting of three DJs and a live band which was pretty unusual. The idea for the label was born out of his experience with the group hence the name. Anton explains: “We met this guy who told us to make the most of what we had. He thought we could do really well from merchandising. So we started buying in blank apparels and customising them and it worked pretty well.”

SHOCK TO THE SYSTEM

Reluctantly, the collective disbanded when some members felt demotivated by low record sales and Anton found himself looking for a ‘normal’ job. He ended up working in finance where the only flash of creativity was deciding which tie to wear with which suit. He recalls: “It was a shock to the system. I stuck it out for a year then I had to call it quits.” When Anton decided to give fashion a try, Sneaker Club was the obvious name and he set about designing. His clothes are genderless which is important. Anton says: “I like to challenge society’s ideals. Why should boys wear blue and girls pink? The minute a child is born they’re put in a box. It’s not equal.” He adds: “Girls have been buying from men’s departments for years and I used to work with this serious rock dude who wanted extra skinny jeans so he’d buy girl’s. That’s quite common now.” The lines are blurred. The idea behind the label whose designs ooze urban simplicity is anything you might wear with sneakers, so there are plenty of cool tees as well as jackets and accessories plus a bespoke service. Anton’s keen to ensure that the label is inclusive from a cost point of view as well as gender, so items range from £5 to £300. He has an advantage over some designers in that he’s versatile, so he’s in control. “I can design, pack and cut, sew and finish, so that’s given me a bit of a leg up.” The clothing is stocked in concept store Bene Culture in the Custard Factory as well as online, plus Anton has his movable concept store in the form of his very cool matt black van which makes going to trade shows easy and effective.

JUGGLING ACT

A studio in the Custard Factory seemed the natural fit, so a year ago that’s where Anton set up. Surrounded by other creatives and independents it’s the ideal hub. The last two years have been a juggling act between studying fashion and developing the label with 2am finishes and 8am starts a frequent happening. Post-graduation Anton is enjoying focusing on the label and catching up on development. Having said that, he’s finding time to give back a bit too. After being invited to speak at BCU earlier in the year, he receives and answers e-mails from students regularly asking for advice or wanting to come and see him in the studio. “It’s fascinating to me that people are remotely interested in what I do. I didn’t intend to make clothes. I just loved the idea of doing something for myself and championing my own ideas.”

A ‘random’ visit to a bar in Florence proved to be a game-changer for Phil Innes. It gave him the idea of how he would translate a love of wine into a business that has become one of the coolest in Birmingham – and which may well have tripled in size by the end of this year. “I always knew that I’d want to set up my own business,” said Phil, from Harborne, who developed his knowledge of wine while working for the likes of Wine Rack and Oddbins during his time studying at Manchester University. Phil’s ‘lightbulb moment’ came when he spotted a machine tucked at the back of the small bar in the Italian city. It turned out to be a wine sampling machine – a piece of equipment that dispenses several different wines by the glass. “The Italian culture is very different, traditional, and they like their wine served by hand, but I wondered that maybe it could be different in the UK where younger customers in particular would be more than happy to serve themselves using these machines. Instead of being at the back of the bar, why not at the front as the main focus where people could use them themselves and try lots of different kinds of wine?”

RARE SIGHT

These sampling machines were such a rare sight in the UK at the time that when Phil founded Loki Wine the only other place to have them was Selfridges in London. In the three years since opening in Great Western Arcade, Phil has seen his unique offering create a huge buzz in Brum. Loki Wine is regularly packed out with customers looking to sample his unusual and varied wines. Loki Wine is a fine wine merchant/shop and bar dedicated to offering a huge range in diverse and hard-to-come-by fine wines from around the world at affordable prices. It stocks more than 600 wines and spirits. But it’s the wine sampling/preservation machines which are the big draw and talking point. “We started with three machines able to serve 24 wines,” said Phil. “We now have five, serving 40 different wines which are being constantly updated.” The whole thing works brilliantly thanks to the chip-and-pin style Loki Wine Tasting Card which patrons purchase first. You either load the cards up with money or a tab. Once you’re up and running, it’s time to enjoy as many and as varied glasses of wine as you like. Even now, after three years of standout success, there’s nowhere else in Birmingham or the West Midlands selling wine in this way. The secret to success however isn’t just the novel gadgetry – it’s down to the expertise and knowledge of Phil and his team going out and finding intriguing and exciting wines from around the world. A couple of days after we spoke Phil was jetting off to California on a wine-buying trip. Another member of his team was in Argentina doing the same. All of which goes to explain why Loki Wine isn’t proving to be a hit just with customers but also industry experts. Loki is the most awarded wine merchant in Birmingham, winning 11 major national awards in the past three years. It was also named Best Drink Merchant at last month’s inaugural Birmingham Food, Drink and Hospitality Awards.

SEVEN UP

You might think all this success would be going to Phil’s head? You’d be wrong. Sure, he has plans to expand: “We have two more sites we are looking at in Birmingham at the moment. At least one will happen. If I get both I will be very, very happy.” But Phil doesn’t believe in getting too big. “Seven outlets would be a really nice number. It’s what I envisaged when I started. Seven is about right for the kind of specialist wines we sell. We have one wine, for example, of which only four cases of 12 bottles were imported to the UK. We had one of those cases. If you get too big in this business you just can’t do that. Everything changes to being large scale, bulk buying. It’s not what we are about. I’ve always believed that with wine the smaller you go in production the better the quality will be.” The perfect example of this ethos for perfection, is Loki Wine being the first place in Birmingham to use a Coravin – a clever piece of kit that allows the rarest and most expensive wines to be extracted from the bottle without removing the cork… Now that’s attention to detail for you!

Karl Loxley is not your average singing contest entrant. Sure, being a classical singer sets him apart, but it’s not just that. When he didn’t make it through to the live shows of BBC’s The Voice – he was knocked out in the battle rounds – Karl began preparing to make the most of the exposure he knew he would receive when the show was aired nearly a whole year later. He approached it with a business-like attitude, so as well as preparing mentally for the attention Karl created a website, got stuck into building a social media following and did a bit of opera busking, all while holding down a steady job. With his head screwed on about the whole TV experience Karl said: “Nearly 50,000 people entered and 55 were successful, with 45 were televised, so it was a massive achievement. You have to remember that it’s a TV show over a talent contest and you have to keep it in perspective.” For six months, the auditions and the process dominated Karl’s life, but in total he reckons about half-an-hour was aired. It’s certainly opened doors and Karl is able to sing for a living which was the ultimate aim. He’s released an album, performs regularly across the UK, on cruise ships and in panto which he loves.

HAPPY HOMECOMING

Recording an album called Everything I Am with a 42-piece orchestra at a studio in Digbeth has been a big highlight. Investment through crowdfunding made it possible and the album has been positively received. It was named album of the week by BBC Radio Wales, plus Karl was hailed artist of the week by BBC Radio Coventry and Warwickshire. Karl came home to the Midlands last month to perform in Adam Hepkins Magic of the Musicals at Grace Academy in Solihull which has toured the UK to rave reviews. Alongside some big names in musical theatre and joined by a local community choir it was a dream gig for Karl. And he’s about to fulfil another of his goals performing at Symphony Hall this month. “It is a dream come true. Symphony Hall is such a special place,” he said.

LATE STARTER

Karl discovered he could sing fairly late in life when aged 17 he was cast as the lead in Les Miserable at his old school, Heart of England. Prior to that he’d been a classical chorister who could ‘just about sing in tune’. After his successful stint in Les Mis he got better and better, confidence grew and he entered a few singing competitions and got the bug. A full scholarship to Guildford School of Acting followed and then The Voice. While the prime-time TV exposure has certainly changed and enhanced Karl’s career, he accepts it wouldn’t suit everybody and the trick is not to get carried away with the hype. “It’s dangerous to enter these things thinking you might win and become a multi-millionaire. I used it as a platform to build on and it has opened doors. For instance if I go for a musical audition people know who I am.” Karl felt a lot of love from former contestants from similar talent shows who were super helpful. The day after Karl left The Voice he had a call from Rhydian of the X Factor fame who has carved a successful career in musical theatre. “Rhydian was so supportive and helpful,” he said. “Everyone has been lovely actually. There are days when I’d like a big record deal, but on the whole I’m doing what I set out to do. Singing is my career and that was the dream.”

Talisha Johnson, or Tee Cee as she’s also known, is not the sort of person to fly under the radar. Aged only 22 she’s already successfully published a children’s book as well as founding and editing teen magazine Skool Girl Online that connects with thousands of youngsters. Talisha’s worked in radio, studied radio, interned, graduated from the Peter Jones Academy and most recently moved to Manchester to work as a runner at the BBC where she made such an extraordinary impact that after just four months she was thrust in front of the camera. When she moved up North, Talisha was in it for long haul knowing it could take years to get anywhere in the competitive world of TV. She explained: “It was daunting – I knew no one, but I viewed the experience as a really big adventure.” Tee Cee has just made her debut on CBBC as a guest vlogger on ‘Whoops I missed the Bus’ and is also bouncing onto the screen in Hacker and Dodge spin off Hacker Time. We watched and found her enthusiasm infectious. She’s bright and bubbly with a distinctive style and a strong Brummie twang that’s pleasing.

BLACK HISTORY HERO

Talisha’s won many awards along the way and has been hailed a Black History Hero by the Priory School in Edgbaston which she’s delighted, but a bit stunned about. She said: “I’m no Martin Luther King or Rosa Parks, but it is lovely! I’m honoured. I read to the pupils at the school and it’s nice to have made an impact.” Encouraged by her parents to keep a journal from the age of five, Talisha has been writing ever since. Aged 11 and inspired by writers like Jacqueline Wilson and Benjamin Zephaniah she announced she’d like to set about writing a children’s book. Talisha looked through her school English books taking the stories she’d already written and extending and improving them until they were ready to approach a publisher with. The first publisher she saw snapped it up and at 16 she was a fully-fledged published author of a book of short stories called Snow Black, the Seven Rastas and Other Short Stories. Talisha interned at various magazines including Heat and Closer which we all know is fairly pitiful financially, but can be a great stepping stone. A job as editorial assistant at Scene Birmingham magazine followed. Talisha carried on editing Skool Girl Online and was applauded for her response to US commentator Steve’s Emerson’s remark that “parts of Birmingham are no-go zones for non-Muslims”. Talisha hit back by championing her home town in the form of the Young Brum Power List in 2015 which featured 16 influential, talented and successful Birmingham youngsters. Talisha manages to juggle Skool Girl Online with her full time job at CBBC by working on it in the evening. “I love the magazine. The emails I get suggest it’s helping people and connecting.”

AND THERE’S MORE

While Talisha’s thrilled to be appearing on CBBC, she’s already thinking about a permanent spot on CBBC presentation – the link between the programmes – and she’s not stopping there! Ultimately, her goals are much grander. She said: “I’d like my own talk show, perhaps like Oprah. She’s a phenomenal person. The Oprah of Birmingham! That would be fantastic.” Watch this space people because you wouldn’t bet against her.

TEE CEE’S CV OF ACCOLADES (the shortened version!)

• Received Aspire Award – West Midlands Women of the Year Awards 2015
• Shortlisted for Young Entrepreneur of the Year – Ebony Black Business Awards 2014
• Nominated Young Social Entrepreneur Award – UnLtd Lived It Awards, 2014
• Appointed Birmingham Social Media Reporter for Global Entrepreneurship Week, 2013
• Local Youth Hero Award – Association of Jamaica National Annual Gala and Awards, 2013
• Received a Diana Award – Envision Truth About Youth Awards, 2011

Not many of us know what that moment feels like when you tell your parents you want to be an artist creating enormous metal sculptures that will be tricky to transport and expensive to produce. Cue Jacob Chandler. Blessed with a trained blacksmith father and woodworking mum, he couldn’t have asked for more understanding parents and from his sizeable workshop at the bottom of the garden things are going pretty well for the talented 21-year-old. Jacob was invited to exhibit by the Royal Birmingham Society of Artists at its gallery in the Jewellery Quarter last month as part of its national open competition. He is the youngest artist in the society’s 200-year history to be given this privilege and his sculpture Poise and Tension III took pride of place alongside professional artists, receiving positive reviews and plenty of media attention.

DYNAMIC RUST

Most of Jacob’s work so far aims to ‘capture the most dramatic part of an action, the tipping point from one movement to another, a point that is more often felt rather than seen’. The medium of choice is corten steel which is the same metal used by one of Jacob’s heroes Antony Gormley. He explained: “The rusting that is characteristic of this material is also a dynamic process and is wholly in keeping with my rationale.” Having the space and logistics to produce and transport the life size sculptures presents its challenges and Jacob tries to stick to a rule when designing a piece. “If it won’t fit in the people carrier, it’s not made,” he says. He admits to flouting this now and then by adding a trailer to the vehicle, but he hasn’t had to hire a lorry just yet. The inspiration for the pieces comes from many places, but dance has been a big influence – in fact Elmhurst School for Dance in Edgbaston has one of Jacob’s works titled The Lift in its reception. Of his fascination with the dancing form he says: “My cousin Corinne Cox is a dancer with Czech ballet company JK Tyl and a family friend Anna Kaszuba is a contemporary dancer, so I’ve been to numerous performances and events which have sparked my fascination with a dancer’s amazing strength and beauty.”

Although Jacob was always interested in art at school and had a particularly supportive A-Level teacher who encouraged his large scale projects, he thought the sensible thing to do in order to future proof his career would be to study architecture. “I was content with my choice but had subordinated my dreams of becoming a sculptor, due to the inherent difficulties of making a living as an artist,” he says. Four weeks into a seven-year architecture course at Birmingham City University fate intervened and Jacob was struck down with a severe allergic reaction teamed with a flu-like virus that left him bed-bound for months. He remembered: “It meant that my studies had to be deferred. Recovery was slow and in order to keep my spirits up, I turned to art. My parents encouraged me to turn my misfortune on its head, saying this was my opportunity to prove I had what it takes to become an artist.” The garden slowly filled up with pieces as Jacob grew stronger. Working with 200kg pieces of metal was pretty exhausting but interest from a local school and hospital spurred him on. Meeting with structural engineers, specifying materials and building business relationships made Jacob realise this could be a viable career.

GRAND PLANS

He exhibited a year’s worth of work at the Big Art Show in Shrewsbury and was delighted with the response from both the public and fellow artists. On a roll, Jacob got business cards printed, created a website and began ‘to feel like a professional’. He now sells through his website and exhibits at the sculpture park at the British Ironwork Centre in Oswestry and the Ironbridge Fine Art Gallery. With grand plans, Jacob would love to exhibit in a London gallery as well as creating a larger piece in a public space like his hero. He enthused: “The tension created in the sculptures at their tipping point, would be accentuated with the increasing scale. It’s this feeling of fleeting and precarious movements and balance that I most want to capture.”

Ninety-seven days and counting. The race to go to the Olympic Games in Rio this summer is under starter’s orders and for the top athletics club in the Midlands it can’t come soon enough. Birchfield Harriers is steeped in Olympic tradition and history having been represented at every Games, bar one, since 1908. This year looks to be no different with a clutch of great young athletes – including Commonwealth triple jump champion Laura Samuel – aiming to make the British proud in Brazil. You could call Laura, pictured above, the ‘pin-up’ girl of Birmingham athletics. She’s one of the current crop of role models based at the Alexander Stadium, where the final pre-Olympics meet will see many of Britain’s finest athletes take to the track and field on 4 June. But there’s more – much more – to Birchfield than the big stars past (such as Olympic champion Denise Lewis) and present. Birchfield is a place where anyone can turn up and run, jump or throw whether they’re nine years of age or 79. The club has more than 800 members who enjoy the outdoor facilities but also the High Performance Centre, an indoor base which provides training for a range of events – even pole-vaulting!

SPOTTING TALENT

There’s proper professional coaching on club nights on Tuesdays and Thursdays and the club runs two youth academy programmes for youngsters from nine to 15 on Saturdays and Wednesdays. “We want to give as many youngsters as possible the chance to have a go at lots of different events,” said Birchfield’s commercial manager (and also a coach) Cath Muth. “Of course we are always looking out for young talent to develop, the ones that show not only talent but a real commitment to work hard and a mentality to succeed.” For those teenagers with real elite promise, Birchfield has a junior development programme launched in 2012 and sponsored by Lloyds Capital which currently helps finance 10 budding stars of tomorrow. It’s this kind of attention to youth that has seen 100 Birchfield Harriers fly the flag for Britain at the Olympics and countless more compete in European and Commonwealth championships. Birchfield held its very first track meeting way back in 1879 when a cinder running path was laid on a meadow at Aston Lower Grounds which was part of the Aston Hall estate. The club was created after a row in a cross country event led to disillusioned runners meeting up in a Sunday school in Wheelers Street, Lozells. They took their name from the Birmingham district where they were based.

ROLL OF HONOUR

It’s doubtful many of today’s Harriers know how their illustrious club came about. They are much more likely to recognise the names on the modern roll of honour. Like Olympic bronze medal-winning heptathlete Kelly Sotherton, now one of the Harriers coaches, gold medal sprinter Mark Lewis-Francis, bronze 400 metres runner Katharine Merry – and of course Denise Lewis. The club also boasts London 2012 Olympic wheelchair gold medallist Mickey Bushell among its stars. While the sport of athletics internationally is mired in ongoing doping controversy, there’s been no impact on major regional clubs such as the Harriers attracting youngsters into track and field. “We are very confident about the sport at our level,” said Cath. “We take a lot of care in everything we do and we make sure that our athletes have all the relevant information they need.” Cath quoted an example of just how alert the club is to any possible drugs issues. “This was a couple of years ago,” she explained. “We were holding training inside the stadium when we could smell someone smoking what seemed to be cannabis outside in the park. We reported the incident to the authorities as we didn’t want any of our athletes facing the possibility that they had inhaled it from outside. That’s how careful we are.”

UNFIT KIDS

In fact it’s child obesity rather than drugs which is of more concern day-to-day. “The general fitness and condition of youngsters has fallen hugely,” she explained. “When youngsters first come to us we have to do a lot of work with them to get them fit before they can even step onto the track.” Despite this, Cath is confident the Harriers will continue to discover future Olympic talent in Birmingham. At the end of April the club launched Search For A Star with a free year’s membership and paid-for training fees for the best boy and best girl winners who will be selected at the stadium on 8 June. Who knows, maybe the next Denise Lewis or Mark Lewis-Francis could be among them…

TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

I am Katy Poulsom, co-host of the Capital Breakfast show, waking the people of Brum up with tunes and a bit of banter. Before I started at Capital FM I worked in TV. I was right at the bottom of the ladder and it didn’t pay very well so I lived in my campervan by Brighton beach.

HOW DO YOU GET INTO TOWN?

Capital is in Brindleyplace so I usually drive. When it is lighter in the mornings I hop on my bike – cycling to work is a bit of a struggle at 5am but great going home via Canon Hill Park.

HOW’S THE COMMUTE?

Easy. Not many people are up at the stupid hour of the morning that I am.

IS BRUM A GOOD PLACE TO WORK IN?

It’s great as there’s always so much going on, festivals, theatre, gigs, sporting competitions, etc. It’s great for us at Capital as it means some amazing artists will drop by the station for a chat.

COFFEE BREAK?

A new coffee shop called Friska has just opened super close to work. It’s always important to have strong coffee at hand at that time in the morning! Cafephilia in Moseley is another good place to grab a coffee and people watch.

LUNCHTIME?

There are some fantastic places to sit and scoff – one of my favourites is Ju Ju’s along the canal, near Brindleyplace. You can’t beat sitting out watching the canal boats go by with a glass of Pimm’s on a warm summer day.

POWERWALKING?

I can often be found running, walking or skipping around Canon Hill Park, Kings Heath Park, Highbury Park or my ‘secret’ park in Moseley. I also exercise at Hotpod Yoga, Solihull and Smethwick Leisure Centre, where they are whipping me into shape for my wedding in July.

WHERE’S YOUR FAVOURITE PART OF THE CITY?

