Edgbaston should carry city name says chamber president
THE new president of Birmingham Chamber of Commerce Group is urging Edgbaston cricket ground to carry the name of the city.
Michael Ward, who has succeeded Christine Braddock, is also asking athletics club Birchfield Harriers to consider doing the same.
Mr Ward, who is senior partner at law firm Gateley, said: “I cannot understand why some of our worldwide institutions hide the fact that they are in Birmingham.
“Edgbaston is a prime example. At the height of the riots in the city, attracting adverse global publicity, we had about 25,000 people of diverse backgrounds gathering for four days at the cricket ground for the Test match between England and India.
“There was hardly a police officer in sight and the match went ahead without trouble and in a spirit of great friendly rivalry. And yet those TV images that were sent round the world from the ground did not shout that the venue was in Birmingham while the riots did.”
Addressing the chamber’s annual meeting, he said: “The same will apply to the Alexander Stadium when the US track and field team arrive to start their Olympic build-up next year along with the Jamaicans.
“I would like to use my year of office to try to change that – to ensure that Birmingham’s name is at the heart of everything that is great about the city.”
Mr Ward, a cricket fan, is holding talks with Edgbaston in an attempt to move his proposal forward.
The AGM also confirmed the appointment of Steve Brittan, managing director of BSA Tools, the Birmingham-based machine tool manufacturer, as chamber vice-president. Simon Warr was due to assume the presidency this year but work commitments abroad mean he will remain a vice-president.
Mr Brittan said improvements were needed to vocational skills so the next generation of technicians was secure. He also said the amount of red tape SMEs had to deal with should also be reduced..
The AGM, held at the Sutton Coldfield campus of Birmingham Metropolitan College, was addressed by International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell, also MP for Sutton Coldfield.
