Few cities can rival Birmingham when it comes to the sheer number of world-changing innovations that have come out of the city.
From the world’s first steam engine to the first ever kidney transplant, Birmingham has a long history of being at the forefront of major scientific and technological breakthroughs.
The city’s impact on music, art and the UK’s wider culture is also well documented with a number of famous musicians and actors coming from Birmingham. Ozzy the Bull in New Street station is the latest tribute to one of the city’s biggest names - Prince of Darkness and Black Sabbath legend, Ozzy Osbourne - but we wanted to find out who else Brummies would like to see honoured with a statue of our the city.
We asked our readers on our Facebook page that if they could erect a new statue in Vicrotia Square, which famous Brummie would they choose to honour.
Here are the replies:
1. Ozzy Osbourne
The Prince of Darkness, maybe Birmingham’s most famous face, was mentioned a number of times by our readers. Although he’s had Ozzy the bull named after him, there’s currently no statue of the Black Sabbath frontman
2. George Cadbury
The founder of Cadbury’s chocolate does actually have a statue in Bournville Village although a few readers said they would like to see a statue of the businessman in Victoria Square
3. Carl Chinn
Brum’s best known historian Prof Carl Chinn also received a few mentions. The Moseley-born writer even broadcast a programme on the BBC from the mid-1990s focusing on Birmingham’s history
4. JRR Tolkien
Tolkien is the creator of the Hobbit and Lord of Rings. He grew up in Birmingham. During 1895 to 1911, Tolkien lived in nine homes in the south of the city, including King’s Heath. He also spent a lot of time in Hall Green, where Moseley Bog and Sarehole Mill would go on to provide the inspiration for the iconic series. He was mentioned by a few readers Photo: © BBC