I love everything about Moseley. I’m a member of POW writers group (which is at the Prince of Wales pub on Tuesday evenings.) Its great meeting fellow writers and an important way of getting feedback on my own book, which is almost complete. I also love the theatre – especially the Royal Ballet at the Hippodrome. And the REP continues to blow my mind with its wonderful performances.

AFTERWORK PINT?

The Fighting Cocks for a fruli (strawberry beer) or the Prince of Wales for a glass of wine.

HOW CAN THE CITY BE MADE BETTER?

Bicycle lanes would be a nice addition to the city and encourage more people to get out and about on their bikes. I’m a mad festival lover, so can’t wait for the summer to cover myself in glitter, kick off my shoes and bounce about at the likes of the Lunar festival, Mostly Jazz, Funk and Soul and Moseley Folk festival. I stumbled across a performance outside the Library last year which twisted and warped my mind, in a great way. It was by Maudits Sonnants, was free to attend and unforgettable. Things like this need shouting about more.

April is a biggie for the indie foursome Spilt Milk Society who have been performing together for less than a year. The boys will be headlining the Rainbow in Digbeth, playing the O2 Institute in Birmingham, 229 venue in London and The Grapes on their old stomping ground in Stafford. BBC Introducing spotted their potential back in January playing Help Me Out while Dermot O’Leary aired For the Last Time on his Radio 2 show. Dermot even interviewed Harry and Adam’s mum, Penny! So let’s introduce the band. We’ve got Chan on drums, Josh on lead guitar, Adam (Harry’s big brother) plays bass guitar and Harry is lead singer, guitarist and writer. Each member is into a different genre of music from blues, heavy rock and indie plus Chan is a DJ which makes for an eclectic set of influences. Harry says: “We’d class ourselves as indie rock, but not sloppy indie. It’s more precise than that.” (Have a look yourself at the band’s Soundcloud.)

KITCHEN DECOR

The group formed quite naturally. Harry and Adam played music together at home, Chan is Harry’s best mate from school and Josh was decorating the Handford’s kitchen when he happened to mention his musical leanings to Mrs H who promptly put him in touch. Harry explains: “We had a session together and instantly knew it worked and we had something really good.” The band has been approached by ‘minor people’ in terms of management but they’re holding out for something more solid. When we talk about ambitions, their goals are refreshingly down to earth. Harry says: “The goal is to tour, but we’ve got benchmarks really. Our first one was to gig in Birmingham, which we’ve achieved. We know the odds are against us but we rate ourselves obviously!” The band had been playing around Wolverhampton and Stafford previously, so Birmingham is a step up. When Dermot O’Leary’s show came knocking that was pretty ‘surreal’ and got even more so when Harry’s mum was interviewed. Harry says: “We’d been working hard and it was a great moral boost.” Social media has been the best source of promotion and the band has enjoyed positive feedback across their chosen platforms.

GOOD OLD PENNY!

Chan and Harry are 16 and 17 respectively with the older two in their early twenties, so exams are an issue this year. Harry is taking maths, history and music A-Levels in the summer with his chosen universities demanding A-A*. No pressure then. Harry, or certainly his mum, feels a break from rehearsing in March and again in June to revise and sit exams seems sensible. “My mum’s quite into me doing well in education.” In fact Penny who pops up now and again as we chat has been financially supportive too loaning the boys the money to make their first EP. “Good old Penny!” Highlights of the last nine months have been headlining the Sunflower Lounge in Birmingham in February along with a series of house parties they’ve taken on to hone their performance. It sounds like a complete hoot. Harry adds: “It’s been brilliant. We’ve had crowd surfing in someone’s living room.” We predict the lads will be enjoying themselves in significantly larger venues very soon.

Home-grown talent Ed Geater kept his musical prowess under wraps while he experimented and perfected his unique style in private. Thankfully for the rest of us he decided to share his craft and with a few years gigging under his belt things are about to get very interesting indeed. With a record deal in the bag he’s recently released EP Barriers, which is getting a lot of attention, and is hosting a launch party in Brum this month. Although Ed’s technique and style is pretty alternative, his musical roots are classical reaching an impressive grade eight in violin and grade five standard piano before picking up the electric guitar in his teens. He switched to acoustic at university in Leeds and began exploring unconventional techniques. Ed mastered finger style, so lots of finger-picking as opposed to strumming and slap harmonic – slapping the strings to create a different sound. If you’re still confused, a quick watch of the stunning video for single Don’t Think will introduce you to Ed’s style beautifully.

BEATBOXING

Influences include two of Ed’s favourite guitarists, Andy McKee and Antoine Dufour. Ambient electronica has influenced Ed’s style a lot too with artists such as Bonobo, Boards of Canada and Four Tet making the list along with the more mainstream Radiohead. One of the things Ed explored and honed was beatboxing. He began combining his guitar style with the beatboxing to create a fresh sound that appealed. Ed didn’t gig at all while in Leeds, but back in Brum post-graduation he felt ready. Open mic nights at the Yard Bird and the Island Bar followed while by day Ed worked at Guitar Guitar on Hagley Road. He invested in a loop station which allowed him to experiment creating beats and chord structures. Of his time at Guitar Guitar Ed says: “I learned a lot about technology. It also allowed me to save up for a trip to South America. The experiences I had there inspire a lot of my music.” Before Ed went off on his travels he released an EP online called Changing Waves through Ditto Music. “I just wanted to get something out there before I left and it was really positively received,” he says. Ed’s break came in London when after a gig at Caramel in Wood Green he was invited to play Phoenix Sessions in Kilburn funded by Jataneel Banerjee, owner of record label Music Mandi. Ed was spotted and signed pronto. He recalls: “It was a nice way to get signed. I hadn’t sent my work to any labels and I’d spent four years playing which was a steady process of gaining confidence and perfecting what I do.”

BRUM SCENE

Currently Ed produces his own music on Logic Pro from his laptop which allows him creative control. He explains: “I know how I want things to turn out and I enjoy the process.” Having said that, Ed would be keen to collaborate in the future and perhaps make music for media and film. Of Birmingham’s music scene Ed’s positive, but accepts he probably wouldn’t have been signed here. He says: “Birmingham has a vibrant music scene and a large diverse young population, so the quality is high, but the industry professionals are in London.” The word perfecting pops up a lot in our interview, so I’m sensing Ed’s a bit of a perfectionist. Fast tracks to stardom are definitely not his bag. “I’m not in awe of fame and fortune. If I can play for a living and people across the world can listen that would be great.” And he adds: “I’m sure there are talented people on programmes like the X Factor but it’s a bit damaging. People stop appreciating what we do. Music means something to me – it’s personal and emotional.”

This great city of ours is full of genuinely top-class organisations and institutions that fly the flag for Birmingham – we’ve featured many in these pages. And Elmhurst School for Dance is right up there with the best. While the name might not be on everyone’s immediate radar, budding dancers travel from across the globe to study at what is the oldest and one of the most prestigious dance schools in the UK. Many former students have gone on to dance with some of the most renowned companies in the world receiving rave reviews and international acclaim. Alumni include Jenny Agutter, Dame Merle Park , Helen Baxendale and Sarah Brightman, while Britain’s most famous modern ballerina Darcey Bussell is also a big supporter. The school opened in Camberley in 1923 and moved to its Birmingham home in 2004 largely driven by its increasingly strong links with Birmingham Royal Ballet.

THRILL OF PERFORMING

Of the move, which realised a £20million investment, principal Jessica Ward says: “We were delighted to become part of the rich tapestry of Birmingham, contributing to the arts and culture scene with our parent company Birmingham Royal Ballet.” These close ties with BRB are a coup for the school and mean that pupils are given the opportunity to experience the thrill of performing in leading productions with a world-class company while they study. They also enjoy tuition with BRB’s leading lights and get a real taste of life as a professional dancer. With pupils from as young as 10, Elmhurst is largely a boarding school although there are a handful of day pupils. The school receives applications from as far afield as Japan and even Australia and has a rigorous audition process. Jessica says: “While the school has an international reach and students join us from across the globe, Birmingham is home.” The school continues to engage with the local community through its outreach programme taking dance to the masses. Ballet still feels like an art form for the privileged, so Elmhurst does its best to break down barriers through regular workshops and performances in local schools, hospitals and other community groups reaching people who might not encounter classical dance in their normal lives.

LOCAL INITITATIVES

More than 100 performances have taken place since the programme’s inception under the direction of Errol Pickford (head of graduate performance and touring). The programme has been universally well-received and has even uncovered hidden potential with some of the city’s youngsters showing great promise. There’s an associate programme that runs workshops at the weekend for local children allowing them access to the school’s facilities and top tutors. Clearly the focus of the education is dance, but recognising that a career as a dancer is limited in terms of longevity, Elmhurst offers a holistic approach with a broad curriculum that ensures pupils leave as rounded individuals with a wide skills base. They work hard to fit in the academic requirements as well as dance with long days usually running from 8.15am to 6pm, but there’s a real family ethos. With a medical centre, physiotherapists, nutritionists and strong pastoral care, the pupil’s packed schedule is balanced with strong support and nurturing. Recent former students have gone on to forge successful careers such as Nicol Edmonds who is a soloist at the Royal Ballet, Rosanna Ely who joined BRB, Max Robertson a soloist with the Serbian National Ballet and Nastazia Philippou, a first artist in the Bucharest National Ballet, to name just a few. It’s worth noting that these four talented students received DADA funding which is a Government financial support scheme assisting pupils throughout their time at Elmhurst. Ninety-three per cent of the lower school receives financial help supporting the school’s ethos that every student should have the opportunity to fulfil their potential regardless of their background. All of which perfectly reflects what the school calls its Three Stands of Life – Live, Dance, Learn!

Talented boxer and probably the coolest teacher in town, Kim Shannon has a lot on her plate. She’s in the running for a place at the Commonwealth Games in 2018 and Tokyo Olympics in 2020 and in order to make the grade Kim commits to a punishing training schedule six evenings a week. By day the boxing champ inspires the city’s youngsters in a different arena – the classroom. The Values Academy in Hockley is no ordinary school and Kim is no ordinary teacher. Values is a small independent school specialising in providing children at risk of social exclusion with an education and vital life skills. Removed from mainstream education for a variety of reasons, pupils come to Values with behavioural issues – many are confrontational and have emotional problems. Kim has taught biology at the academy for six years straight from university and wouldn’t have had it any other way. She said: “The pay is perhaps lower than in mainstream education, but the experience I’ve gained here makes me a better teacher. The job is 40 per cent teaching and 60 per cent inspiring. We ensure that as well as giving them an education, the pupils leave here as good people too.”

The pupils are aware of Kim’s boxing, in fact she uses it to emphasise that if the youngsters want something badly enough they should go for it and follow their dreams. At home many of the pupils don’t have the support that most children take for granted, so Kim’s encouragement gives them a boost. “It’s great to know that you’re making a difference and opening up the student’s minds. It’s very rewarding,” she says. Values alumni have gone on to do well and there are many success stories. Kim recalls: “One pupil, whose social skills were so poor he could hardly speak, has gone on to university and has turned into a lovely young man.”

A lot of the kids at the school haven’t had any experience of sport so Kim has set up a scheme with a local gym where they are able to go once a week to use the facilities. As well as the obvious health benefits of exercise, the kids learn self-discipline too. Currently without funding or sponsorship, Kim is incredibly disciplined too. She has a 30-minute rest between the end of her school day and boxing training. This begins with a run from the Academy to the gym followed by two hours of intense training. On two nights per week Kim then runs a women’s boot camp session that ends at 9pm. She doesn’t grumble though. She has her sights firmly on the prize. Currently going through England contract and Team GB assessments, Kim is determined to get the call-up.

When retail giant John Lewis wanted a film made to celebrate coming to Birmingham, it turned to a highly creative and young local independent production company to deliver the goods. Blue Monday TV, video and film was set up just a couple of years ago my close friends Chris Cove and Rory Barber. The pair’s initial mission statement was pretty loose and laid back – to be their own bosses, to enjoy creating the kind films they are passionate about and believe in… and to have a decent space they could relax in with their friends and have lots of parties! While that doesn’t sound like the greatest business plan for success, the opposite is true as the duo’s undoubted talent and creativity has been spotted by a number of leading clients, including JL. Recommendation and word of mouth is what it’s all about!

VISION AND VALUES

“When we were invited to pitch for John Lewis they said they wanted a top-notch video produced ahead of the launch of their new store in Grand Central,” said Rory, 27. “We told them that it had to reflect the city and its community. If you want to place yourself in Birmingham, you have to really engage with the people here.” Rory and Chris had definite and distinct ideas about how that should be achieved on film which impressed the store’s hierarchy, which was just as well as they are adamant that they would rather walk away from a project than compromise their beliefs. They have their own values on the kind of productions they make – it’s about telling the story of community and people. As Rory put it: “Say, just for argument’s sake, John Lewis had offered us the contract to make their glitzy TV ads for Christmas, we wouldn’t do it – even though it would mean turning down a lot of money. It’s not what we are about.” The final video, entitled Forward Birmingham, features an array of people who live and work in Birmingham – medics, musicians, artists, and entrepreneurs – as they go about their daily lives, capturing their passion and pride in the city that they call home.

Chris and Rory are both proud Brumnmies born and bred. They came together through a chance encounter when Chris came for an interview at the company where Rory was working. Both were freelancers – Rory had made lots of documentaries around the world while Chris was a photographer who wanted to become an editor. “I came in off the streets, completely unqualified for the role,” Chris, 25, remembers. “Rory helped show me the ropes of what it was all about.” The pair quickly found they had a lot in common. Both had dropped out of uni for a start – Rob claims that he pretty much had dropped out of school before that! They were also on the same page when it came to a passion for the kind of films they wanted to produce. “All the people we work with have degrees and stuff,” said Chris. “We are the least qualified of everyone, but we think our passion has had real benefits in helping to make us unique and successful. “The normal route into what we do is to come from uni and then try and get a job at the BBC. That’s what most people do. But we wanted to be in complete control of what we are doing and do things we believe in our way.”

BIG CITY PLAN

The pair started up the business in one of their apartment before moving to a studio ‘the size of a shoebox’ in the Jewellery Quarter. Six months ago they moved to their current home ¬– ‘a massive space’ – in Jubilee Centre, Pershore Street which allows them to shoot and produce their own in-house work, while also letting friends use the space too. “We got our break in business, so it’s nice to be able to help them get theirs too,” said Rory. “It’s also a great place to relax with friends – it’s got its own bar!” Current projects include working with the council on the Big City Plan, the project which aims to revitalise the heart of Birmingham over the next 20 years. Over the next couple of months Blue Monday will be producing the first of a series of docu-videos about the scheme. Chris and Rory have drawn up a 12-month production plan for the city council which features blogs, news, publications and more on BCP. “It will be very much all about the community and people,” said Rory. “It’s a perfect example of what we do and what we love doing.”

At 12-years-old Florence Harper started dancing relatively late after being wowed by a girl performing a dynamic routine in a school show. Although her mum wasn’t keen, Florence ‘begged her’ and she relented. Once enrolled at Steptoes dance school in Quinton under the inspirational tutorship of principal Donna Shepherd the extraordinary journey into the unique world of freestyle dance began. Firstly, put all thoughts of Strictly from your mind because the style of dancing Florence excels at is nothing like it. Imagine the most insane show dance and times the energy and tricks by 10. Team that with the bold and highly expensive outfits that are like something out of futuristic Bruce Willis film Fifth Element and you’re somewhere close. As our picture of Florence, now 15, suggests her style of dancing is highly acrobatic. Florence competes in two categories – Freestyle which is fast and furious performed to hyper techno beats. Then there’s Slow – Florence’s favourite – which is more elegant and lyrical. Florence trains for 10 hours a week and although she was athletic before she began dancing (she was on the gym squad at school so definitely no slouch!) she admits dancing pushed her further having to work hard on flexibility and strength. That said, she started to show promise straight away and some of the hardened dance mothers would say to Florence’s novice mum, “she’s going to be really good. You can tell”.

BEATING INJURY

Most girls start dancing way before they reach double figures, but late starter Florence began catching up to the highly experienced girls and doing well in competitions. So much so that she caught the attention of a sponsor, designers of the dancer’s elaborate outfits, A Bizarre Obsession run by Karen Whelan. They began sponsoring Florence 15 months ago and it’s proved a good move. Although plagued by injury for a few months – she’s broken metatarsal bones in both feet – Florence came back stronger and more determined and started winning trophies. The moment people realised that Florence had something special was last year when she was crowned winner of the intermediate category at the Eurodance championship in Burnham-on-Sea beating 90 other dancers to the title. Now promoted to the highest and hardest level, Prem Champ in the under-16 category, Florence has stepped up a gear. With GCSEs in the summer and choices to make about A-Levels, Florence’s school, Edgbaston High School for Girls, has been very supportive of her dance commitments. Accepting that training might take a slight backseat while she navigates her way through her exams successfully, Florence has her head screwed firmly on. Given that generally freestyle dancers retire at the age of 23, education is all the more important. Florence is studying dance at GCSE naturally and probably will at A-Level too, so it’s part of life on multiple levels. Her ultimate dance ambition is to win the biggest competition in her chosen discipline, Disco Kid at the famous Blackpool Tower Ballroom which is a huge championship. Competing at Eurodance at Breen Sands in April first with Disco Kid in December and GCSEs in between, it’s going to be a busy year for the talented teen. We’d invest in a bigger trophy cabinet. Just saying.

Georgia Richardson was not keen to follow in the footsteps of her nan, mum and sister and pursue a career in fashion design, but in the end it won her over too. She explained: “It was an obvious choice given the family background. I tried to steer away from it and do something different, but in the end it was unavoidable.” Hence the name of Georgia’s new business, Fourth Generation. Georgia was always into textiles at school and says she had a great teacher at RGS Worcester who prepared her brilliantly for her university interviews. Her portfolio was so impressive that the lecturers at the Manchester School of Art accepted Georgia straight onto their fashion design degree course rather than asking her to complete the year-long art foundation course which is customary for any budding designer or artist. The foundation year allows students to study many forms of art and design, different materials and techniques before deciding which to specialise in. Georgia said: “I think they realised that I already had a specialism and my A-Level portfolio was on a par with the work I’d have been doing on the course. In some ways I’d have liked to have done the foundation to get another year of practice, but it was very flattering.”

She was the only student on her course to have been given this fast track. Obviously the family was very supportive of Georgia’s decision to go into the fashion industry and it was useful to have a sister that had recently gone through the same thing at Nottingham. In 2015, at the end of her third year, Georgia was invited to show her work at graduate fashion week which was a “great experience” as was her involvement and ultimate win at the Midlands Fashion Awards. Georgia’s collection for the MFA catwalk show was futuristic and bold with lots of metallic and black, plenty of structure and a distinct warrior vibe that won the judges over. “Winning Midlands Young Designer of the Year has been great. I’ve had so much interest and exposure from radio and press.”

CAR ENGINES!

The way Georgia works is slightly unusual. “I’m not the best drawer, so I tend to work in 3D straight away rather than making sketches. I start by cutting fabric and making shapes by draping it.” Inspiration is taken from everywhere including prints and even car engines! Georgia generally sources fabric from Birmingham and Manchester. “Although the rag market in Birmingham looks like a bit of a jumble sale it’s fantastic,” she said. She’s built up good relationships with her suppliers, the favourite being Barry’s Fabric in Brum. Georgia’s confident the Midlands has everything she needs and has no desire to head for the capital. She explained: “I can’t see what I’d be gaining by moving to London. I have my studio here. I’m trading online and if I need to be in London for a show I can get there easily anyway.” The Fourth Generation designs are very different to the catwalk collection for MFA. The drama has been replaced with soft, feminine dresses that are handmade and made-to-measure by Georgia. At the moment she is the business, but Georgia’s achievable ambitions suggest she has her head screwed on. “I’d like to expand, grow and learn more. I’d like to employ people and start manufacturing. At the moment I can only sell what I can make in a week. Currently we’re UK-based, but eventually I’d like to sell worldwide.” I wonder who Georgia would love to see wearing her clothes. She revealed: “I know she likes to wear her own designs but Victoria Beckham would be really great.”

