Memorial for Barrington Patterson - known as One Eyed Baz - to be held in Erdington

A memorial is set to take place this weekend for Barrington Patterson, the former kickboxer and community activist affectionately known as One Eyed Baz.

Barrington’s wife Tracey released the news on Twitter earlier this week (Tuesday, 22 March) that her husband died after suffering a massive heart attack, aged 56.

She wrote on Tuesday morning: “At 6am my beloved husband had a massive heart attack. West Midlands Ambulance Service worked for over an hour to save him unfortunately it wasn’t to be our hearts are broken.”

Tracey has posted the details of a memorial set to take place for Barrington tomorrow (26 March) from midday at the Emporium Gym on Tyburn Road in Erdington where residents will have the opportunity to lay flowers.

The former professional kickboxer grew up in Handsworth and was a former member of Birmingham City’s Zulu hooligan firm.

As a child Barrington was blinded in one eye through an accident, when his sister threw a can at him, which later earned him the name One Eyed Baz.

In his later life, Barrington campaigned against knife crime and homelessness in the city.

Blues fans pay tribute

Birmingham City fans have also been paying tribute to the man who was part of the infamous Blues’ Zulu firm.

After the club posted a tribute to Baz on Twitter, many fans responded.

One wrote: “Did some great work within the community and I always found him to be somebody who had time for everyone. Thoughts with all of his loved ones, we lost a proper old school Blue today. KRO.”

Another said: “Baz was the living embodiment that anybody can change their life and image. Feared/respected Zulu and cage fighter to charity worker and campaigner for many great causes.

“The legacy he leaves is bigger than the hole he leaves. Not many can say that.”

Another wrote: “Rivalries apart this man did so much good for those less fortunate In Birmingham. RIP.”

A message from the editor:

Thank you for reading. BirminghamWorld is Birmingham’s latest news website, championing everything that is great about our city - reporting on news, lifestyle and sport. We want to start a community among our readers, so please follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram and keep the conversation going.