Is Birmingham the UK's 'tornado alley'?

Dear readers — welcome to your Monday briefing. The weekend saw a further outpouring of remembrances in the wake of Ozzy Osbourne's death, including "huge" queues for a book of condolences in his honour, being housed in Birmingham Museum and Art Gallery.

This week, we've got stories coming up about a new political movement brewing in Dudley, and Labour deselections in the north of the city. But first, your Brum in Brief.

Photo of the week

The Sabbath bench on Broad Street has become a shrine after Ozzy’s passing. Mac McCreery snapped this photo, framing it to give a sense of the sheer volume of tributes that have been laid down in memory of the Black Sabbath singer. 

Brum in Brief

⚽ England’s Lionesses cemented their place in football’s history books with a European championship final penalty-shootout victory over Spain on Sunday, and Birmingham-born keeper, Hannah Hampton, was central to the effort. Hampton saved two penalties during penalties, despite only taking over as the first-choice tournament goalkeeper after the decorated Mary Earps retired. Hampton, born in the second city, grew up in Studley, Warwickshire, and went to school in Burntwood in Staffordshire. As a child, she underwent three operations on her eyes at Birmingham Children’s Hospital to rectify an eye-deviation condition, and now has an ambassadorial role there. She took home the player of the match honour after her heroics. 

🌧️ An increasing number of West Midlands canals are closing due to lack of water. The Canal and River Trust has warned that dry conditions are causing issues at locks, with closures and restrictions in place across the network. On the Birmingham and Fazeley Canal, Minworth lock is closed, with access to Rushall Canal and Cheddleton top lock to bottom lock on the Caldon Canal also no longer possible. Reviews are in place on a daily basis until the situation can be rectified and Wolverhampton Lock flight will be closed from Wednesday until sufficient rain replenishes water levels. The Canal and River Trust added that a single downpour wouldn't change the situation; consistent rainy weather is what replenishes canals and feeder reservoirs.

🌪️ On the 20th anniversary of the Birmingham tornado — which caused £40m of destruction over a four-minute spell of winds reaching up to 140mph — The Times has published research by the Tornado and Storm Research Organisation (Torro) which suggest that the second city could be Britain’s version of the US Midwest’s tornado alley. Fifteen tornados hit Birmingham between 1946 and 2005. BirminghamLive has published a photo essay of the well-remembered storm from twenty years ago.

Quick Hits

🔥 Huge West Bromwich fire sees four factory units go up in flames (Sky News)

🪧 Former Labour leader, Jeremy Corbyn, joins second ‘megapicket’ for striking Birmingham bin workers (BBC)

🚨 West Midlands Police have launched an appeal after an April incident in which a bus driver was racially abused and assaulted on the 11C bus as it traveled through Kings Heath (WMP)

🚓 A record number of shoplifting crimes was reported in the West Midlands over the last year (Express and Star)

💰 How the Back to the Beginning millions are being spent by charities around Birmingham (ITV News)

Catch up and coming up:

• For our latest weekend read, Dan Cave headed to Moseley Village to find out if the one-time bohemian epicentre of Brum is still a hub for artists and musicians. 
• Regular Dispatch contributor Rhi Storer penned an emotional essay on her dad’s encounters with Ozzy Osbourne — featuring chickens, a shotgun and an ‘explosion’ of dry ice.
• Later this week, we’re getting political, with the launch of a new party in Dudley. What does the Black Country Party want — and how likely are they to achieve it? 

Media picks

🎭 Dudley legend, Lenny Henry, sits down for a revealing Times interview (£) ahead of starring in a new play, which looks at the complicated relationship between a mother and her son. He goes in-depth on his childhood, including how Black children were instructed to walk around 1960s Dudley in pairs, for their own safety. “We were in the midst of this maelstrom,” says Henry. “But you don’t know that when you’re kids”. 

✍️ Adrian Chiles, broadcaster-turned-cult-Guardian-columnist shares the impact of hearing Ozzy Osbourne’s Brummie accent go global in the 1970s. 

Our to do list

🎟️ Not a specific event per se, but on Tuesday, anyone who lives in the West Midlands can nab up to two £1 tickets for CBSO’s 2025/26 season. More details here.

🎨 This Friday sees the return of the multi-gallery ‘First Friday’ open door evening across Digbeth’s hip and community-minded gallery spaces. All the cool kid info.

🍽️ On Friday, Birmingham Restaurant Festival returns, with participating eateries offering special menus for the occasion. Find out more and book here.

🌺 Birmingham’s Botanical Gardens hosts the return of the Birmingham Artisan’s Market on Saturday. £5 entry or free for members.

🍰 On Sunday, Halesowen Golf Club is opening its doors for a traditional afternoon tea on the terrace; tickets from £19.67.