Georgia’s Fourth Generation website launches on 1 February www.fourthgeneration.uk.com

Fei Liu arrived from China 17 years ago to study at the Birmingham School of Jewellery and has never left. Although his big Brummie adventure got off to a decidedly rocky start, nearly two decades on Fei has built a reputation for excellence and won 28 international awards. He set up his company, Fei Liu Fine Jewellery based in the Jewellery Quarter, in 2006 which has gone from strength to strength. It was named brand of the year at the UK Jewellery Awards last year as well as receiving the IJL editor’s choice visual impact award for his green tourmaline necklace (pictured). Yet it could all have been so different for Fei. A delayed visa meant his dream of studying in the UK almost didn’t happen. The Birmingham School of Jewellery revoked his place on the basis that he’d be joining the course too late, but Fei was undeterred. He hopped on a plane regardless convinced he could talk the course directors round. Fei recalled: “When I arrived in Birmingham I met with the directors to persuade them to accept me. I waved my big fat cheque around and I was in – money talks you know!”

COMPLETE COINCIDENCE

It wasn’t the reputation of the School of Jewellery that initially lured Fei, but the prospect of studying in the UK. He remembered: “It was a complete coincidence. I knew I wanted to come to the UK so I went along an education day organised by the British Education Department in China and saw information on the School of Jewellery.” He was impressed enough to apply. On arriving in Birmingham it’s fair to say Fei was disappointed with his new home. He recalled, “I was in a taxi all excited to be here. I asked the driver when we’d be in Birmingham and he answered, ‘this is it’ and I thought it was a total mess. We were driving down Broad Street past the ICC and it was just the ugliest city at that time. It’s gone through such a transformation.” It took a while for Fei to get to grips with the teaching methods in the UK as he had been educated in a very Chinese style. He explained: “I couldn’t understand the spirit of the British education. I had to adjust a lot and I began to understand the meaning of design. I’m very grateful to the school and in particular Maria Hanson who was a wonderful teacher.” Fei excelled and was offered three jobs on graduation which is pretty unusual. He chose to take up a post as designer with prestigious Firmin & Son in the Gun Quarter. He stayed for five years and was promoted to head of design. While there he successfully relaunched the coveted Stratton of England powder compact that was originally popular in the 1920s with much admiration from people in the industry.

DAVID BECKHAM

In 2004, Fei showed his work at spring fairs in New York and Milan and received huge orders from brands such as House of Fraser, John Lewis and Debenhams. Work for the Football Association followed including a trophy for David Beckham and a wall plaque for the FA as well as work for Wedgewood, Hacketts and Aquascutum. Despite Fei’s foray into other forms of silver, jewellery is where his heart lies. In 2005, industry organisation the British Goldsmiths Company bought 200 pairs of Fei’s cufflinks to give out as gifts to VIP guests at one of their exhibitions in London. He was delighted. “They sent out one cufflink with each invitation and gave out the matching one on the evening.” Fei went to the opening night and was thrilled to see a giant poster of his work alongside Cartier and Vivienne Westwood. “I grabbed a stranger on the Tube and told them! I was so excited.” As Fei’s English improved he began to make more friends and to ‘appreciate the Brummies’ who he describes as the ‘kindest people’. Today, Fei takes bespoke orders in addition to his ready-to-wear fine jewellery collections and bridal offering and has roughly 40 stockists nationwide with an increasing international customer base online. As well as his obvious design talent, Fei has built a team of people around him that he values and nurtures. “I couldn’t do this without them. They are just the best people with their own talents. I’m so proud of them and I want all their dreams to come true too.”

A word of advice. If you’re around seven or eight years of age and decide you want to play an instrument, choose one that’s a bit easier to lug home than a cello. “Mum and dad were a bit surprised when I stumbled through the front door with it from school,” remembers Alpesh Chauhan. “They weren’t into music at all and wondered quite what was going on.” The sudden conversion to the cello came earlier that day when Alpesh was one of the bright young faces among pupils attending morning assembly at Hall Green Junior School. The ‘guest visitor’ was local music teacher and cellist Veronica Raven from Birmingham Music Service. “She’s a bit of a legend and I remember it was amazing to listen to her. From that moment I knew it was what I wanted to do,” says Alpesh. “I spoke to her – and the next thing is that I was given a cello to take home!”

RAVE REVIEWS

Fast forward 15 years or so, and the lad who fell in love with the cello is now winning rave reviews conducting some of the greatest orchestras in the world, including our own City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra. The highly talented 25-year-old has been creating quite a buzz since becoming assistant conductor at the CBSO in 2014. Such is his impact that critics are tipping him as the ‘next big thing’ with comparisons being made to the young Sir Simon Rattle, another CBSO star who has gone on to achieve legendary status. Maybe as a result of his humble beginnings, Alpesh isn’t getting carried away with the accolades however. “In career terms, I’m still on the landing strip, haven’t even lifted off yet,” he says. “Obviously you aspire to lead a great orchestra, but that’s a long way off and there’s lots still to learn. I am passionate about what I do and I love and live every minute for music. I just work as hard as I can and I am very thankful at how things are working out. “I owe everything to the amazing opportunities I’ve been given since I fell in love with music as a child. I’ve had so much help from so many people over the years especially Birmingham Music Service which is the best in the country for encouraging and getting children to play instruments. They help tens of thousands of children, kids just like I was.”

Alpesh learned to play the cello while at Hall Green and then Handsworth Grammar School before studying the instrument with the CBSO’s co-principal cellist Ulrich Heinen. He joined the CBSO’s highly-rated Youth Orchestra in 2005 and rose through the ranks to become leader of the cellists before gaining a place on the prestigious conducting course at Manchester’s Royal Northern College of Music. He returned to Birmingham as the CBSO’s first conducting fellow before taking up his present role as assistant conductor – a position that has taken on extra responsibilities since the departure of the orchestra’s much-loved musical director Andris Nelsons. “When I was in secondary school I knew I wanted to conduct,” he explains. “I started out conducting little groups of musicians at school.” Today he leads considerably bigger ensembles, whether in Birmingham or across the UK and Europe. As we spoke Alpesh was hard at work having been asked at short notice to conduct leading orchestras in Italy and Germany in the weeks ahead. “As assistant at ther CBSO I spend a lot of time with them, but all conductors are freelancers so I have the opportunity to conduct elsewhere too,” he explains. His credits include the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, BBC Philharmonic in Manchester and Netherlands Symphony Orchestra as well as other leading orchestras in France and Italy.

WORK ETHIC

“All this means that I don’t get to play cello much now, which is a bit of a shame because I want to play it. I love the instrument. But my time is completely taken up studying scores. As a conductor you have to know the scores so well. When I first started I had a little space on my desk for the scores, then it became a shelf, then two shelves, and now it’s a huge bookcase full of scores!” This incredible work ethic and attention to detail, as well a huge amount of natural talent, has led to BBC’s Music Magazine naming him as one of their rising stars in the Greatest Artists of Tomorrow. Alpesh also appeared recently in a new film celebrating Birmingham released to coincide with the opening of the new John Lewis store at Grand Central. It’s a far cry from the little lad carrying his first cello home from school – but Alpesh has a message from any youngster with the same dream. “Any kid who really, really loves music can come through,” he says. “It’s not easy, it’s tough, but there is so much in Birmingham to help you make it. Believe me, it’s true, you can make it happen!”

Whatever the talent of the youngsters we write about in these pages, there’s a common theme that comes through time and again – drive and determination. Musicians, athletes, artists, dancers, actors, even handy gardeners, we’ve covered the lot and without exception they’re driven individuals for whom failure is not an option. Take James Earnshaw; he knew early on that he wanted to be a hairdresser and not any old hairdresser at that, but the best. Nothing was going to stop him realising that dream. Aged 15, James told his own hairdresser about his career plans who snapped him up straight away on a part -time basis alongside school.

GETTING NOTICED

Ambitious as he was, James stayed for a while then moved to a bigger branded salon for a couple of years before an opportunity at the Francesco Group came up in Shrewsbury. He took it, then moved to the Birmingham branch in 2012 as a stylist. He remembered: “I wasn’t happy being a stylist. I wanted to better myself all the time. I was promoted to senior stylist and wasn’t happy with that either! I wanted to be creative director ultimately, so I pestered my boss about how to do it.” Her advice was to get noticed. James needed to be known to be a creative director – a sort of brand ambassador, so he got busy entering competitions, working social media and putting himself out into the industry and it paid off when aged just 24 he landed his dream role. As creative director he has a varied working week which he loves. He spends three days at the company’s academy nurturing new talent and two days in the salon plus photo shoots, catwalk shows and competitions. He was a finalist in the Wella Trend Vision awards this year and secured a highly sought after place on the Wella Professionals Generation NOW Team which opens doors within the industry. He reached the grand finals of the L’Oreal Colour Trophy and was a finalist in the Midlands Hairdresser of the Year category at the British Hairdressing Awards, but finalist isn’t good enough for James. He’ll be taking home the gong next time!

GENIUS GRIPS

London Fashion Week is a particularly exciting date in the calendar where James styled supers Jordan Dunne and Cara Delevigne this year, but he was ‘far too busy to get star struck’. He was also involved in Style Birmingham Live for which the Francesco Group was responsible for the genius use of simple hair grips arranged to look like eye catching head pieces that shimmered on the catwalk. I wonder whose hair he’d like to get his hands on? “Jennifer Aniston purely because she’s had the same hair cut for such a long time. I’d take the length up and give her a Caroline Flack length bob to freshen it up a bit.” With his career flying I wonder what’s next for James? “I’d like to win at the British Hairdressing Awards. BHA is like the Oscars of British Hairdressing and the top accolade, so that’s next.”

Jack Lucas loves food, especially cooking it, but there are one or two items that you won’t find on his personal menu. “Marmite! Sorry, I can’t stand it. Great in sauces but not on anything else. And anchovies on their own. Ugh!” Just as well then that the Masterchef finalist from Solihull has a whole cook book or three of ingredients that he really loves. “Top for me has to be meat,” he says. “I have to admit that I’m a bit of a carnivore, so give me something like spring lamb which I’d cook a bit differently, smoked over hay. Fantastic!” If you’re into your TV foodie programmes you’ll remember Jack coming through from nowhere to get within a hollandaise sauce of winning the 2014 Masterchef title. In what was acknowledged as the strongest final in the show’s history, Jack was only beaten by the awesome oriental talent of the delightfully named Ping Coombes.

Still only 23, Jack looks back at that whole experience as the best thing that’s happened to him. “The exposure of being able to go into top restaurants here in the UK and around the world and work in their kitchens was just awesome. I’ve got such huge respect for the guys who do that professionally to that level for 15 hours or more a day. I’m not sure that’s quite the route I’d want to go down.” Currently Jack spends part of his time with a nice steady income thanks to a job in London working with food with supermarket giant Sainsbury. He also runs his own private dining business as well as being a regular attraction at food fairs and festivals around the country – recently he was a cook-off judge and did demonstrations at the Sunnyhull Festival in Mell Square. “Before I went onto Masterchef I was on an internship with Sainsbury,” he explains. “After the success on TV, I wanted to stay loyal to Sainsbury who had given me my first chance. So I carried on their graduates scheme and I’m involved in helping them source great produce, develop food campaigns and shoot online videos and create recipes for their product ranges. I’m really enjoying it, it’s really exciting and it works perfectly with the other things it allows me to do – like the fine dining and the festivals.”

Jack was born in Tunbridge Wells, Kent but the family moved to Dorridge when he was three. He attended the local junior school and then Solihull School before going to Exeter University where he studied geography, graduating with a First. He says he was inspired to start cooking by his mum and grandma, but came to it quite late. “I was around 16 before I really got into it. When I went to uni it became a bigger part of my life as I found myself with quite a bit of time to be able to experiment with food. I ended up doing loads of the cooking for people, and I watched and learned loads from cooking videos online. My hero was and is Gordon Ramsey!” Jack got the first inclination that maybe cooking could become a bit more than rustling up something in a student kitchen when one of his good mates from school asked him to come round and cook a special 18th birthday meal for him. You get the impression talking to Jack that the manic pro kitchen environment that is so well portrayed on TV will never appeal.

While he’s not shy of hard work, slaving over a hot stove is only part of the lifestyle mix that he’s aiming to achieve. “I want to sample lots of things and most of all enjoy food and working with it,” he explains. “I’m still in contact with quite a few of the pro chefs who appeared on the Masterchef series, so I’ll always have options. I love doing the private dining but the harsh reality is that it’s a business that’s not predictable or regular. I’ve got other things I want to do. Currently I’m writing a book which I’m thoroughly enjoying doing too.” Variety really is the spice of life for Jack who is willing to try anything to do with food – as long as it doesn’t involve Marmite and anchovies!

As a lad Tommy Langford was a handy footballer in his native Bideford, but realising he was a bit small for his age, he thought he’d give boxing a whirl to help him bulk up. As you can imagine his parents were none too keen and objected to their boy’s enthusiastic and what they deemed misguided idea. Undeterred, 11-year-old year Tommy sneaked out to the local boxing club and the rest is history as they say.

Recently crowned WBO Intercontinental champion, Tommy has his sights set on becoming world champion – and you’d be mad to bet against him. “As a kid I was into boxing straight away and as soon as I joined I was full-time almost,” he said. “I was at the gym every night. I won my first seven fights in three months and I was hooked.” Tommy carried on boxing throughout his teenage years with much success, but at 16 he had some life-changing choices to make. He could either stay in education or get a job and while he was keen to get into employment, his home town wasn’t exactly thriving. “I also knew I wanted to continue boxing, so I had to look at options that allowed me to do that and the best option seemed to be further education.”

This is where Tommy’s road to his now-home in Birmingham began. A chance sparring session with Brum’s Frankie Gavin changed him. Tommy explained: “I couldn’t hit him at all. I just couldn’t catch him and I wasn’t used to that.” Tommy quizzed Gavin about where he trained in Hall Green and a plan was hatched. Tommy set his sights on going to the University of Birmingham and worked his socks off to get the A-Level results he needed to achieve it. “The University of Birmingham was the closest uni to the gym, so that was the focus.” Tommy achieved the results, won a sports scholarship too and began a degree in sports science. At this point he had already competed for England and began believing he could reach the Olympic Games. He was taking wins over GB representatives, so his beliefs were realistic. “As an amateur, competing at the Olympics is the pinnacle and I thought it was just a matter of time, but my face didn’t fit and it never happened for me.”

Turning professional was the next step and he started fighting small hall shows around the UK, winning seven out of seven bouts before he caught the attention of boxing promoter Frank Warren’s ‘spotter’ who set up a meeting that led to the eventual deal. Tommy got a good few wins under his belt, quickly moving up the ranks and into the top 10 WBO fighters before he headed to his most recent fight in Dublin against Julio Cesar Avalos to be crowned WBO Inter Continental Middleweight Champion. Post-fight Tommy says he takes it easy, has a rest for a couple of weeks and spends time with his ‘massively supportive missus’ Leanne. He still works out and keeps an eye on his nutrition and says “it’s more a rest for the mind from the intensity of preparing for a fight.” Compared to his gruelling pre-fight regime it’s a piece of cake. Preparations begin eight weeks before a fight and include two boxing sessions per day including two and a half hours of sparring, bag work and skipping followed by running incorporating a long run and sprint work plus around 90 minutes of strength, all complemented by a highly structured nutrition programme.

Tommy’s hopeful his next fight will be against Billy Joe Saunders in Wolverhampton so he can enjoy the home advantage, although that wasn’t confirmed at the time of writing, but ultimately he’s working towards becoming world champion. “That’s the dream and I believe I can do that more and more.” Mum and dad are more supportive now although mum still can’t look. Tommy recalled: “Dad’s idea of boxing was what he remembered as a kid – no regulations or head guards, so I can understand why he was reluctant. He’s into it now though and comes to watch. Mum still finds it difficult. She’ll come to watch, but it’s not an enjoyable experience for her.”

After graduating from the University of Birmingham, Yorkshire born Kate Roberts saw no reason to leave the city and began her teaching career at George Salter School in West Bromwich four years ago. Of Birmingham Kate said: “It’s a great city. There’s so much going on and if you’re into sport Birmingham is brilliant. I fell in love with the school too.” George Salter School is in a deprived area and Kate and the rest of the team face the challenges that come with that every day, but through sport the pupils and local teenagers are getting engaged and active. Kate works in the Community Department and part of that role is to run the Street Games programme which offers eight sessions of sport per week to all local teenagers. Kate said: “It’s an unthreatening informal environment and crucially all of the sessions are either free or cost £1.” The Friday evening football session is particularly good. “Teenagers who would normally be hanging around the school on a Friday night are now playing sport instead.” There’s an average of 20 youngsters per session, so 150-plus teens per week are benefitting from the scheme. The youngsters can come and take part for 10 minutes or a whole session. It’s very flexible. Kate said: “Some of the youngsters who have come to Street Games have had little or no direction. Many then go on to volunteer and realise that the younger kids look up to them. They learn to communicate and how to be organised.” Fifteen of the volunteers have gone on to study for coaching qualifications that enable them to go on and forge a career.

TALENTED TEENS

Quite often kids come along for the social element and then develop a love of a sport. There have been some talented teens among the participants too. “The aim wasn’t to find superstars of tomorrow, but we have uncovered some very able youngsters who’ve gone on to talent academies and regional performance.” Netball is Kate’s big thing and as well as Street Games, she started West Bromwich Netball Club with a friend which has become the most successful regional club in the West Midlands with the U14 and U16 teams coming second in the national finals in Newcastle making them the best state school in the country. Kate knocks on doors waking up the youngsters for training at the weekend and always travels with a boot full of sports gear she no longer needs to pass on to the team. The young people and fellow coaches nominated Kate behind her back for the Young Coach of the Year award, so it was a lovely surprise. Kate was chosen from nearly 1,000 nominations, but she’s quick to deflect the limelight. “The award is for the whole programme. It’s for everyone. This isn’t a job to me – I just love it. Watching the kids progressing is satisfying and rewarding.” Jane Ashworth OBE, CEO of StreetGames, said: “This shows the amazing impact Kate has had on the lives of young people in West Bromwich. Kate has worked tirelessly to bring sport into the community at the right time, to the right place, for the right price and in the right style.” If the kids didn’t have this focus where would they be? Kate said: “Realistically many of them would be facing unemployment with no direction.”

Stuart Maidment has always been crazy about sport. At nine he joined a local club and fell in love with tennis, demonstrating a natural flair for the game. He steadily rose through the ranks before representing Warwickshire as junior. But even more than the competitive side of the game, he found he had a real passion to inspire others to get involved which saw him becoming the youngest ever qualified tennis coaches at just 14. “My mother was a special needs teacher in Chelmsey Wood and my dad was a business mentor with Solihull Council, so maybe I inherited some of the necessary coaching skills from them,” he says. Stuart has had successful stints as a high performance coach but his real interest lies with introducing the game to as many people as possible and then watching them flourish. “My coaching philosophy isn’t about winning at all costs. It’s also about teaching people life skills like manners, punctuality and accepting both winning and losing with respect. It’s about being the best you can be.” At 19, Stuart became a coach at Edgbaston Priory Club before taking on a managerial position at his local Coleshill Tennis Club.

He returned to the Priory in 2011 and with support from the LTA, he helped launch a community tennis programme called the Lordswood Community Tennis Club. It’s a membership programme aimed at individuals and families in the area which sets out to inspire children from as young as three to embrace the sport. “There are so many people that just don’t have access to tennis,” says Stuart. “Either they come from underprivileged backgrounds or it’s a game they can’t relate to – we wanted to change that, to get more people playing in schools and parks across Birmingham.” Over the last four years more than 5,000 children have been through the scheme with over 150 regularly being coached each week. That success earned Stuart the prestigious Aegon Coach of the Year award in 2013. “It was lovely to be acknowledged but nothing beats the feeling of watching young people improve themselves as individuals as a result of the programme,” he says. Further funding from the charity Give It Your Max and International Clubs Philanthropy has allowed Stuart and his team of coaches to reach even more primary schoolchildren, and last month he launched another new programme at Canon Hill Park. Providing free tennis to anyone who pre-registers, more than 300 people have already signed up. The programme will now expand to include more parks as well as running disability schemes during term time for wheelchair tennis and also kids with learning disabilities.

