The West Midlands boasts some seriously talented exports, from movie stars and musicians to world class football players.
Recently, we’ve had a look at the famous faces - actors, musicians and even politicians - who were raised in and around Birmingham. Now, we’ve decided to take a look at the famous celebrities who grew up in the south of the city: Bournville and Stirchley.
Many famous people grew up in the Birmingham districts which have plenty to offer and are steeped in history. Bournville is best known for being the home of Cadbury’s chocolate, and the picturesque Birmingham town is seen as a model village, largely due to the Bournville Village Trust.
The trust, which was founded in 1900 by world famous chocolate-maker George Cadbury, has a design guide which residents are expected to follow. Those who live in the town, employees, are expected to maintain their homes to a certain standard, and if you live within the trust’s management scheme, locals also have to pay a charge to the group. The guide is in place to help sustain the town’s idyllic atmosphere.
Nearby Stirchley also has a lot to offer. It’s viewed as one of the most up and coming neighbourhoods in the city and has a great selection of bakeries, cafes, cool pubs with craft beers, and shops on the high street, as well as the close by Cotterdige Park to enjoy. The Times rated the neighbourhood as one of the best places to live in 2023.
A number of actors, sportspeople and other famous faces all come from the areas. With this in mind, we’ve taken a look at the most famous people who are from Bournville and Stirchley, including those who were born in the areas, as well as those who have lived there at some point during their lifetime.
Let’s take a look:
1. John Cadbury
Bournville was founded by the Quaker Cadbury family for employees at its Cadbury’s factory. John Cadbury, the founder, was a tea and coffee trader before creating Cadbury, the chocolate business. The Cadbury business was relocated in 1879 to an area of what was then north Worcestershire, on the borders of the parishes of Northfield and King’s Norton centred on Bournbrook Hall, where they developed the garden village of Bournville. John’s family then developed the Cadbury’s factory here, which remains the main UK manufacturing site of the business
2. Felicity Jones
The actress grew up in Bournville. She has gone on to star in big Hollywood films such as‘Rogue One: A Star Wars Story’ and ‘The Theory of Everything’. The 38-year-old is one of the highest regarded actresses around
3. Nigel Dakin
Dakin is a British diplomat who served as Governor of the Turks and Caicos Islands between 15 July 2019 and 29 March 2023 for the UK Government. He grew up in Bournville and was educated at the King Edward VI Five Ways School
4. Mike Skinner
The musician who grew up in West Heath is best known for his musical project The Streets. Skinner also attended the Bournville School