Birmingham Walk of Stars is installed on a section of pavement in Broad Street.
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The latest star addition will be on the 14 August 2011, when ex Formula 1 World Champion and motor racing legend Nigel Mansell, will become the 26th person to receive the Walk of Stars award. Nigel began his F1 Career with Lotus in 1981 and became World Champion at the Hungarian Grand Prix in 1992. Having won 31 Formula 1 races, Nigel is the most successful of all British F1 drivers to date and the award of a place on the Birmingham Walk of Stars is a well deserved honour.
The Walk normally honours those people who have made noteworthy contributions in the categories of Music, Television, Theatre, Film, Radio, Literacy, Business and Sport, as can be seen from those previously awarded a Broad Street Star.
However, following the Star presentations on the 16th June 2011 by the Lord Mayor of Birmingham, Councillor Anita Ward, to pioneering surgeon Sir Keith Porter, hero soldier Lance Corporal Matt Croucher GC & charity worker Laurie Mansfield, it is interesting to note that all three can only be described as unsung heros who, up until now, were virtually unknown to a large majority of the Birmingham population.
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Sir Keith Porter, who is based in the military wing of the Queen Elizabeth Hospital, is the worlds leading micro surgeon, the UK's only professor of clinical traumatology and has led the country's efforts to transform medical trauma practice.
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Royal Marine Lance Corporal Matt Croucher GC, from Solihull, who has served in Afghanistan and also twice in Iraq, was awarded the coverted George Cross in 2008, after he threw himself onto a grenade which he activated by walking into it's trip wire, whilst out on patrol in Helmand Province, Afghanistan. Remarkably, he avoided injury as his backpack took the full force of the explosion. His colleagues only suffered minor injuries in the incident.
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Birminghbam born Laurie Mansfield is the Chairman of the British Forces Foundation, which organises the fund raising events and for popular entertainers to perform for troops on active service abroad. Mr Mansfield is also the man behind the Royal Variety Show, the proceeds of which go directly to the charity.
The initial idea for the Walk of Stars came from Gary Raybould, a local Birmingham man, who broached his idea with Steve Hewlett at the Broad Street Improvement District and it was Steve who pursued the idea into reality.
For an individual to be considered for their Star to be added to the Walk of Stars, they must have made a recognisable impact in their specialist category, performed at one of Birmingham’s major venues i.e. the ICC, NIA, Birmingham Symphony Hall, the Royal Ballet, Birmingham Hippodrome Ltd, The Birmingham Repertory Theatre Ltd, Alexandra Theatre, etc., or be originally from the area or have prominent links with the City and the Midlands region.
Listed below are those currently awarded Star status, plus some of the current nominees for such an award.
The presentation to Ozzy Osbourne, the first Star to be honoured, was held in Centenary Square and it was estimated that the presentation created £1.7million worth of worldwide publicity for the area.
When West Bromwich born comedian Frank Skinner received his Star status on 1 August 2009, Frank said “It’s a fantastic honour. To be honest it won’t be the first time I’ve been flat on the pavement in Broad Street”. Always a comedian.
| Recipient |
Date |
Profession |
| Ozzy Osbourne |
06/07/07 |
Musician - Member of Black Sabbath |
| Jasper Carrot |
15/09/07 |
Comedian |
| Noddy Holder |
09/12/07 |
Musician |
| Murray Walker |
28/06/08 |
Sports Commentator |
| The Archers |
12/09/08 |
Soap Opera - Long running radio serial |
| Norman Painting |
12/09/08 |
Soap Opera - The Voice of Phil Archer |
| Tony Iommi |
23/11/08 |
Musician - Member of Black Sabbath |
| Aston Villa F.C. |
04/05/09 |
Members of 1982 European Cup winning team |
| Tony 'Bomber' Brown |
17/05/09 |
Footballer - West Bromwich Albion F.C. |
| Frank Skinner |
01/08/09 |
Comedian |
| Gill Merrick |
Sept 09 |
Footballer - Birmingham City F.C. |
| Ray Graydon |
Sept 09 |
Footballer - Walsall F.C. |
| Julie Walters |
27/10/09 |
Actress & Comedienne |
| Garry Newbon |
10/12/09 |
News Sports Reporter |
| Lenny Henry |
19/12/09 |
Comedian |
| Beverly Knight |
20/03/10 |
Singer |
| Joan Armatrading |
05/06/10 |
Singer/Songwriter |
| Chris Tarrent |
05/08/10 |
TV Presenter |
| Birmingham Royal Ballet |
11/09/10 |
Ballet |
| David Bintley |
11/09/10 |
Ballet |
| Roy Wood |
13/11/10 |
Musician |
| Bev Bevan |
28/04/11 |
Drummer |
| Sir Keith Porter |
16/06/11 |
Micro Surgeon |
| Matt Croucher GC |
16/06/11 |
Royal Marine Lance Corporal |
| Laurie Mansfield |
16/06/11 |
Chairman - British Forces Foundation |
| Nigel Mansell |
14/08/11 |
Formula 1 Motor Racing World Champion |
Some of the current nominees who may be invited to walk with the stars along the walk of fame, on which the public are invited to vote include:-
Bill Oddie, Clive Owen, Joan Armatrading, The Moody Blues, Toyah Wilcox, Jeff Lynne, Electric Light Orchestra, Judas Priest, Richard Hammond, Charlie Thomas, Denise Lewis, Johnnie Walker, Martin Shaw, Benjamin Zephaniah, Adrian Chiles, Jeremy Clarkson, Tiswas, Sir Simon Rattle, Cat Deeley, Robert Plant, UB40, and Duran Duran.
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