Hairdressing doesn’t get the recognition it deserves as an art form. Not in the same way as say sculpting or painting – perhaps because of its temporary nature, perhaps snobbery – but for young creative director Kieron Fowles it’s in the same ball park. At 27, Kieron has been given the huge role of creative director at the Regis group, the largest owner and operator of hair and beauty salons in the UK. A creative directorship is usually the domain of 40-somethings with decades of experience under their belt, but the brand has entrusted the talented young Brummie with steering the direction of its salons and being an ambassador and spokesperson. “It’s very flattering and a role I didn’t think would come along for another few years at least,” said Kieron.

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD

Having worked at Toni and Guy for 10 years working his way up to art director, Kieron enjoyed many stints at London Fashion Week for the likes of Vivienne Westwood and Giles Deacon along with high-end editorial shoots and competitions, so leaving was odd but thrilling too. “I’m excited about pushing boundaries and this was such a brilliant opportunity,” he said. Kieron’s role encompasses three brands under the Regis umbrella – Regis, Supercuts and Express Hair & Beauty by Regis, all of which are subject to his creative vision. He’s responsible for developing the artistic teams, driving trends, creating new collections, representing the brand on the fashion stage and generally being the creative voice of the company in the UK and beyond. His love of hairdressing began as a child when he started to show a creative flare early on. “I’ve always been into detail and texture. I used to mix my mum’s nail varnish together to create different colours and loved the glossiness of it. I was fascinated with making things,” he added, “We had a lot of girls in the family and I started to turn the visions in my head into reality, replicating the texture and shapes into hair and I guess that’s where it started.” Kieron’s never short of inspiration as a grown-up either. “I draw on so many different areas… music and fashion or even a quirky print. Celebs are a fail-safe source of ideas too. I love Evan Rachel Wood’s edgy bob. The unexpected under cut is a winner.”

MR NICE GUY

Stereotypical maybe, but we wondered if hairdressing’s a bitchy world to be involved in particularly given Kieron seems utterly lovely? “Ha! There are some big egos and there’s a fair amount of competition, but I don’t get involved in that. I go by the motto ‘you’re never too good to learn’ which has stood me in good stead so far.” Since his appointment in April, Kieron hasn’t stood still. He’s just shot his entry for the British Hairdressing Awards in the Midlands category, completed a new collection shoot for Regis which launches this month, attended the LC:M (London Collections: Men) shoot in London which is a styling session for fashion and beauty journalists in between catwalk shows and will feature on specialist trade magazine HJi’s stand at the Salon International exhibition at the end of the year. Chatting to Kieron you get the impression that this is his dream gig and his Instagram account depicts a life of shoots and fashion shows full of glamour and creativity. One of Kieron’s recent posts is a Steve Martin quote ‘be so good they can’t ignore you’ which seems fairly apt. While Kieron would be unlikely to shout about how good he is, it’s obvious to those in the know

Exams, school proms, uni applications are all standard teenage stuff. Playing the O2, winning BRIT awards, recording at Abbey Road studios, not so much – but that’s exactly what’s been happening in the world of four talented teens from Wolverhampton. Theo Williams, Jon Murphy, Tasha Jones and Matt Gregory, aka indie rock band Jump the Shark, were thrust into the limelight in February when they were crowned winners of the Big Music Project and awarded a Young BRIT Award after wowing judges at the O2 in London. The quartet has been playing together in various bands after meeting through a Zip Theatre Rock School workshop and school five years ago. Inspired by the likes of Primal Scream, Tame Impala, The Smiths and the Stone Roses among others, the band began ‘jamming around’ initially in 2010. Tash’s parents had access to a room in a school for them to practice in. A year later they performed their first gig and haven’t stopped since. Unusually, Tash is the lead singer as well as drummer and when she first suggested this set- up the boys were a bit sceptical. She remembers: “We were originally a five-piece then the drummer left a couple of years ago. The rest of the band didn’t think it would work, but I kept nagging until they agreed to give it a three-month trial.” It is unconventional, but clearly it’s a winning formula and the judges at the Big Music Project thought so too.

HUGE RECEPTION

Tash explained: “We wouldn’t normally enter competitions but we found the Big Music Project online and it looked really cool, particularly with the Brits link, so we went for it.” More than 1,000 unsigned acts entered the nationwide competition which consisted of numerous stages including an initial online round followed by a regional audition at Birmingham Conservatoire and ultimately the final at the O2 where they impressed the judges with their track There’s Always One. The band was overwhelmed with the reception they got at the final. “It was exciting enough to play such an amazing venue but to win was brilliant. We didn’t expect it,” said Tash. Not only did they win the coveted gong but the prize package also included a recording session at the famous Abbey Road Studios plus one of their songs will be featured on next year’s Brit award compilation and they were invited to attend the Brit Award ceremony. All the band members have studied music and are working towards A-Levels this summer. They share writing responsibility, so it’s a collaborative exercise and they are producing new material at some pace. Ambitions are high and clearly this is more than a hobby. “We want to go as far as we can.” Tash recognises that London might be where it’s at. “Although Birmingham’s on the up, the Midlands music scene isn’t great.” With a manager on board to steer them and bags of talent and energy we think the future’s pretty rosy for this hard working bunch.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

If you’re wondering where the name Jump the Shark came from we’ve Tash’s dad to thank. It originates from the moment when the Fonz jumped a shark on water skis in an episode of Happy Days. So now you know…

It’s a big month for British tennis. Here in Birmingham we welcome some of the world’s best women’s players at the Aegon Classic tournament in Edgbaston, while at the end of June it’s Wimbledon where fans will be cheering on homegrown heroes such as Andy Murray and Jordanne Whiley. Everyone knows Andy of course but Jordanne probably isn’t such a familiar name, yet she has won more Grand Slams and is the defending Wimbledon champion. In fact Jordanne is so dominant that you could describe her as the Serena Williams of women’s wheelchair tennis.

SUPREME TALENT

The 22-year-old from Halesowen, who is 23 this month, is coming off a season which saw her become the first-ever British athlete, including the able-bodied, to win all four doubles Slams – the Australian, French, Wimbledon and US Opens – in one year. Partnered by Yui Kamiji from Japan, she’s already successfully defended her title down under in 2015. There’s every reason to expect that she will take consecutive championships in SW19 too. Jordanne’s story is much like any of the able-bodied stars of the sport. It’s one of supreme talent allied to huge amounts of endeavor, effort and commitment. The big difference is the courage that Jordanne has had to show to overcome the Brittle Bone Disease which led to her breaking her legs 26 times up to the age of 12. At that stage most kids would have given up on competing in any sport, let alone becoming a champion, but Jordanne had been playing wheelchair tennis from the age of three. She was also able to draw on the inspiration of her Paralympian father – also afflicted with Brittle Bone Disease – who won a 100 metres bronze medal back in the 80s. “When he retired from the sport he took up tennis and took me to watch him play in a tournament in Israel. I was just three and started copying his swings. As soon as we got home dad took me to Billesley tennis centre in Birmingham and signed me up. “Seeing what he achieved and growing up in a sporting family meant it was quite easy really. Breaking my legs was something I just got used to, and gradually as I grew older it just got better. I worked in an environment and with coaches who helped me and I haven’t broken a bone again since. I’m lucky in that it is only in my legs which are affected and not my upper body. So I can strike a ball and it doesn’t affect my power at all.”

WOMEN’S CIRCUIT

Jordanne is part of the Tennis Foundation’s wheelchair tennis performance programme supported by UK Sport and the National Lottery. She trains with her coach at the High Performance Centre in Marlow and lives with her boyfriend in London. But much of the year is spent away from the UK competing in tournaments around the world. “Our circuit follows that of stars such as the Williams sisters,” explained Jordanne. “Our tournaments follow on from theirs, so we are in places like Australia, the States, France and of course Wimbledon playing our Grand Slams at the same time. “I have my own team around me, supporting and looking after me, getting me ready for events. My dad retired last year and now travels with me to some tournaments too.” It all sounds a very similar and hectic life to that experienced by the top tennis stars. There is one big difference though – the money. While Wimbledon champions Petra Kvitova and Novak Djokovic each received more than £1.5million in prize money for winning their titles, Jordanne picked up a mere £6,000. “It’s a very small figure when you bear in mind we have the same costs and expenses, but someone like me doesn’t even have individual sponsors for support. We are hopeful that all the publicity generated in raising the profile of Paralympic sports will eventually help to improve the prize money a little.”

WINNING WAYS

• Australian Open champion 2014, 2015
• Wimbledon champion 2014
• French Open champion 2014
• US Open champion 2014
• Aegon Player of the Year 2014
• Shortlisted, Sky Sports Woman of the Year 2014
• Bronze medal, London 2012 Paralympics

At 22 years, Gemma Field is at the start of what seems to be a flourishing career in food. Currently pastry chef at Amadeus which is the NEC’s acclaimed in-house catering division, Gemma was crowned Young Oriental Chef of the Year against stiff competition in February. Aside from the victory being sweet, part of Gemma’s prize is a dream gastronomic trip to Hong Kong which she is particularly excited about. She enthused, “I was so excited. At first all I could think about was the trophy and for a moment I forgot about the trip to Hong Kong. That is going to be amazing.”

TRAINING GROUND

Gemma trained at the University College Birmingham’s College of Food followed by a stint at The Rep’s Searcys-run restaurant before moving to Amadeus at the ICC. Under executive chef, Simon Hellier who Gemma describes as ‘brilliant’ she has learnt a huge amount working various sections of the kitchen honing her skills. She’s now pastry chef which she’s relishing. “I’ve always been arty and food allows me to be creative every day. I love it.” I wonder how challenging it is catering for some of the ICC’s mammoth events compared to a normal restaurant environment, but Gemma says apart from the numbers game there’s little difference. “There’s no compromising on the quality of the food at all despite catering for such large numbers. I suppose if there’s a mistake, you’re not messing up ten covers, it’s more like hundreds, so there’s more stress from that point of view.” As well as working normal service, Gemma holds petit fours masterclasses at the ICC among other events.

WINNING STREAK

The Young Oriental Chef of the Year competition sponsored by Wing Yip aims to find the best young chefs in the country with a flair for pan-Asian flavours. Now in its third year, the competition attracts entries from across the UK. Incidentally, in the interest of bigging up Brum, it’s worth noting that the top three chefs hail from the Midlands. Held at University College Birmingham (UCB) the competition has a rigorous judging process with a distinguished panel including Glynn Purnell along with President of the British Culinary Federation, Peter Griffiths and 2013 Masterchef finalist Larkin Cen. After reaching the final Gemma took part in a masterclass style cook off against the 14 other finalists preparing a two course meal. Gemma’s two courses were show stopping and read like a Michelin starred menu. Lobster three ways including a delicious sounding hot lobster bon bon followed by baby chicken infused with jasmine tea among many other complex techniques and flavours. No sweet dishes then? “That’s funny isn’t it? I’ve entered a few competitions and despite being a pastry chef I’ve never cooked a dessert!” We were there on the evening and can vouch for Gemma’s excitement after she was announced as winner. “I still can’t quite believe I won. I was really pleased with the food I served up – I thought I had done myself proud – but seeing the other finalists’ dishes, I had no idea how mine tasted against theirs.”

BEST IN BRUM

Of Birmingham’s burgeoning food scene Gemma is spoilt for choice when quizzed about her favourites. “There’s some amazing street food in Birmingham plus Purnell’s, Loves, Adams and Simpsons are still doing great things.” She adds, “My favourite dish to eat is Chinese hotpot in Chinatown where you have a hot spicy broth in the middle of the table with raw prawns that you cook yourself in the liquid. It’s lovely.” The restaurant at UCB gets a name check too. “It’s probably my favourite restaurant. It’s consistently excellent.”

FUTURE GOALS

“I’d like to take part in more competitions if I get put forward for them and work experience in a Michelin starred restaurant would be good too.” Before all that Gemma has a little trip to Hong Kong on her mind. “Having learnt so much at the ICC I’m hoping I’ll learn lots of new skills and dishes in Hong Kong that I can try out when I get home. It would be great to give something back.”

Indica Campbell might be the daughter of Brummie legend and UB40 frontman Ali Campbell, but cries of nepotism would be misguided here. The 21-year-old has funded her own music projects and is doing the rounds on the circuit like any other gigging musician as well as earning a crust working at venues when she’s not performing in them. “I’m really proud of the fact I’ve got this far by myself. Dad is naturally supportive, but I’ve done this.” This year looks set to be a pivotal one for Indica with her first official gigs in the pipeline including top venues like the Barclaycard Arena and Brixton Academy as well as performing at the Livestock Festival in the summer. But she hasn’t always hankered after a career in music and spent much of her late teenage years ensconced in Spain studying art which is still a major passion.

LANGUAGE BARRIER

Indica moved to Spain with her mother when she was 10, so dad Ali wasn’t a daily influence when she was growing up. She didn’t speak any Spanish at the time of the move and everything was a bit alien at her new school. “I was definitely thrown in at the deep end, but it forced me to pick up the language pretty quickly. I’d like to do it again actually – maybe France. It challenges you.” Indica is fluent and stayed in Spain beyond her school days studying at prestigious art college, Escuela de Artee, San Telmo in Malaga, so she’s no slouch behind an easel as well as a microphone. “It was at college when I started singing really. My flatmate and I used to play a bit and it was like a break from our studies. I enjoyed it.” Now living in Brum and gigging with her regular band of five, Indica’s pleased with how things are going but I wonder if she’s ever been tempted to go down the fast track X Factor route? The answer is an emphatic no. “I like being in control. That wouldn’t be a route I would consider.” Indica’s influences are an eclectic mix of artists such as The Gorillas, Amy Winehouse and Kate Bush. “I don’t have a particular favourite genre. Some of my tracks sound bluesy and others are jazz inspired, so it’s quite varied.” The sweet simplicity of her latest track Never Imagined is understated and refreshing. There are no tricks – just a pure voice and a pleasing melody and well worth a listen.

FUTURE AMBITION

So what’s next? At the time of going to press, Indica’s EP is about to be released and available to download from iTunes which is “pretty exciting” and refreshingly she isn’t talking about world domination or selling out the O2. She might be part of a generation that it’s easy to assume has little patience, but Indica prefers to build slowly, enjoying gigging and getting better. As you’d expect social media is a tool Indica’s harnessing to build her following, but she’s keen to point out that it’s all her and there isn’t a PR person pulling the strings behind the scenes. While fiercely independent, she is about to support her dad along with two other members of UB40, Astro and Michael at the Barclaycard Arena and Brixton Academy, but ultimately she’ll be up on stage with her band singing her material doing it her way. The commitment to her craft is admirable and we’ll be following Indica’s career with interest.

Lucy Shaw is embarking on a new phase of her career as she starts training with the 2015 Matrix Procycling team alongside top senior riders including Olympian Laura Trott and world champion Elinor Barker. At 17 years and in the final year of junior competition, Lucy is the baby of the team but she takes it all in her stride and is embracing the challenge and camaraderie of the group. “It’s really exciting and all the girls are lovely. They’re a nice bunch and they look after me,” she enthused.

LUCKY LUCY

Lucy’s parents are keen cyclists and used to take her with them on groups rides when she was small, but it wasn’t until she joined Solihull Cycling Club that she really got the bug. “I began competing at a regional level when I was 14 and just started winning.” Lucy was lucky enough to experience the electric atmosphere and multiple British victories in the velodrome at London 2012 which spurred her on. “I watched Laura Trott win omnium gold which was brilliant. Since London women’s cycling has been getting better and better. It was so inspiring.” Omnium is one of Lucy’s strongest events, so it had even more significance. Now training as a development rider with one of the best women’s cycling teams in the UK, Lucy is in a good position to achieve some great results this year. Sponsorship from local graphics specialist Hollywood Monster has enabled Lucy’s place with Matrix and she has just completed her first training camp with the team in France. Eager to get stuck in to the national women’s road series and the tour series Lucy said: “I will get to race hard and hopefully get some good results.” Her strength is endurance but she also has a mean sprint finish and, as is often the case with cycling, she competes in multiple events on both road and track.

SCHOOL CHALLENGE

With sponsorship and a top team sorted, there’s still a rather large hurdle to overcome – school! Studying for her A-Levels at St. Peter’s in Solihull, Lucy puts in a normal school day from 8.30am to 3pm and trains for three hours in the evening, cycling around 150 miles every week. This doesn’t leave much time for homework. “The school has been really supportive and if I’m struggling I get the help I need. It is hard, but I know it’s important to get a good education, so it’s worth it.” Lucy also sees less of her friends that she’d like. “I don’t get to chill out with my friends that much but cycling is really social, so I’ve got a lot of friends through the sport too.” Lucy’s goals are refreshingly ambitious. “The aim is to go professional.” Lucy has the Tokyo games in her sights and world championships on her mind not forgetting a haul of A-Levels to pick up on the way.

It looked a cast iron certainty that Indi Deol was destined to become a big name in the world of couture when he graduated from uni with an Honours degree in fashion design. Instead, his life took a completely different route which has seen him become a major player in a business that is about as far removed from the catwalk as you can get – that of digital media. “When I left uni I set off to London, leaving all my family behind, because London is the place where all fashion happens. I worked for a couple of fashion houses, and it didn’t take long for me to realise that wasn’t the business I wanted to be in.” As well as being homesick for his family in Brum, Indi knew straight away that he wanted to run his own business, allowing him to realise his own longterm vision. So, in 2008 he started a vibrant online digital lifestyle magazine, DESIblitz, aimed at the Asian community. And then two years later in 2010, he launched Aidem Digital, a social enterprise business aimed at helping others explore and develop the opportunities and challenges of new media.

FASTEST GROWING

Besides winning a raft of top awards, Aidem – that’s Media spelled backwards – has just featured in the annual prestigious RBS Index 100 Report which picks out the UK’s fastest growing businesses. Aidem recorded 171 per cent growth last year. Impressive. “DESIblitz came about because I knew there was huge under representation for Asian content online,” said Indi. “There had been a few attempts to produce lifestyle-based online magazines for the Asian community but all were more or less produced by people as their hobby. They weren’t financed properly or had the quality needed to succeed.” What Indi also noted was that no one was daring to cover topics that were seen as taboo in the Asian community. “We published and discussed subjects which had always been pushed under the carpet – things like sex before marriage, drugs and so on. We found a big audience ready and wanting to discuss these issues. It was like we opened the floodgates and the magazine has gone from strength to strength.”

Such was its success and profile that Indi says a growing number of people were coming to him to ask for his help in setting up their own websites and business ideas online. “That’s how I came to start Aidem,” he said. “We registered as a social enterprise as we had 15 or 20 volunteers working for us, and we still do have about that number with us today.” Aidem Digital’s aim is ‘”to provide quality led digital media services with social impact and create jobs and opportunities for the disadvantaged”. The business can deliver the whole package, from the overall digital strategy to website design and implementation, video production, graphic design, mobile applications and more. The emphasis is strongly focused on making a successful business while also giving a helping hand to those who need it. Young and unemployed people continue to find it tough to gain employment due to a lack of skills, social status or experience. Aidem Digital offers individuals the chance to join the organisation as volunteers or on work experience to gain the vital life and work tools they need to grow and succeed. Indi has ambitious plans moving forward to expand his businesses into India and Pakistan. “There is huge potential to grow and develop, especially in the area of mobile phone apps. And for DESIblitz there is a massive readership opportunity.”

AWARD-WINNING

The term ‘Desi’ refers to a connection with South Asian subcontinent roots. It is derived from the word ‘des’ or ‘desh’ which refers to country and in this case primarily India, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. ‘Desi’ has emerged as a collective term which classifies culture and people from these countries. DESIblitz.com has already been recognised as winner of the Best Website accolade at the Asian Media Awards. “Business is all about the quality of what you do and produce and developing long-term, meaningful relationships,” said Indi, who is also a board member of Birmingham’s Institute of Asian Businesses. “But it is also about helping to make a social impact, too.” To that end, Indi recently attended the Aston University Awards and collected a Visiting Fellowship award as an alumnus of the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses Programme. The award was given in recognition of the contribution made across the university to the understanding, awareness and experience of growth in business and entrepreneurship.

