Forgotten local hero honoured with blue plaque

One man’s determination to revive the reputation of a Birmingham sporting icon and Olympic gold medalist has paid off with the news that the forgotten hero is to be honoured by a prestigious Blue Plaque.

In 1976, Birmingham-born John Curry made figure skating history at the Winter Olympics taking home two gold medals for team GB and becoming a sporting hero, winning BBC Sports Personality of the Year.

However, in the years that followed, Curry, who was born in Acocks Green and first learnt to skate at Solihull Ice Rink, slowly slipped out of the public consciousness, and his untimely death in 1994 left a generation unaware of his achievements.

Actor and writer Tony Timberlake embarked on personal journey to change this, first through his one man show, Looking For John, which premiered at Birmingham Repertory Theatre in November 2016. He followed this by nominating John Curry to be honoured with a Blue Plaque in his home city.

Tony Timberlake said: “Getting recognition for John Curry has been a labour of love. Watching him win Olympic gold forty years ago had a huge impact on me as a youngster and it’s never left me.

My play Looking for John made me think about John’s legacy, how he changed the world of figure skating and how he never denied who he was in his personal life. I felt he deserved to be remembered and celebrated again in the city where he was born and then died.

“I’m thrilled that John Curry will be celebrated once more and remembered forever in this way.”

The Birmingham Civic Society has been responsible for erecting Blue Plaques in the city since 1953 and there are currently over 80 around the city. The society receives several nominations every year and there’s currently a waiting list of over 20 years.

To be honoured with a Blue Plaque, a person must have been born, lived or worked in the city and have achieved greatness by making a significant contribution to their community or by excelling in their career.

Gavin Orton, Chairman of Birmingham Civic Society said: “Towards the end of last year the Society received a nomination from Tony Timberlake and the Birmingham Rep for a Blue Plaque to John Curry.

“The REP was about to premiere a play, Looking for John, directed by Tessa Walker, an Associate Director at The REP, and written and performed by the actor, Tony Timberlake. This nomination was supported by the Lord Mayor and we are delighted to be honouring John’s achievements.”

The Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Cllr Carl Rice and John Curry’s brother, Andrew, unveiled the Blue Plaque, awarded by Birmingham Civic Society, in honour of John’s achievements this week.

John’s plaque will feature on the house where he was born in Acocks Green at 946 Warwick Road, now Arden Lodge Residential Home.