John Myatt’s story sounds fantastical and far-fetched. The idea that one man could have lurched from a number one hit single to supply teaching to art forgery, followed by a stint in Brixton prison and then legitimate critical acclaim from the art world with his own TV series is absurd, but true. John grew up in Staffordshire with his staunch socialist father and not-so socialist mother – “she tolerated his leftness” – and gained a scholarship to a cathedral school in Worcester boarding from the age of eight. Born pitch perfect, John was destined to be musical and pursued a career in song writing in London enjoying a number one hit, Silly Games, in 1979. Earning a nice living through advances and royalties, John decided he’d had enough of life in the capital and returned home to the Midlands where life began to unravel dramatically.

GENUINE FAKES

John’s record company went bankrupt and his wife left him with their two babies. “It was tough. A friend in the village offered to care for the children while I started teaching art at a local school. It was a bit basic, but I enjoyed it and being a supply teacher I never had to do any of the planning – generally you’re covering for someone who has already done that. So at 3.30pm I was out of the door.” The money wasn’t great though and John was eager to do more. He placed an advertisement in Private Eye offering genuine fakes for £150 to £200 which provided a welcome extra income. One of his regular customers, Professor John Drewe bought 14 paintings over the next two years which boosted the finances. In 1986 John created a piece in the style of cubist painter Albert Glazes for Drewe which prompted a surprising chain of events. “I got a phone call saying the painting had been valued by Sotheby’s at £25,000 and would I like to go halves.” Half was almost the same as John’s teaching salary and he accepted.

Myatt began crafting actual forgeries rather than legitimate fakes while the seller of that first ‘forgery’, Prof Drewe, dealt with the sales operation. John was used to working in acrylics but started to use all kinds of unorthodox materials such as household emulsion and KY jelly to get the paintings looking authentic, paying as much attention to the back as the front of the ‘masterpieces.’ “You can tell more about the authenticity of a painting from the back than the front often.” Drewe proved to be a slippery associate though keeping much of the money for him and in 1993 with 200 successful forgeries under his belt John put an end to the fraud that Scotland Yard named ‘the biggest art fraud of the 20th Century’. In 1995, one of Drewe’s exes blew the whistle and the police caught up with them launching what was to be a four-year investigation. Myatt helped the police with their investigation which saw his 12-month sentence reduced to just four for good behaviour. Of prison life John said: “The first 48 hours were horrible, but once I’d settled in it wasn’t so bad. It’s the bit when I was sentenced and led away that was the worst part. There were people coming off drugs and screaming.” John drew portraits in prison and helped other inmates write letters of appeal. “I made some good friends. It’s the noisy people – the ones who complain that get into trouble. I just kept my head down.” And of Drewe? “He went to prison too, in fact I think he’s back inside now.” Having vowed never to paint again, John left prison and began planning an exhibition in London.

PRETTY PEACHY

Without an agent he managed to pull off a successful show that sold out. “I was lucky to find an empty gallery in Dover Street that was perfect, but it’s hard without an agent.” At the exhibition John met Brummie art buff and gallery owner Glynn Washington who liked what he saw. That relationship blossomed and John is now signed to Washington Green. “They’re great because they love art – they are not just suits. I come to them with an idea and they say yes sounds great let’s do it.” Through Washington Green John exhibited at the Waterhall Gallery at BMAG which was a particular highlight. In fact life is pretty peachy all round. A rural farm house, a studio in the garden, his ‘lovely’ wife Rosemary, an exciting project in Mallorca, TV work (he’s already had a series on Sky painting portraits of famous people like Stephen Fry and Myleene Klass in the style of the great masters such as Velázquez and Vermeer)… , a book…..what next? Hollywood? You think I’m kidding!

Despite LTA funding cuts and a few niggling injuries, British tennis is in good shape and not just in the lofty frame of Andy Murray. Proud Brummie and tennis star Dan Evans or Evo to his friends is back from a knee injury sustained at the US Open and feeling good. When we met at Edgbaston Priory, Dan had already put in five-and-a-half hours training at the club before lunch with more of the same on the agenda after some much needed sustenance. The regime sounded gruelling, but it’s just an average day for Dan. “There are bad days you know, but doing well spurs you on. Winning is a great motivator.” Dan’s world ranking has plummeted since his injury due to lack of competitive play, but that’s set to change when he gets back on court. His ATP ranking peaked at 123 in 2014 after reaching the third round of the US Open in 2013 which is his career highlight so far, along with being part of the British team that made it to the Davis Cup World Group.

PREFERRED RACKET

It was squash that Dan first mastered playing his dad aged seven and only falling into tennis by chance a couple of years later. Once Dan had got to grips with his preferred racket it became apparent quickly that he had some ability and he began training in earnest. He moved from training in Solihull to Edgbaston Priory aged 10 which took him up a notch. By the time he was 13, Dan had moved to Loughborough to live with a host family while training at the LTA’s academy at Loughborough University. The plucky teen had no qualms about moving away – it’s just something he needed to do. Of his time at Loughborough he said: “I was never the best at 14 and 15, in fact I was probably the worst. I was smaller than the others and a bit of a late developer, but I always thought I was pretty good and in the end I was the best.” Travelling the world as a junior didn’t faze Dan either. He was a member of the British team that won the World Junior Tennis competition in the Czech Republic aged 14 and reached the quarter final of the Junior Australian Open in 2008. On the senior tour, I wondered if it’s a bit lonely. “The Aussies and the Brits tend to stick together and I spend a lot of time with Colin Fleming (Scottish No 2).” There’s no one on the tour that Dan fears being drawn against. He’s supremely confident and says: “I believe I can beat anyone.” He doesn’t have heroes either, but when he was growing up ‘Tim Henman was doing pretty well,’ so he used to watch him play.

MANHATTAN MISSION

On his days off, relaxing involves being ‘generally housebound sitting on the sofa watching sport on TV.’ Dan does himself a disservice as he’s accomplished in other sporting arenas too with a single figure golf handicap and he’s no slouch on the squash court either. Dan doesn’t have specific goals for the year ahead or if he does he’s not revealing them, but he relishes the US Open not least because he gets to stay in Manhattan which is ‘pretty cool.’ Cool is a word that crops up often and Dan’s whole vibe is laidback for someone so committed. It was the day after the Paris siege when we met and Dan put the sport into perspective, “There are more important things going on in the world than winning, or losing for that matter, a tennis match.”

DAN’S AVERAGE DAY AT THE OFFICE

• Training starts at 7.30am
• Fitness and rehab work
• Tennis x 2 sessions most days
• Weights
• Bikram Yoga

Like millions of kids, Theo Johnson’s first taste of the stage was performing in his school play. And for most that’s where it ends – but not for single-minded Theo. Acting has always been his focus and now with the first series of Channel 4 drama Raised by Wolves under his belt, it’s all coming together. In 2011, while at college in Walsall, Theo’s acting group The Venue entered a UK-wide competition along with 500 others to win a chance to perform their play on stage at the National Theatre. The Venue stood out and triumphed with its play titled Gap in which Theo played the lead role to fantastic reviews. “It was amazing and to get five-star reviews was brilliant,” he said.

LOVING LENNY

Theo was invited back to his old college when Lenny Henry came in to have a read through of one of his scripts with the students. “He needed someone who could rap as well as act, so the college called me back in. Lenny was proper nice. A good guy.” While he enjoys meeting well-known names, Theo isn’t overawed by them. “I would always be respectful of experienced actors, but I wouldn’t be star struck. My acting idol is Will Smith, but I wouldn’t even go funny about meeting him. I’m not like that.” Theo has done a variety jobs including modelling and music, but he sees these merely as stepping stones to get to where he wants to be.

The key to getting the TV gigs was a chance meeting with Alan Sharman of Birmingham’s Alan Sharman Agency. Theo was performing his R&B tracks at the Clothes Show Live for which he’d built up quite a following when Alan spotted potential in his good looks. Modelling jobs followed and Theo voiced his desire to get into acting. “Alan started to put me forward for auditions and I kept getting the parts.” A handful of commercials, viral videos and a couple of Crimewatch reconstructions meant that Theo was starting to gain valuable experience and exposure. When the audition for Caitlin Moran’s Raised by Wolves came up Theo was ready. “The casting people weren’t planning to use any of the models for speaking parts, but they made an exception and gave me a character role. I got to work with some great people and a lot of praise from the director which was nice.” Theo has his head screwed on and thought it would be wise to get a degree alongside pursuing his dream, so the week he started filming he found out he’d achieved a 2:1 in teaching and drama too.

THE BIG SMOKE

When Theo signed a London agent recently, he was asked if he’d move to the capital, but he declined. “I don’t feel pressure to move to London. I’m free to go where-ever I like and I put myself in the right places. I don’t have anyone depending on me – it’s just me and my mum, so I’m happy to drive to where the work is, but I don’t see a reason to move completely.” At 21, Theo’s future goals are simple and delivered in such a matter of fact manner that you totally believe they will happen. “In the short term a second series of Raised by Wolves, but ultimately to win an Oscar. My screensaver is a picture of an Oscar and I won’t stop until I have one.” Watch this space…

Artist and University of Wolverhampton alumni, Michael Butler isn’t content with creating and selling beautiful pieces of art. He wants to ‘give back’ – two words that many people voice, but few do little about. Not Michael. He’s using his talent, youth and energy to encourage local youngsters to get into art in a big way. Michael’s fine art degree from the School of Creative Art and Design at the University of Wolverhampton included a business aspect in the form of the SPEED Entrepreneurs in Education programme which among other things gave him the confidence to successfully pitch his idea of using one of the university’s studios rent free. Sponsored by the university on graduation, Michael said: “It allowed me prolonged, uninterrupted artistry which was really important.” While Michael was squirrelled away, he wanted to avoid being too isolated, so he began volunteering in local schools as well. He got involved in workshops which were ‘empowering’ and found he had a great rapport with the kids. “Because I was so young, they didn’t see me as an authority figure. It was a cool, fun time and the kids responded to it.”

BRAZILIAN DREAM

Michael would like to do more, so he has a grand plan to launch a gifted and talented master class for children from all backgrounds in the Midlands. “We’ll have a rigorous selection process and crucially the master class will be free to ensure it is inclusive. That’s the stumbling block at the moment, but it will happen.” Michael has approached heads of department across the city, including Wolverhampton and Dudley from year seven to sixth form about getting the scheme off the ground. His vision is to run workshops with established and emerging artists that will give an insight into the industry and help develop technical skills. It’s not just kids in the Midlands who’ll benefit from Michael’s commitment either. During a trip to Brazil where he took some stunning photos, Michael was shocked by the deep sense of poverty. “There were children sleeping on the floor. I’d never seen homeless kids before.” Michael got in touch with a charity in Brazil, met one of their representatives and came up with loads of ideas to help get kids engaged in art. They loved his ideas and he’s planning to go back as soon as he can to put them into practice. Michael’s ready to pursue his own creative artistry further and is shortly off to London to embark on a Masters in ancient Chinese and hieroglyphics. He’s almost obsessive about the formation of letters and calligraphy plays an important part in his work. “I’ve been investigating the genesis of ancient hieroglyphics and Chinese calligraphy by looking at artefacts and tools used to create written text.” Michael decided that painting on canvas was the most suitable surface and he uses various tools to scrape off paint that has been poured on to the canvas to reveal emblematical metaphors. The abstract results are stunning. Michael said: “Regardless whether people can read the calligraphy text or not, this is not the point, the script in itself might not be an actual word or phrase once it has been altered.”

FUTURE AMBITION

Aside from getting the master class off the ground in the Midlands and inspiring youngsters in Brazil, Michael’s dream would be to exhibit his work at the Gagosian Gallery or the Saatchi Gallery in London. And what of Birmingham’s art scene? “Birmingham itself has an exciting and vibrant art scene but we need to see more events spilling out to the surrounding areas – Wolverhampton for example. It’s all very centralised right now.”

Jak Tuite-Leach is one half of Duplic8 – the street dancing duo that took the nation by storm on Sky One’s hit show Got To Dance. With his older alter ego Tobias Mead, the 13-year-old performed consistently mind-blowing routines that impressed the panel of judges and crucially won over the public. Because of the nature of street dance – all attitude, supreme confidence and cool moves, I expected Jak to be a bit tricky, plus I’d read his Twitter feed which seemed to be an outlet for thousands of teenage girls to tell the youngster how much they love him. A bit of an ego would be understandable, but the minute Jak uttered a softly spoken and very polite hello that perception was totally busted. Jak was always dancing around the house as a child and his love of street dance started at an early age when he began lessons at Birmingham’s Sticky Toffee Dance studio. By the time he was eight he had had his first taste of victory as winner of Castle Vale’s Got Talent. Shy without an audience, Jak said: “Give me a crowd and I’ll perform, but without one I can’t.”

GOOD OLD MUM

Initially part of the Tru Street Dance crew, Jak got his big break when he met one of his dancing heroes, Tobias Mead at a convention called Move It. Too shy to say hello, Jak’s mum made the introduction and asked Tobias if Jak could show him a few moves. The timing couldn’t have been better. Tobias was blown away and it turned out he was looking for a child dance star to play a mini version of him in West End Show, Revolution. He snapped up Jak who was over the moon at the chance. Jak was lucky enough and talented enough to win a scholarship to the Susi Earnshaw Theatre School in London when he was 12 and as you’d expect the school was very supportive of his involvement in Got To Dance hosted by Davina McCall. The move to London also meant living closer to Tobias which made rehearsing easier. Auditioning and performing on the show made Jak more nervous than anything he’d done before. “I don’t usually get nervous when I perform, but on Got To Dance the crowds got bigger each week, so it was harder.” The final was contested in front of an audience of 6,000 at London’s Earls Court and the winners were decided by a public vote. Jak said: “I can’t describe how happy we were to win. It’s amazing, like a dream. The support in Birmingham was incredible. It felt like I had the whole city behind me.”

DECLARATIONS OF LOVE

Since winning the contest life has changed a bit for Jak. I suspect he is a bit of a hero at school although he’s slightly embarrassed at the thought and he is often recognised in the street, mainly by young girls. “They’re usually quite shy, so they come up to me and say ‘Hi, I think you’re great’ and then they run off.” The attention Jak gets on social media is extraordinary – mainly marriage proposals and declaration of love. Very sweetly Jak hates not responding, so he drafts in his mum to help him. We all know that teenagers get a hard time in the Press, but this youngster busts a few myths as well as a few moves. Rather than wanting to be famous and sell-out stadia, his ambitions are refreshingly down to earth: “I’d really like to teach dance and I’d love to be a choreographer.”

The celebrated Staffordshire Hoard is set to shine at BMAG later this month, but as you view it spare a thought for the people beavering away behind the scenes. Transforming the unearthed finds from muddy lumps to museum-ready treasures is a painstaking process. You need someone with bucketfuls of patience – someone like Pieta Greaves. Pieta is BMAG’s conservation officer and she is thrilled to be involved in the project which is one of the highlights of her career. “It’s such an honour,” she explained. “The Hoard is one of the most important Anglo-Saxon finds ever made – and yes it’s a slow process, but it’s also incredibly exciting.” Currently Pieta is busy cleaning up the delicate pieces ready to be catalogued by researchers. “There were 1,700 pieces taken from the ground, but during the cleaning process we’ve discovered tiny fragments which are also significant, so now there are 4,000 pieces and counting. Piecing them back together is fascinating and we’re increasing our understanding all the time.”

Britain’s largest treasure case clearly needs handling with care. When the team found that standard metal conservation tools were too harsh for the Hoard, one of Pieta’s colleagues recalled that gramophones were played with needle-thorns from the garden because they didn’t scratch the records. It was a eureka moment and now Pieta and the team are armed with needles which gives you an idea of the precision and patience required. As a career in conservation goes, this is a dream gig so Pieta is a bit embarrassed about being referred to as an unsung hero. From her point of view she’s just doing the job she’s trained for years to do and one that she loves, but enjoying the job doesn’t make it any less valid. Pieta and her colleagues work enriches all of our lives to some degree. Pay a visit to the Hoard yourself and you’ll soon see what we mean.

As well as striving to fulfil a crucial role in their family unit, a young carer is more likely to be bullied and come from a one-parent family in a low income household. Time pressures can make it difficult to attend school or take part in hobbies leaving them isolated. All in all it’s not a great start in life and one that people can find hard to shake. Sean Jameson was set on a path of caring for his mother aged just five when his father left home. While the situation was normal for him, the help he received from specialist charity Spurgeons years later was instrumental in turning his life around. Like many of the young carers referred to Spurgeons, Sean was reluctant to embrace the charity’s help and activities, but slowly opened up and felt the difference. So much so that aged 16, Sean entered Spurgeon’s peer mentoring programme, then became an official volunteer and in 2013 was appointed a full-time family support worker. Now 21, Sean is relishing his rewarding role and said: “My background definitely helps me as does my age. I’m into some of the same things as the teenagers that are referred to us and they feel they can relate to me and approach me.” He added: “Young carers don’t see themselves as young carers – it’s normal life. They are scared of admitting their carer status and accepting professional help for fear of being taken into care. What they quickly realise here is that they are not alone.” When we caught up with Sean, he was in the middle of Birmingham Hippodrome’s annual young carer’s workshop which this year offered 60 kids over two weeks the opportunity to enjoy theatre themed activities culminating in a final performance with full production in the Patrick Centre. The carers also took in a performance of Wicked and crucially they met other young carers in a similar boat to them. Sean took part in the workshops himself as a teenager. Liz Leck, creative learning manager at the Hippodrome, said of Sean: “He was a reluctant young boy who stood at the back, but he came back year after year and got the bug. His mum used to ring up and ask when the next workshop was because he didn’t want to miss it. He is a credit to young carers and he’s made his mum so proud.”

It was clear 10 years ago that Anisa Haghdadi, then just 15, had entrepreneurial blood coarsing through her veins and was destined for great things. Her first project back then was organising a Sunday dance class at her local YMCA. She’s come on a bit since then – today she’s a multi-award winning, successful businesswoman running Beatfreeks, one of Birmingham’s best and brightest social enterprise ‘businesses’. Founded in January 2013 and officially incorporated as a non-profit organisation in June of that year, Beatfreeks has blossomed in its first 12 months in Birmingham with an expanding national reach. Its mission is to pioneer new ways of engaging, empowering and developing young people through a blend of arts, media, training, leadership and enterprise. This is done through a whole raft of ground-breaking and ingenious projects, workshops and events.

ROYAL HONOUR

A business and management graduate of Aston University, Anisa won the Birmingham Young Professional Award for Aspiring Talent in 2012, and last year received the British Empire Medal for her services to education and young people in the Queen’s Birthday Honours – not bad someone who is still only aged 24! Anisa was busy celebrating Beatfreeks first anniversary – by working harder than ever –when we caught up. “It’s always hectic. I’m always dashing around,” she said, almost apologetically. “As we are now one year old we’ve been going through a period of redefining and redesigning what we are about and where we want to go. We want to expand our reach still further with young people in Birmingham and we’re also looking to extend Beatfreeks nationally, and particularly in London. Eventually, I want Beatfreeks to go global through social franchising.” There’s certainly no shortage of organisations who are willing to hire Beatfreeks to run youth campaigns and programmes for them. “We have worked with all kinds of businesses, producing very different initiatives to reach young people,” said Anisa. These include Network Rail who asked Anisa and her team to get involved in engagement with the New Street station redevelopment project. “Social enterprise and working with young people is a real passion for me, it’s more than just about work,” said Anisa. “But it just so happens that now is a great time for the business. We are in a great position – the youth market and the arts market are booming in Birmingham. The city has a very large number of young people, and there are lots and lots of young entrepreneurial people around right now. What’s also great is that young people are becoming more and more motivated by the world we grow up in. They want to see fairness and freedom – they want money for need and not for greed. “Over the past year we’ve achieved some pretty awesome stuff, from working with BBC 1Xtra on a special edition of our regular music event Soul Sessions which saw artists get national airplay, through to working with a group of young people passionate about mental health over 12 weeks to set up their own official social enterprise Ripple CIC.”

INSPIRED BY BRUM

Anisa pays rich tribute to all those who have guided her along the way to realising her dreams, especially the help and support from Aston University. “Some of the best enterprise initiatives are borne out of you own personal experience. I am very lucky to have had lots of people in my life who have inspired me. I am totally inspired by Birmingham itself. I love the city and the people, especially the young people.” We couldn’t let Anisa go without asking about her company’s name – Beatfreeks, where did that come from? “Beat is all about the arts, the music,” she explained. “and freeks is kind of about the different and freaky way we do things – but it’s deliberately misspelt to show that we believe in being free to express ourselves how we want.”

Glastonbury, Bollywood, House of Commons, LG Arena – you name it, the talented girls at Eternal Taal have probably done it. With a CV to be proud of and accolades pouring in, the female bhangra group takes it all in its stride thanks to inspirational founder Parv Kaur. The 30-strong group has an impressive track record performing not only in the Asian community but outside it as well, allowing new audiences to enjoy and appreciate bhangra. Founder and trainer Parv said: “Our aim is to promote and perform bhangra music to as many different people as possible, whether it is a small stage or a high profile event.” Rocking the Glastonbury festival with bhangra beats was a highlight for Parv and the girls.

MUSICAL FATHER

Parv has been hooked on bhangra since childhood and by the age of 14 she had mastered keyboard, dhol and dholki drums encouraged by her musical father, Balbir Singh. He was lead singer of a bhangra band called Bhujangy Group who are credited with being the first band to introduce bhangra to the UK in 1967. Growing up Parv was heavily influenced by the band and regularly attended gigs sometimes performing in the background which allowed her to hone her musical skills and stage performance. Although Parv loved performing with her father, she decided to branch out on her own and try something a bit more modern – a brave thing to do given bhangra still remains largely male-dominated. She started running bhangra drumming classes called Eternal Taal, meaning Everlasting Beats, which quickly grew from a highly sought-after weekly class attracting students from all over the Midlands to a performance group as well. In addition to the technical aspects and performance of bhangra, it’s important to Parv to teach the history and background of the genre too – a fact that hasn’t gone unnoticed.

AWARD-WINNING

Recognised globally, Parv’s dedication to bhangra has been applauded many times and in 2010 she was presented with an award for her ‘Contribution of Bhangra music in the UK’ by the House of Commons. She’s also been nominated for ‘Young Entrepreneur of the Year’ by the Institute of Asian Businesses (IAB) and ‘Best in Arts and Culture’ by the Asian Women in Achievements and the British Indian Awards. All this while holding down a career as a lecturer in computer science! The determination and drive it’s taken to succeed in both careers is evident when we speak. Parv’s clearly busy, highly talented and definitely not afraid of hard graft – a sure fire recipe for success.

If you’ve ever been to a black tie event in Birmingham you’ve probably had the pleasure of witnessing the huge talent and immense energy of vocal group Elements of Song. As lead vocalist Truchio Powell was instrumental in forming the soulful, feel good group made up of young students from Aston Performing Arts Academy (APAA) where he teaches on a voluntary basis with his twin brother Pelego and founder Anji Daniel. As creative director Tru is responsible for teaching vocal harmonies and choreography plus overall project management of events. Of the academy Tru said: “APAA gives inner city kids an opportunity to get involved in all types of music that they wouldn’t naturally encounter. It makes a massive difference to their lives.”

PASSION AND PURPOSE

Thanks to the generosity of the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra (CBSO) and Birmingham City University (BCU), the academy has access to incredible facilities and instruments. Still young himself Tru is determined to level the playing field for the kids at APAA and give them an opportunity to shine. “Why shouldn’t they have that chance? Students leave APAA with a passion and a purpose along with a fantastic work ethic.” Tru caught the performing bug early in life and at around eight-years-old started performing with Pelego in front of church congregations and school peers. The boys soon built up a reputation winning talent contests and dance competitions. Post GCSEs both brothers went on to excel at Joseph Chamberlain College studying Performing Arts and Theatre Studies. Tru joined the team at Aston Performing Arts academy in 2010 and has found it incredibly rewarding. Elements of Song is probably the most visible aspect of APAA, but it makes up about 30 per cent of what the academy does. Seventy students ranging from six to 24 years benefit from Tru’s talent, infectious enthusiasm and the academy’s inspirational agenda. Many go on to study for degrees in musicianship or drama despite their disadvantaged start in life. Formally part of the team at Marketing Birmingham, Tru is one of those characters about town that everyone knows – when he’s not being mistaken for his twin that is! He has the ability to brighten up the dullest function and when he performs he looks like he’s having the time of his life which rubs off on the rest of the group and the crowd he’s entertaining.

NURTURING NATURE

Tru’s passion to inspire kids and boost their chance of fulfilment doesn’t stop at the academy though. His nurturing nature means that his house is rather crowded. Tru and his wife have four children – one biological and three foster children. Four children under the age of 11 teamed with running a successful events business, teaching at the academy and performing with Elements of Song is a tall order. “Yes I’m busy, but I just think it’s crucial to give kids a chance in life. It’s really important.”

Two years on, the event is fully established as a major annual highlight It would be fair to call Sutton Coldfield resident Dennis Kennedy a sports fanatic and someone who enjoys a challenge. As a former England ice hockey player and now avid cyclist Dennis is no slouch in the sports arena himself, so when he read about the community games initiative in 2010 he decided to get to work creating what he thought would be something like a big sports day. Dennis got very excited about the prospect of a home Olympics and decided to mark the occasion personally with maybe a long distance cycle or something wacky. Instead he worked his socks off and launched the first Sutton Coldfield Community Games to coincide with London 2012. With no framework to follow and no rules Dennis pulled together a team of happy volunteers who all had day jobs and brought their skills with them.

“It’s important that the games are inclusive and free for everybody so we have four sponsors. It’s sort of summer fete meets sports day and just a lot of fun.” The first games in 2012 attracted 50 local sports clubs and around 6,000 people. This year’s games took place in July and involved 62 clubs and about 7,000 people. “The games benefit the community twofold – firstly it’s fun and inspiring to take part and watch and secondly it provides a platform for local sports clubs to showcase their activities.” Wyndley Leisure Centre provides a fantastic venue for the games with a full size athletics track, two sports halls and a lake for water sports.

By day Dennis advises, trains and coaches people in sales, management and leadership and though he’s reluctant to take credit for the games insisting it’s a team effort, his energy and skills have been crucial to making the games such a massive success. “Ultimately if there’s a call to be made I’ll make it, but there is no hierarchy. Everyone is a volunteer with a day job and is happy to be there. We all bring different skills and I can honestly say there has never been a crossed word. Teamwork is crucial.” Work starts now on the next games and with four new volunteers it promises to be bigger and better than ever.

Like all kids growing up Drew Roper enjoyed watching cartoons and animated stories on TV. Unlike most though, his love for the likes of Tom and Jerry, Wallace and Gromit and The Simpsons grew into a passion that has seen him set up his own animation business and studios in the heart of Birmingham. “I’d always dreamed of doing two things in life, having my own business or being a footballer. And I’d always loved everything to do with art and animation.” With the possibility of being a footballer being kicked firmly into touch, Drew successfully combined his other two ambitions by founding Yamination five years ago.

SKY SUCCESS

Based in the Custard Factory since 2011, Yamination has grown from a one-man band of just Drew to a core team of nine, producing animated films for commercial clients such as Coca-Cola and for entertainment with Sky TV. In production when we spoke was a project created for and backed by Sky called At-issue. The 10-minute film stars Bartholomew, a character that Drew says is loosely based on both him and Jarvis Cocker! The film, which looks ‘at issues’ in British culture through the central character, has been ongoing for two years, which is testament to just how incredibly intricate and involving the work of animation can be. Twenty-seven-year-old Drew and his team had to conceive the concept, make the models of Bartholomew and the sets he appears in – and then to make it really tough they chose to animate it using a complex mix of three methods. (Oh, and there was the small matter of winning the necessary £30,000 finance from Sky to help fund the thing!)

“The film features traditional 2D animation, like you’d see in hand-drawn Disney cartoons, with CGI animation like you’d see in Toy Story,” said Drew. “There’s also stop frame animation which is my speciality where you use puppets or models and film their movements frame by frame.” Characters such as Bartholomew – or ‘Bart’ as Drew calls him – take many months to model. “In days gone by models were made of clay or plasticine. But the hot lights used in filming today means they would melt pretty quickly. So Bart is made of a mix of resin and silicone rubber containing twisted wire so he can bend and move.” Drew, who as MD runs Yamination with business partner and model-making expert Yossel Simpson-Little, worked for a number of leading animation companies while setting up the studio. The pair first met together on the set of Hollywood blockbuster Fantastic Mr Fox. Their CV also includes working on the 2012 children’s TV series Shaun the Sheep by Aardmann Animations and Walt Disney’s Frankenweenie directed by cinema giant Tim Burton. “So much of what we do comes through building contacts and networking so more and more people know who we are what we do,” said Drew. “There are a lot of animation companies out there these days so it is very competitive. Fortunately I have that well-known Midlands vibe of not being afraid to shout about ourselves and being very friendly, which really helps.” That approachable, committed and highly talented image means that Yamination is going from strength to strength. As we spoke Drew, who lives in the Jewellery Quarter, was in the process of completing the paperwork to move into bigger premises in the Custard Factory. “What we do takes up a lot of room, what with the modeling, sets, filming and so on – we desperately need more space.”

TV AMBITION

Drew’s work has got him noticed in some pretty impressive circles, too. After previously winning funding from the Prince’s Trust, he was asked to become one of their ambassadors – and was shortlisted for the Trust’s Ambassador of the Year Award. So, it would appear that everything is set fair for the future of Yamination. “Currently we are growing very naturally, which is great. Over the next few years we want to continue that but really strive to increase our commercial work,” said Drew. “We also want to get a TV series off the ground which would be brilliant.” Brilliant indeed! And somehow the very name Yamination – derived from the term ‘yam yam’ which refers to people born in the Black Country – sounds like it was made for TV success.

It’s been quite a year for Jodie Cook – and it’s only going to get better for the 25-year-old entrepreneur. The boss of JC Social Media was named Birmingham Young Professional of the Year in May, and she’s followed up that impressive accolade by continuing to see her business boom with more and more big-name clients tapping into her expertise to deliver the right marketing messages to the right audiences. “It’s been a really busy time, but that’s just how I like it,” said Jodie. “I live and breathe social media and I aim to keep growing the business and win lots more awards. Oh, and I just got married last month too!”

EXPERIENCE EDGE

Jodie set up her company in August 2011, and while three years might sound a short timeframe on which to judge business success it’s a lifetime in the fast-paced world of social media. “We actually have experience on our side,” she said. “Social media has only really been going for seven or eight years and we’ve been in it for half that time – longer than most other marketing businesses. That gives us an edge.” Based in New Street in the heart of the city, JC Social Media has handled marketing and training for a diverse range of more than 100 national and regional clients since 2011. They include the food industry, public sector including the police, major hotels such as the Marriott group and high profile business initiatives such as Skills for Birmingham. The world of sport also features with British Athletics ‘running’ to Jodie for help.

LOVE OF WRITING

Jodie has always had a keen interest in business, coming from a family of entrepreneurs and senior management. Born in Harborne, she attended King Edward VI Five Ways grammar school in Bartley Green before heading to Sheffield University to study business management. “I’ve always loved writing, and my degree taught me a lot about marketing. It wasn’t until I started playing with social media and marketing that I thought: ‘I could do this!’ I did some research, got some ideas together and started networking. My first client after I set up the business was an £800 contract with an advocacy service in Blackpool!” Three years later, JC Social Media has a team of six highly talented people on board. “It’s such a strong team. Passionate about what they do, and really, really creative,” said Jodie. “The most important thing for me when hiring someone is that they can write well and they are creative. I’m not worried about their level of knowledge of social media – I’d rather I trained them in my way of doing things. “There are three core questions we ask customers before planning a social media campaign – who’s the audience, what’s the message and what business goals do you want to achieve? We then use social media to find that audience. So, for instance, we do a lot in the wedding market so we set out to find as many people as possible who have just got engaged. Then we can interact with them and get our message across.

ENTREPRENEUR QUEST

“We work with clients to ensure we tie in with the brand and voice. That’s very important because the tone of what we do will need to be very different if, say, we are working for someone like the NHS or a burger company.” Aside from her main business, Jodie is keen to encourage a greater entrepreneurial spirit among Birmingham youth. To help achieve this, she is targeting five to 11-year-olds after co-founding another company called Clever Tykes with her new husband Ben Cook. “Clever Tykes is a series of story books with fun characters who introduce positive entrepreneurial role models to children,” said Jodie. The initiative so impressed Prime Minister David Cameron’s enterprise advisor Lord Young, that he asked to meet Jodie at Downing Street and has featured the books in his Enterprise For All report published last month. “The figures show that there’s an 80 per cent chance that children are more likely to follow their parents as role models. So if for example there’s a background of unemployment, that’s likely to carry on. I want to see that chain broken and create a wider influx of entrepreneurs. And Clever Tykes is a start in achieving that.”

Like many graduates, Daisy Morley spent time contemplating what on earth to do next, usually with her beloved Maltese dog Topsy by her side which was a graduating present from mum and dad. The cute canine proved a bigger hit than her parents could ever have hoped, as it was Topsy who inspired Daisy’s next bold and unexpected move – a high end pet boutique in Harborne. People are potty about their animals and given the glut of celebrities papped with pets that look as styled as their owners, it’s probably a shrewd move. It doesn’t seem to be a trend that’s on the wane. Far from it and the high-end pieces that Daisy specialises in cannot be found in your average pet store, so she could be onto a winner.

ENDLESS ENERGY

Running a business wasn’t something Daisy knew anything about, but she has bags of energy and the fearlessness of youth as well as a tight knit supportive family. Her mum does the books, sister helps out in the shop and dad looks at the technical side of things at Topsy’s. “It was quite random and nothing to do with my degree or work experience, but I had this idea, talked to my parents about it and they said ‘sounds good go for it’ so I did!” said Daisy. With a degree in Community and Theatre Arts and a stint in marketing and promotions at Red Bull, Topsy’s Pet Boutique really did come from nowhere, but once the decision was made Daisy didn’t hang about. She registered the business and started looking for premises almost immediately plus she started networking – a dreaded thing to do even at 40, but pretty daunting at just 21. She’s clearly good at it because after one networking lunch in Harborne where she explained her need for retail space, she came up trumps and was introduced to the perfect shop in the perfect spot. Daisy snapped it up and the hard work began. The boutique is now two years old and it’s been ‘up and down’. “Year one was a bit of a learning curve where everything was a first and there was so much to consider. Now we’re in year two I can see a pattern – so for instance I know that school holidays are quiet, Christmas is crazy and so on,” said Daisy. With the foresight to sub-let part of the premises to a dog groomer, Daisy strengthened the shop’s offering and encouraged more footfall. “It works really well. It’s a big space, so there was enough room to create a special dog grooming area as well as the retail space,” said Daisy.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Marketing the business has been harder than Daisy thought given she’d had some experience of it, but she’s very active on social media which as you’d expect is a pet lover’s dream with cute photos of Topsy sometimes modelling the stock. Daisy certainly isn’t work shy and in addition to running the business, she child minds for an energetic one-year-old on a Monday, so she is working six days a week currently. While a proper holiday last year was out of the question, she’s allowing herself a week off with ‘the girls’ this year and leaving mum and sister in charge. Daisy’s future plans are ambitious but realistic when you consider her get-up-and-go and ability to make things happen. “Although the shop is the core business, I’d like to improve the website to attract more customers and also push online sales. I’d also like to be in a position to employ a Saturday girl,” said Daisy, “And who knows when Topsy’s really takes off maybe a second shop.”

A wonderfully snappy name like Seamus Sharkey suggests a life full of adventure, so when we caught up I was worried he might disappoint. I needn’t have, he’s as plucky as the name suggests. Seamus is head sommelier and restaurant manager at Peel’s at Hampton Manor. Impressive sure, but what’s so special about that? Well, firstly he’s just 23-years-old, secondly the commitment and tenacity it’s taken to get there so quickly is extraordinary, and thirdly this isn’t just a job – it’s a way of life. Seamus’s CV reads like someone twice his age.

OSTEOPATHY?

Post A-Levels, Seamus did what thousands of youngsters do and planned a gap year. This included working in a hotel to save the funds to travel followed by a trip abroad then back to reality to study osteopathy at university. All fairly standard except Seamus caught the hospitality bug big time and never made the trip or started his degree. Both of his parents have a Masters degree in ecology and his sister is studying medicine, so I wonder how they felt about this departure from the Sharkey family norm? “They could see how much I wanted it and knew I wouldn’t waste the opportunity.” You can say that again. Seamus threw himself into it wholeheartedly and as well as spending most of his time working, he spent ‘a disgusting amount of money’ dining in top class restaurants to fuel his knowledge of the industry. He regularly travelled to London, sometimes dining alone, to see first-hand how it’s done in Michelin-starred establishments and attended top wine tasting events.

MENTORS

Having started out with the Menzies group, he then moved to the Dormy House Hotel in the Cotswolds where mentors David Field and David Bryan had a big impact on him. He started waiting tables and quickly moved to restaurant supervisor and began to notice that the level of interaction with the customer serving wine was different to that of serving food. Seamus learned a massive amount at Dormy House before moving to the Michelin-starred, Nut Tree under Michael and Imogen North. “The sommelier at the Nut Tree, Frank Embleton, was brilliant and I worked with him for six months before he moved on and I took on the position of sommelier.” Seamus was 19 at the time and studying wine working towards WSET qualifications furiously when not in the restaurant. He made the bold move of writing to every three-starred Michelin restaurant in the country to ask if he could work there free of charge – or a stage as it’s called in the restaurant trade – for a couple of weeks. With determination and a bit of help from a contact at Bibendum Wines, Seamus managed to get a stage at Gordon Ramsay’s Hospital Road, Sat Bain’s, The Ledbury and the Hand and Flowers under Tom Kerridge.

STAR AMBITIONS

After two successful years at the Nut Tree achieving a Notable Wine symbol in the AA Guide, Seamus got the call from James Hill at Hampton Manor. “I’d enjoyed working at privately-owned restaurants, so Hampton Manor appealed. The team in place was exciting and the ambition was palpable.” Two years on, he’s created a magnificent 250-bin wine list plus the restaurant which he also now manages has Michelin ambitions which are sky high. “The restaurant has been awarded five AA gold stars and two AA Rosettes which is the highest accolade they can give for a first visit plus we’ve had two inspections by Michelin although we won’t find out the outcome until October.” Seamus talks non-stop and with such passion that I’m slightly embarrassed about what I was – or wasn’t – doing between the ages of 19 and 23. I wonder where his incredible work ethic comes from? “I had a tough paper round as a kid!” he says…

As a very talented graduate with a degree in furniture and product design Declan Gallagher appeared to have everything going for him. For a start, unlike many university leavers, he had earned a top grade diploma in something he was actually passionate about doing. Contemporary furniture, and particularly working with wood, had always fascinated him. Now all he wanted to do was get a job that fulfilled his dream. “Trouble was that back then in 2008 there were no jobs for anyone because of the economic crash,” says 29-year-old Declan. “It quickly became clear that I had to think of an alternative plan.” That involved getting together with his elder brother Tully, 31 – previously in property development – and setting up their own company. “We had always talked for years about having our own business together so it seemed the natural thing to do,” says Declan.

SHOW SUCCESS

They formed Twin Design Ltd – with Declan as designer director and Tully as managing director – and developed their business plan through 2008 before starting trading in 2009. Based in the Jewellery Quarter, the brothers initially focused on fitting out commercial premises across the country – an area in which Tully’s prior property experience and contacts paid dividends – before launching their own contemporary furniture ranges, all designed by Declan, in September last year. “That’s when it all started to go really crazy,” says Declan, who penned a range of stunningly bright and innovative furniture which the brothers took along to the 100% Design Show at London’s Earl’s Court exhibition centre. As the UK’s largest trade event of its kind, it’s the litmus test of great design. And the brothers were one of the show’s big hits. “It’s a huge event, so important,” says Declan. “No one had seen our designs and products before and the reception we got was overwhelming. Everyone just went crazy about what we were doing.” The madness has carried through with the duo working seven days a week from their offices in Vyse Steet ever since to meet demand.

ICONIC NAMES

Their products are primarily aimed at the commercial market and each range – there are currently seven altogether – bear suitably iconic names such as Brunel, Chaplin, Lennon and Bobby reflecting ‘greats’ from engineering, entertainment and sport. (Bobby is in homage to Sir Bobby Charlton and Declan’s other passion, Manchester United, while the particularly cool-looking Brunel pieces have the appearance of interlocking gears in a tribute to the legendary British engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel – and Declan’s love of cycling!) “Design is so important in big offices and our contemporary pieces sit well in business premises, educational and healthcare centres, hotels and the like,” Declan explains. “That’s not to say that we don’t supply to residential customers, but the corporate area is our key target.” The brothers, who were born in Brum from an Irish family and went to school in Selly Oak and Kings Norton, are rightly proud that their furniture is designed and manufactured within a six-mile radius of their Jewellery Quarter base. With so many products coming from cheap labour centres such as Italy and China, that’s a fact that’s both surprising and very welcome. “It’s simple, it’s all about quality,” says Declan. “We design and make premium products and you can’t underestimate how important it is to have a Made In Britain stamp. Furniture from abroad normally comes with a one-year guarantee, whereas we give a five years.” And there’s the added bonus that while keeping to their range of products, the boys will adapt the design to provide bespoke pieces to fit almost any environment.

GRANDER DESIGNS

While it’s still relatively early days for the company, the great response to their furniture means that the brothers will be adding more, equally eye-catching pieces to their product portfolio later this year. “At that point we’d also like to get a showroom,” Declan declares. And just in case you’re wondering, like us, about the company name Declan is quick to explain that, no, the brothers are not twins. “People have often said we look as though we are twins so when we were searching for a title for the business we decided it would be great to incorporate that thought with our initials somehow. Hence the T for Tully in Twin, and the D for Declan in Design” So now we know…

Bank worker and top break dancer Ben Egan (aka Owl) is one of the UK’s, if not the world’s, foremost B-boys – that’s break dancers to you and me! Training six days a week in the car park of his Southside apartment block and at Aston University, his body is able to make shapes and perform jaw-dropping tricks that look impossible. His Birmingham team of dancers known as Mad Dog Krew (MDK) have just returned from a successful trip to Singapore where they came second in the World Cup. But it’s not just sport to Ben, it’s a complete way of life. He said: “I used to mess about doing flips and stuff with my mates. I started a course at the Hippodrome 11 years ago as part of DanceXchange run by a guy called Marso and I just loved it. It wasn’t just the dancing, but the culture and the people too.” His former teacher and one of his ‘heroes,’ Marso is also part of MDK, so they train and compete together.

LACK OF SLEEP

Working full time in a bank seems at odds with the freedom and philosophy of dance, but it pays the bills and allows Ben to travel all over the globe to compete. “Some countries like Korea and the US fund their team’s travel, but not in the UK and actually I’m happy with that. If somebody was paying me to do this it might become a job.” In June he’s competing in Holland followed by Vietnam in October, but there’s little time to explore such destinations as Ben does all this with his standard holiday allocation from the bank. With working, training, travelling and competing there’s isn’t much time for sleep, hence the name given to him by the team, Owl. “I drink a lot of caffeine!”

HOME TOWN HOPE

Ben lives in the heart of the city, a stone’s throw from where it all began and won’t need to take time off work to travel to his next competition as it’s right here in Brum. The UK leg of the Red Bull BC One competition takes place at the Q Club this month and Ben’s thrilled it will be in his home town. The competition known as a cypher in the break dancing arena, will see 16 competitors including Ben competing over four intense knockout stages until one is crowned winner. Judged on their style, skill, execution and routine, the winner will go through to the Western Europe final. The cypher is a one-on-one competition rather than Ben’s preferred eight-on-eight crew battle, but it’s his chance to be crowned the UK’s best one-on-one B-boy in his home town, so it’s hugely exciting.

MIGHTY MOUSE

Now in his mid-twenties and at the top of his game I wonder who inspired Ben along the way and spurred him on to be the best? “Mouse was a pioneer. He’s helped me and has given me some sound advice and Marso has influenced me a lot too. He is the first person I saw do this live,” he said. Mouse is Ereson Capiton who moved to the UK from the Philippines in 1996 and was crowned B-boy World Champion in 2006. Now Ben is hoping it’s his turn to be No.1 – and 2014 will be the year of the Owl.

Unless you’re an avid follower of junior tennis you’ve probably never heard of Emily Smith – but that is all set to change. Emily, who trains at Edgbaston Priory Club, spent much of 2013 soaring up the world rankings. She rocketed from a lowly 1,400 to a spot just outside the leading 100 girls. And now she’s only a forehand volley away from breaking into the top 60. As well as improving her ranking, Emily is aiming to make it to Junior Wimbledon this summer. “There will be pressure. Junior Wimbledon is a big deal,” she says. “But playing there will take me to another level. I just love tennis, and where better to play than Wimbledon.”

GLOBE-TROTTER

The cool teen is taking her growing reputation in her stride, though. Just as well, because juggling six hours a day training with jetting around the globe to compete, and then having to fit in all her exam studies, is enough to make the likes of Andy Murray smash his racquet! Emily’s tennis story started when she was aged just eight and was handed a leaflet at her primary school for the local Sutton Coldfield club. “I went along and loved it,” she recalls. “I couldn’t wait to go back and play some more.” Within weeks her natural talent meant she was hitting with older and more experienced players. She changed clubs and moved to the Priory five years ago – a big step which signalled her tennis career was shifting up a gear. Her school and the club have worked together to allow Emily to balance her tennis with her academic work. She was given afternoons off class to train with her coach, Helen Lawson, while the school provided extra help when needed with her studies. “Juggling the two things is so difficult, but the club and my school have been incredibly supportive,” she says. “I got all A and A-star grades in my GCSEs, so I did alright.” Home and school is still in Sutton Coldfield, so Emily is a regular on the bus into Edgbaston. “Dad works away all week and mum has to take care of my little sister, so I’m always on public transport. There are days – not many – when it feels tough, but playing tennis soon makes you forget the sacrifices.”

FLYING SOLO

British junior tennis is much like the senior game – it’s not exactly teeming with top-class players. “There are a couple of girls in London, but none in the Midlands,” says Emily. “You have to compete outside the UK to get anywhere really.” Emily tends to travel by herself to tournaments. “It forces you to mature more quickly. I have friends who are also rivals on the circuit. It’s sometimes a bit catty, so you have to develop a thick skin. Dad knows I just get on with it, but mum worries a bit. She’s happy though when I come home and show her what I’ve won. It makes it all worth it.” So what about tennis heroes? “I have three who I admire for different reasons – Maria Sharapova because she’s an amazing player and always has the public rooting for her. Serena Williams as she’s so dominating and amazing to watch. And Victoria Azarenka because I see myself being most like her.”

KEEP GRUNTING

With many top female players grunting throughout their matches, including Emily’s heroes, has she succumbed? “I do grunt a bit,” she says with a giggle. “It helps to ensure I’m breathing properly particularly when a match is tight. It keeps you relaxed through the tough points.” Between training, school and competing, Emily does finds time to relax. “I go into town with my friends. I love tennis and there are times when I can’t get enough of it, but I think it’s important to have a life outside of that, too.” Emily’s rise and rise isn’t the only bright spot for the future success of British women’s tennis. Her little sister is also a budding star. So, step aside the Williams sisters… well, we can always hope!

Charlotte Beesley is a girl of many talents. The gifted teenager could be the subject of this feature for a number of her achievements to date. For instance, she is the first girl in the UK to attain a university level ATCL diploma in saxophone while still at school – but why stop there? She is a talented pianist, accomplished singer, composer and actress of National Youth Theatre calibre. Currently swotting for her A-Levels at Solihull School you might expect Charlotte to go on to study drama or music at degree level, but no. Charlotte also has her head screwed firmly on. “I’d like to get my first choice which is History at Exeter and then do a post grad at drama school hopefully. I thought I’d better get a sensible degree and then pursue the drama side of things,” she said.

SAXOPHONY SUCCESS

Although saxophone is her first love, Charlotte started playing piano aged five and has achieved Grade 8. She began singing lessons at eight and has achieved Grade 6 in musical theatre. She didn’t pick up the saxophone until she was 10. Charlotte was the only pupil at junior school playing the instrument and when she moved to Solihull School in Year 8 she thought the same would be the case. “I thought I’d be a bit cool playing something that not many other people did, then I got there and everyone was doing it! It’s definitely a little bubble. We have some really good groups and I’ve made some great friends.” Charlotte is a member of the school’s saxophony and senior wind bands and is director of the junior saxophone ensemble. “I prefer performing in a group rather than solo, it’s more fun,” she explained. I wonder if Charlotte’s parents are musical and set her on this path, but she says not. “My grandparents were musical. One was a concert pianist and another sang at the Birmingham Oratory, but the music gene skipped my parents,” she said with a chuckle.

DRAMA QUEEN

Charlotte feels as comfortable acting on the stage as she does playing music on it, excelling in lead roles in the school’s productions of Macbeth and Phantom of the Opera. Early last year her mother handed her the National Youth Theatre (NYT) application pack and encouraged her to audition. NYT alumni include huge stars such as Dame Helen Mirren, Orlando Bloom, Matt Smith and Hugh Bonneville among others. Charlotte said: “I thought it looked great, but I didn’t really understand the enormity of it.” The intense summer course meant travelling to London and living in what was essentially student halls with a group of other budding actresses and ‘working’ from 9am-6pm. “The experience was just amazing. It’s really difficult to describe. It made me look at things differently. Apart from the incredible work we were doing every day, it gave me a taste of living away from home and boosted my confidence about going to university,” said Charlotte. “Some of my friends are a bit daunted by that, but I’m not scared at all anymore.” Also, now she’s on the NYT’s radar, Charlotte will have the opportunity to audition for exciting on-going projects that crop up throughout the year.

FUTURE PLANS

Charlotte’s a girl with a plan and is committed to getting to Exeter University, so a few things have been side-lined for a while at least. Charlotte explains that although she tries to practice saxophone as much as she can it’s not always possible. “It’s weird. I don’t actually practice that much. I try to, but schoolwork takes over a bit.” She has also given up ballroom and Latin dancing for now due to this year’s looming exams. Of all Charlotte’s talents I wonder which would be her preferred career option? “If I could play saxophone professionally I would do that,” she said. “I had an audition on Friday and I was the only saxophonist out of 70 people, so maybe.”

At just 24, Andrew Jordan is basking in the glory of being the new British Touring Car champion. Yet despite claiming the nation’s top race title in a nail-biting finale, watched by millions on TV, something’s playing on his mind. “I’m the second youngest-ever champion,” he explains. “There was someone back in the Sixties who was a month younger than me – which is all a bit annoying!” It’s a perfect example of the ultra-competitive streak that has propelled Andrew to the top of the sport. But this toughness on the track isn’t replicated in his manner off the circuit. He’s softly spoken, super nice and for Andrew, racing’s more than a sport… it’s family life. Following in the footsteps of his father and grandfather, a career in racing was a given. “I never considered doing anything else. I knew I’d end up behind the wheel as soon as I was old enough,” says the star of father Mike’s Eurotech team. Even before he was ready to race Andrew was helping out behind the scenes. “From the age of 12, I was part of dad’s team – that’s out of the question for kids now because of all today’s health and safety laws.”

SHOOTING STAR

Andrew began his racing career two years later, aged 14, driving a Mini in Rallycross. “It was a bit slow, but I really enjoyed it,” he says. And he was incredibly successful, too. He won multiple junior national titles, followed by the British Rallycross Supercar championship in 2006 in a Ford Focus. He progressed to the Renault Clio Cup before stepping up to the British Touring Car Championship five years ago in a Honda. Although Andrew had a couple of podiums and class wins in his first BTCC season, he says it was very much ‘a learning year’. Then in 2009 he left the family team and drove for the works Vauxhall outfit for a season – a time which he describes as ‘difficult’.

TEAM SUPREME

In 2010, he returned to the family fold under the Pirtek Racing banner and got back behind the wheel of a Honda. It proved to be a much happier year for Andrew. “The team is key,” he explains. “We have great camaraderie and a brilliant atmosphere. In the BTCC there are three races in one day with an hour between each to turn the car around. The mechanics and the rest of the team are massively important. Without a great mechanic you’ll end up missing races. Dad’s number one mechanic has been with him for 12 years.” Winning the championship so soon after entering the BTCC arena surprised Andrew and he admits to feeling nervous in the final round at Brands Hatch. “The other guys, like Matt Neal and Jason Plato, are past multiple champions and are so experienced, so the pressure was all on me not to crack,” he says.

DANGER DELIGHT

Touring car racing is known for being a ‘contact’ sport, so an accident or mechanical failure could have been enough to blow Andrew’s title dreams. “I try not to think about it. I’ve had a couple of big accidents, but actually my favourite tracks are the old ones with the least safety adaptations. I’m daft like that. I guess I like the danger.” How does mum feel about it? “She’s used to it. Her dad raced and she met my dad through racing, so it’s part of all of our lives. I have even raced dad at times, which must have been odd for her.” And who comes out on top? “Well, we haven’t raced one another for a while. Dad used to win, but I’d be interested to see who’d come out on top now!” Having achieved so much already Andrew’s not resting on his laurels. He wants to retain his BTCC title in 2014 and then turn his hand to other forms of racing. “I’d love to win back-to-back championships,” he says. “I’d also like to get into sports car racing and compete in Australia.”

Sisters Samman and Susan Nasseri took up karate in 2011 and in just two years have become world beaters. Last month they were crowned world champions in Italy, returning home with a haul of medals. Susan, 20, secured two bronze and one gold medal while Samman, 18, won one bronze, two silver and a gold. “It was one of the best experiences we have ever had. Sure, it was filled with nerves and many late nights practising but in the end it was all worth it,” said Susan.

Susan actually tore her groin muscle a week before they flew out to Italy and was advised not to compete by her doctor – but she wasn’t prepared to miss the opportunity. Instead she rested and tried every suitable remedy she could find. “A lot of blood, sweat and tears went into our training sessions. We’re extremely proud of each other,” said Samman. Both girls study at Birmingham City University (BCU) which has been incredibly supportive and sponsored their World Championship efforts. Samman and Susan fit karate around their studies, but it’s clear which comes first. Both say that if they’re feeling overloaded, the last thing they would do would be miss training as it’s the very thing that de-stresses them.

HOBBY

The girls found karate when they were researching a hobby for their younger brothers. They hadn’t thought of taking part themselves until they saw the impact it had on their siblings. “Over a short period of three months we saw a big change in our brothers and thought we’d give it a go. Physically karate has improved our stamina, physique and strength and less obviously it has boosted our self-belief, determination, self-control and self-discipline,” said Susan. Both girls train at the Zen-Shin Martial Arts Academy in Birmingham and are students of the “inspirational” Kyoshi John Richards. “Our Sensei has dedicated all his life to teaching what he loves. We look up to him and hope that we are able to live a life like his,” said Samman.

Karate very quickly became more than a hobby, particularly for Susan who has always enjoyed karate and as her ‘belt got darker’ her understanding and commitment grew. She says, “I started to follow the ten commandments of karate and the student creed that we read every day before class. Today I see karate as part of my life and I just get the most amazing feeling when I train”. Karate came less naturally to Samman who found it more of a challenge and competing in front of a crowd wasn’t something she was comfortable with. But encouraged by her family and instructor she entered a competition which changed her view. “When I saw all those competitors who had dedicated their lives to training it really made me think twice. Since then I’ve competed regularly and can’t wait to train. It has become part of my life, part of our family and part of my future,” she says.

STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES

Because Samman and Susan are similar in age and weight they often have to compete against each other. “It is really difficult because we know each other’s moves, weaknesses and strengths but we can never take advantage of that because of our bond.” There have been a few injuries inflicted on one another though. “We have given each other nose bleeds, black eyes, bruised lips and dislocated fingers but we have always laughed,” Samman says. The same can’t be said of their parents who literally turn their backs and cannot watch. “We can tell it’s awkward for them because we can’t hear their usual chanting,” she adds.

FUTURE GOALS

Samman and Susan’s commitment to karate is astounding. Their ambitions are “to train and practise karate for the rest of our lives and, to eventually gain that 10th Dan black belt. They would also love to go to Japan and train there at a karate school for a few years. But now their aim is to concentrate “on training for perfection” and competing in many more championships to come. Regarding commitment and working hard the girls quote the proverb: “Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven’t planted.”

Tannika Burgess is getting as accustomed to winning awards off the track as on it. As well as training hard for Rio 2016, the sprinter turned long jumper turned triple jumper who incidentally throws pretty well too, finds time to coach and mentor youngsters. It’s no surprise that the all-rounder is excelling at that too. Voted ‘Regional Volunteer of the Year’ for her inspirational work with Sandwell’s youngsters, Tannika is now up for the ‘National Volunteer of the Year’ award, which she’s “thrilled” about. Tannika is also involved in the ‘Co-operative Street Games initiative’, a nationwide sports programme for disadvantaged youngsters. “It’s not about finding the next athletics star. It’s about giving the kids a focus, discipline and encouraging them to participate in something. It’s great to see the change in people,” says Tannika. She was presented with an award for ‘Best Youth Led Activity’ by the scheme’s organisers earlier this year. The project struck a chord with Tannika who had an upbringing that could easily have taken her down an altogether murkier path.

GANGS

Tales of Tannika’s upbringing are shocking with her immediate surroundings littered with gangs, curfews and crime. “It is bad. There was a rape literally 200 metres from my front door, lots of gangs. That sort of thing. Going down that path was a real possibility for me had I not found an outlet,” says Tannika. Now aged 20, she has dodged the worst of it and got through her teenage years unscathed, but Tannika still lives in the same neighbourhood. Her situation highlights how skewed the funding system for athletes can be. “Until you reach the top one or two in your sport, funding isn’t available, but getting to the top without financial support is difficult. Lots of talented athletes who cannot afford to keep training fall by the wayside. A pair of spikes costs over £100. You need kit for all types of weather, hotels, travel. It adds up,” she says. Not that she’s grumbling. Despite her underprivileged background Tannika is super positive and focused. Now in her second year at Wolverhampton University studying PE, she has her head firmly screwed on.

QUICK STEP

As a child Tannika was a fast runner and stood out so much her PE teacher started putting her forward for sports hall competitions aged eleven. The following year, Tannika was the fastest twelve-year-old in the country with a time of 12.7 seconds over 100 metres. However, she became plagued by injury, Tannika dislocated her hip at one point and was also diagnosed with something called compartment syndrome, which meant she kept cramping up. But then she discovered this didn’t happen with the long jump, so began jumping instead of running. She’s now dabbling with the triple jump too. Tannika has had the same coach since she began her athletics career. Howard Court and his Olympian wife Clova provide the inspiration and training at Wolverhampton and Bilston Athletics Club. Training is intense and it’s hard to see how Tannika packs in volunteering, studying and friends as well. She says, “unusually for somebody my age I don’t go out drinking with my friends. I don’t want to do that. I like catching up with friends at their houses. It’s important to find time for yourself, so I try to catch up with my friends a couple of times a month.”

OLYMPIC LEGACY

Unbelievably, Tannika had to go through the same lottery system as the rest of us for London 2012 tickets and was unsuccessful. Her supportive mum took two weeks off work and they were ‘glued to the TV’ at home in Brum.  “London was amazing. I absolutely loved it although I haven’t seen any evidence of this great Olympic legacy yet”. Of her own Olympic dreams Tannika says, “to be at Rio in 2016 would be awesome.”

Natasha Browne talks a million miles an hour about her dedication to ‘making a difference’. The 18-year-old from Solihull has been interested in politics for years. Her first foray into the arena was as a member of her local parish council in 2009. “I love councilly things,” she says. Natasha is not typical. If we’re to believe much of what we read, the 18-24 year old demographic is disengaged from politics. Also, they are more likely to be unemployed than their elders and crucially less connected to society than ever before. Although Natasha feels privileged and had access to a top notch education at the independent Solihull School, she is passionate about giving less fortunate youngsters a voice. “Society gives you a lot and I wanted to give something back, particularly to young people who aren’t as lucky as me,” she says. These aren’t just sound bites. Natasha joined the UK Youth Parliament representing Solihull in 2011 and has shown incredible dedication as current chair of the Youth Select Committee for Education.

COMMITMENT

The Youth Select Committee is a serious commitment for young people, particularly while studying for A-levels. The committee has the power to scrutinise public issues and chair inquiries into topics affecting young people. Eleven teenagers are chosen through a rigorous selection process with the successful applicants following the same structure as the Parliamentary Select Committee. Natasha wasn’t only successful in making it onto the committee, she was voted chair by her fellow members made up of 16 to 18 year olds from across the country which was “an honour you can only dream about”.
Natasha sits in the same chair and parliamentary committee room in which Lord Leveson conducted his inquiry into press standards. Five issues were debated at the beginning of this year’s process and a vote established which one was deemed the most important. This year’s chosen campaign is ‘A Curriculum for Life’. The committee’s report will be published in November to which the government is required to respond. “’A Curriculum for Life’ is about setting young people up for a successful future, so we’re addressing issues like cultural awareness, finance skills, political education, sustainable living, sex and relationship education and community cohesion,” says Natasha. She plays down the level of work involved, but admits, “the evidence sessions were after my A-levels, but reading evidence was right in the middle of my exams, which was difficult.” The timings have been changed for next year to avoid interfering with committee member’s studies.

The highlight of Natasha’s experience is, “knowing that MP’s, councillors and other decision makers understand that young people have a powerful voice that they choose to listen to, makes all the hard work pay off.”

POLITICAL AMBITION

Despite the demands of her political work Natasha achieved the A-level grades she needed to study maths and philosophy at Birmingham University. In terms of political ambition Natasha says, “I would like to stay in British youth politics and get involved in student politics at university too. I’m less interested in party politics for now. I’m just delighted to be able to represent young people and voice their concerns on such a national scale,” she says.
At 18, Natasha has ‘given back’ more than lots of people do in the whole of their adult lives. Given she looks so comfortable at the despatch box and found it such an ‘honour’ it will be interesting to see what happens when Natasha does embrace party politics. Natasha recalls, “leading a debate from the dispatch box was amazing. It was an opportunity of a lifetime, to know that so many great speakers and leaders have spoken there. It was even more special because I was representing young people who had voted for me, and because I was elected to lead the debate on behalf of the West Midlands.”

Andy Evans looks like a typical teenager kitted out head-to-toe in his skater style baseball cap and retro sunnies. He is even often seen with a skateboard tucked under one arm. Yet, in terms of talent, determination, and get up and go he is refreshingly single-minded and ambitious. He isn’t hanging about until he graduates to contemplate his career – that’s already well under way.

The 19-year-old is embarking on a degree in graphic design in September, although his business, Gingerbread Graphics, is already 18-months-old and thriving. Andy is a talented artist and loves what he does, but crucially he is confident and tenacious. Our interview didn’t come about through a PR or a pushy parent. He picked up the phone and talked about himself, his art, his business and followed up with a self-assured email with examples of his work and suggested interview dates. All this as he prepared for a two week exhibition at the Solihull Arts Complex. He’s impressive and professional.

SOCIAL MEDIA

Andy hasn’t always been into art. “My parents aren’t arty at all and the closest thing I came to art at school was woodwork,” he says. A decision to study graphics at A-level  changed all that. He found a talent and ran with it. Andy prefers the tag ‘graphic illustrator’ to ‘designer’ and favours traditional methods, although his marketing tactics are thoroughly modern. He works every inch of social media and uploads a regular YouTube diary. A speculative group message about his work on Facebook resulted in a response from comedian James Cordon who agreed to let Andy create his FB cover page. He has since created a further cover for the star. “James has been brilliant giving me shout outs on Facebook which has boosted the number of likes. I’ve been banned from Facebook twice for spamming, but it’s a way of getting my work out there and getting noticed,” he says. “My parents aren’t from the art world. I haven’t got the benefit of contacts in the right places, so I find other ways to raise my profile.”

Andy puts his parent’s lack of knowledge to good use though. “Mum and Dad are my sounding boards. I bounce ideas of them and get their feedback. Not everybody I create work for will be arty, so it’s useful to get their opinion. We have a nice little routine. It works,” he says.

COMMITMENT

Andy’s YouTube diaries include standard teenage japes, but they also have a common theme – Gingerbread Graphics. In one clip the camera follows Andy to a radio interview to promote his exhibition ‘A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing’. In another, Andy is dressed up like a gingerbread man walking the streets of Solihull putting flyers through doors and chatting to locals about his exhibition. In another he is holidaying in Turkey and placing stickers of the customary gingerbread man relaxing on a lilo in carefully chosen spots. One of Andy’s inspirations is Banksy and his street art reflects that. While there are probably a lot of teenagers who are decent artists few have his  inventiveness or commitment.

SELL OUT EXHIBITION

‘A Wolf in Sheep’s Clothing’ brought in a record number of visitors to Solihull Arts Complex. Andy stood outside in the street encouraging passers-by to take a look. “One of the workers said he’d never seen anybody pulling people in off the street before. Usually a two week exhibition attracts 400 visitors. I reached that figure on day four and the final number was 1500,” says Andy. In actual fact the exhibition closed early because Andy’s work had sold out, so it wasn’t even two weeks. The Mayor was so impressed he came twice.

FUTURE PLANS

When asked about future plans Andy says, “to make Gingerbread Graphics a success. I don’t want to work for anybody else. And to make art cool again.” Andy has an extraordinary knack for making things happen which is a talent in itself. That teamed with his artistic ability and likeable nature is a potent combination and one that you wouldn’t bet against becoming a huge success.

Rose Brown is a bundle of energy. Super chatty and enthusiastic, she apologises numerous times for talking too much during our interview, but actually it’s refreshing and her energy is infectious. While her peers were contemplating what to do with their adult lives, Rose channelled her energy into setting up a small skincare business in Birmingham that is now gaining global appeal.

NATURAL BEAUTY

At the age of 18, Rose launched PHB (Pure, Health and Beauty) in 2010, importing a range of natural skincare products and selling them through a small store at Pavilions Shopping Centre, Birmingham. She verges on the obsessive about natural ingredients. As a vegetarian about to embark on veganism, she is against animal testing and avoids all the derivatives too. “The response was great and after a while I thought ‘why sell somebody else’s products when I could make and sell my own?’,” she says.

Not one to stand still Rose set about developing her own range. She spent 18 months in a lab with a cosmetic chemist, striving for the highest level of purity including achieving halal certification. “There isn’t enough evidence yet to prove the effects of regularly rubbing chemicals into your skin. They only became main stream in the ‘50s, so we’re yet to see the fallout,” she says.

Rose is hands on in every stage of the business from developing products to designing packaging. “The brand is my baby and I’m involved at every stage. I’m very protective,” she says.

HAPPY TEAM

Rose managed to tap into a market that is increasingly concerned about what effect chemicals in their daily skincare regimes are having and as a result the flagship Pavilions store has built up a loyal customer base. You might say ‘right place, right time’ and there’s probably a small element of that, but the driving force behind PHB’s success is Rose’s passion and the happy team she has built.

She had the foresight to approach Birmingham City College about apprenticeships. “I employed Isbri, an apprentice from Birmingham City College, who has absolutely flourished with us. We’re about to take on another apprentice this year who Isbri will train up. She’s so excited. Customer service is key to my business. If you go into Boots there is no chance a member of staff will be able to chat you through the ingredients and provenance of their products. Every member of my team can do that,” she says proudly.

Rose’s age hasn’t held her back. Far from it. It’s allowed her to be fearless when somebody older and with more commitments might be inclined to over think things. “Also there are enough family members around me to bring me back down to earth if I get carried away,” she says.

AMBITIOUS PLANS

Not content with one thriving store, Rose has opened a second in Cheltenham, has a consignment in Fenwicks in Leicester and is stocked by the nationwide Nutricentre outlets. One of the most exciting developments of all is her franchise option in Asia. Rose explains, “I tentatively mentioned franchise opportunities on Facebook and I was inundated. Because I’m so particular about the brand most of the people interested didn’t fit the bill, however one opportunity in Brunei caught my eye.”

Rose’s preferred duo, Kian Han Ang and Susan Lo of MJG Cosmetics opened their PHB Boutique in Brunei last year making Rose, now aged 22, one of the youngest franchisors in the world. MJG have had such success in Brunei they plan to open stores in Singapore, Malaysia and Indonesia. “The biggest competition in this region is Bodyshop. Although Bodyshop has ethical roots and branding, the company is owned by L’Oreal whose products contain animal derived ingredients and chemicals. So once we’ve got our message across in this region particularly the halal certification PHB should flourish,” she says.

Emily Scarratt is supremely talented. Although she chose to focus on rugby, Emily could have picked from a number of sports to pursue at the highest level. As a teenager she played basketball and hockey at county level, rounders and rugby for England and was offered a US basketball scholarship aged 16. Of her impressive sporting prowess Emily says modestly, “I think it’s because not many other people were playing those sports.” When it became clear she needed to focus on one sport rather than four, “it was a difficult decision”. Rugby won in the end to the delight of the Rugby Football Union (RFU) no doubt. Now 23, her contribution to the national side has been extraordinary. Voted player of the year, she’s been instrumental in many momentous tours for both the sevens and fifteens sides amassing 43 caps, 25 tries and 192 points.

EARLY START

As a toddler, Emily was used to watching her brother play rugby, until the coach invited her to have a go aged five. She enjoyed it and played alongside the boys at Leicester Forest until the age of 12 – when it’s illegal to play mixed rugby, so she moved over to the girls side. When asked how the coaches spotted her talent she says, “If you asked my dad he would say the first time I held a rugby ball, but I suspect much later. I suppose I stood out because I played alongside the boys and held my own.” Although there’s clearly a difference in weight, women’s rugby is just as tough as men’s. The rules are the same and the tackles are as committed, so how do mum and dad cope with watching her play such a brutal sport? “Dad used to play rugby so he takes it in his stride, but if I’m down for more than two seconds mum begins to panic. They’re both rugby fans so they get it,” she says.

RUGBY vs. LIFE

Since 2007 Emily has played at Lichfield which proved a logistical challenge while studying in Leeds. “There was no time for hobbies or a social life. I was either studying in Leeds, training in Lichfield or in the car driving between the two,” she says, “and during the six nations I was driving to London every weekend too.” After graduating Emily took a job teaching PE at King Edward’s School in Birmingham. She’s lucky to have great facilities on her doorstep and during free periods she is able to use the gym and the playing fields to train, but there are still comprises. “Some tours fall in the school holidays which is perfect, but some don’t and you need to have a very understanding employer. Competing in New Zealand or China can mean a two week trip away. The school has been very accommodating,” says Emily. I suspect Miss Scarratt is a massive inspiration to her pupils.  

Some of the England squad have nine to five jobs without school holidays and on site facilities. Funding in the women’s game is pitifully poor, so it’s tough. Emily gets a tiny athlete grant that doesn’t go far. She’s optimistic though, “the women’s game is progressing all the time. The focus for England has been on the sevens game rather than fifteens, so I think extra funding is more likely there.”

FUTURE GOALS

Emily’s modesty doesn’t detract from her drive and determination. She is very clear about future goals, “To win the World Cup in 2014. I was part of the 2009 squad that lost to New Zealand so to put one over on the kiwis would be great. And to make the Olympics in Rio.”

Tim Hill was a bit of a late starter in ballet terms, donning his first pair of shoes aged eight. Even then it was a bit of luck he danced at all. Recalling his first lesson at Happy Feet in King’s Heath, Tim says: “My sister was too scared to go to ballet by herself, so I went along for support. I loved it immediately and I knew I wanted to go back.” The teacher spotted Tim’s natural ability during that first lesson and insisted he return. But what of Tim’s sister? Is ballet in the genes? “No, she doesn’t dance. She gave up just after I started,” Tim says with a chuckle.

TALENT SPOTTED

Tim’s obvious talent meant he quickly embarked on a fast track to becoming a professional dancer. Benefiting from Birmingham Royal Ballet’s (BRB) progressive dance track scheme, he was picked up by talent scouts when he was nine. The programme introduces pupils to ballet, who might not ordinarily have access to the art-form, and nurtures those who show particular talent. Tim moved from the relaxed teaching of Happy Feet and joined Junior Associates (JA) following the more classical Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) programme. At this point he had been dancing for just a year.

DANCE SCHOOL

Tim excelled at JA and two years on, his teacher suggested he audition for the Royal Ballet School and Elmhurst School for Dance. Choosing Elmhurst over the Royal Ballet School, Tim has been happily studying there ever since. His enthusiasm is infectious, “we have the best teachers,” he says. As well as the intense training, which can be as much as “six hours per day”, there are end of year shows and galas to keep Tim busy not to mention the odd A-level. “I had to take fifteen hours off ballet to complete my art A-level,” he says. Touring recently with BRB in their production of Aladdin has been one of the highlights of Tim’s career so far. “We took classes with the company which was amazing and inspiring. They are so brilliant,” he says.

STAYING IN SHAPE

Much has been made of the strict regime imposed on young ballet dancers in order to maintain the shape and fitness, but Tim isn’t subjected to any strange diets. “I’m lucky I can eat what I like,” he says. When he has free time he spends it on a bike with his sporty family in tow. As well as getting a kick out of cycling, “it’s good for strength and stamina which helps my dancing,” he says.

AMBITION

Now 18-years-old, Tim will leave Elmhurst next year – but what then? “I’d love to join the BRB, but I’d also like to dance in mainland Europe. Maybe the Serbian National,” he says, “I love New York, so that would be brilliant too. Or perhaps Boston.” He might be undecided about where in the world he would like to dance, there’s no doubting what Tim will be doing when he gets there.

Not content with juggling school work and the odd hobby, sixteen-year-old Poppy Jones is having an altogether more focused teen experience than her peers. As well as playing for Birmingham City under-17s, Poppy already has an England under-19 selection in the bag, putting her goal of wearing a senior shirt within reach.

FOOTBALL WITH BOYS

Poppy’s introduction to the beautiful game was playing football with boys, when she was aged five, at her local club. Her natural talent was obvious and football quickly became more than a hobby when she was scouted by Kidderminster Harriers at the tender age of ten. Trials with Birmingham City followed two years later and now Poppy captains the under-17 Birmingham City Centre of Excellence team and is over the moon to be part of the England set up. Of the England selection Poppy says, “I found out on March 6 and I was so shocked and happy.”

SCHOOLWORK vs SPORT

Crucially, Poppy was awarded a Sports Scholarship to Bromsgrove School in 2010 where her talent was recognised and fostered, so she feels supported. Now in Year 11, with exams looming and schoolwork intensifying, how does Poppy fit everything in? “I train on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday with a match on Saturday. I do my school work in any free time I get during the day and at weekends mainly. When selected for the England camp you have to use your spare time to do school work on site, so you don’t fall behind. There is help if need be.” Unbelievably, Poppy finds time to play several other sports at school – hockey, netball, athletics and cross- country.

FAMILY SUPPORT

Poppy spends precious downtime with her family and friends. Her older sister is very supportive, but doesn’t play football herself and Poppy’s younger brother enjoys nothing more than a kick about in the garden with her. Interestingly, he’s the same age Poppy was when she began her football career. Watch this space – he has a great teacher. For Poppy’s parents those Saturday afternoons spent shivering on a soggy touchline have been worth it to watch their daughter fulfilling her dreams. “They are really proud of my achievements and have supported me every step of the way,” she says.

HEROES

When asked about heroes I thought Poppy might say Rachel Yankey, or another star of women’s football, but instead she names players from the men’s game – “Pique who plays for Barcelona because of his first touch and his movement off the ball and the opportunities he creates. Also Gerrard for the way he holds himself on the pitch and the way he has captained England.” I wonder if this is an indication of the gulf that still exists between the men and women’s game? “Women’s football is increasingly being recognised and is getting bigger all the time. The standards are higher now for example the England Seniors winning the Cyprus Cup,” says Poppy. (England beat Canada in the final of the Cyprus Cup earlier in the year to be crowned 2013 champions). Although naturally Poppy supports Birmingham City, she says, “the team I most like to watch in English football is Manchester United, and in the Champions League Barcelona.”

FUTURE

Poppy’s future plans are refreshingly specific. “I want to gain a first team contract with Birmingham City Ladies and then go on to play football for England,” she says. “I love my football and intend to make it as a professional.” Given Poppy’s ambition, commitment and natural talent it’s probably highly realistic. While the World Cup in 2015 might be a tall order, you wouldn’t bet against seeing Poppy in a England senior shirt very soon.

Thomas Cheshire is no ordinary teenager. The 13-year-old is more likely to be found constructing a polytunnel to grow vegetables in than playing XBox. Many youngsters struggle to find their vocation until well into further education. Not Tom. He knows exactly what he wants to do when he grows up. This impressive young boy is destined for greatness in the garden and his got started early. Tom has such a natural ability and remarkable knowledge that his teacher at Moreton Community School, Steve Keegan entered him into the RHS Young School Gardener of Year awards. Tom came an impressive second in the national competition and is cock-a-hoop. Mr Keegan found Tom to be an inspirational part of the team, often taking the lead. “He’s a shining example of a student who has wholly embraced the subject with a wonderful appreciation of the environment,” he says.

FLAIR

Tom’s flair and enthusiasm really are remarkable. Already he has proved to be instrumental in creating the school community garden and for one so young, his initial designs were incredibly well-thought out and inclusive. For instance, he suggested raised beds, so less able pupils could get involved in planting, harvesting and crop rotation. “I just wanted to make sure that everyone had the chance to enjoy and participate fully with the garden” says Tom. He also incorporated special areas, such as bug-friendly zones to allow pupils to relish studying wildlife. The progressive curriculum at Moreton already allows students to dedicate a couple of hours a week to gardening – clearly Tom wishes it could be more. “We’re given periods three and four on a Friday for the garden,” Tom chuckles “but I would be out there all day, everyday given the chance.” His daily commitment starts when he arrives at school and lovingly waters the hanging baskets that occupy pride of place in the courtyard. Next he maintains the compost bins that have produced a list of appropriate compostable materials for staff and students.

PROJECTS

Even when he’s not actually getting his hands dirty, his thoughts are never far from horticulture. Current projects include researching a timed solar powered irrigation system that will water the polytunnel at night. He’s also hatching a plan to make fertiliser from the slurry created by wet grass cuttings. Woodwork classes have proved useful; he’s been able to knock up a ladybird hotel. To say this boy is focused is an understatement. So what about hobbies outside of the garden? Silly question. There are none of course. Where did this drive come from? Although Tom’s garden at home is small, his parents are keen gardeners and have allotted a ‘little corner’ for Tom where he is given carte blanche to grow whatever he likes. This year he’s plumped for tomatoes and peas. His sisters aren’t green fingered, so they leave him to it. When quizzed about his gardening heroes, Tom said he doesn’t have any. I suspect he considers it a daft concept. You see, Tom isn’t inspired by TV gardeners or passing trends. It’s more instinctive than that. He has found something that he genuinely loves, is great at and wants to do forever. There are a number of pupils at Moreton who are keen, willing contributors to the school garden, but Tom is different. His dedication and thirst for knowledge set him apart. It seems obvious that Tom will go on to enjoy a career in horticulture, but when put to him, he said quietly and sincerely, ‘I really wish.’