University of Birmingham to feature in city-wide Platinum Jubilee 22km Walkway
The University of Birmingham has been chosen as one of the city's 20 sites to visit as part of the new Platinum Jubilee 22km Walkway.
The bronze marker placed outside of Aston Webb for illustrative purposes only
The special Platinum Walkway in Birmingham, which was announced this morning by The Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, will celebrate Her Majesty The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee ahead of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games which will take place across the city this summer.
Along the route, walkers will see well-known landmarks such as Centenary Square, the Museum of the Jewellery Quarter, the Black Sabbath Bench in Broad Street and a section of the Worcester and Birmingham Canal. Edgbaston Cricket Ground and Cannon Hill Park will also be some of the 20 highlights connected by the 22- km circular route (approximately 13 miles).
The bronze markers, containing the Queen’s EIIR royal cypher, are to be installed permanently at the University of Birmingham and elsewhere along the route during March. A panel will also be designed and installed to promote the route at a central Birmingham location.
We are delighted to be chosen as one of the 20 places to visit as part of the new Platinum Jubilee Walkway. The University of Birmingham is an Official Partner of the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, so this is another wonderful honour and opportunity to celebrate our role in the Games. We look forward to working with the team on the installation of the marker and subsequent celebrations of the route over the coming months.
Cllr Ian Ward, Leader of Birmingham City Council, was one of the first to walk the new route and said:
“I’m delighted that Birmingham is getting a new Walkway for the Platinum Jubilee. The Walkway is a fantastic way for residents and visitors alike to see some of Birmingham’s finest landmarks”.
John Crabtree, the Lord Lieutenant of the West Midlands, said:
“This is a unique year of celebration for the region with the City of Culture well underway in Coventry and we look forward to marking The Queen’s Platinum Jubilee and hosting the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. This new Walkway shows both Birmingham’s heritage and modern architecture, with sites including the Chamberlain Clock, the Coffin Works, the Bullring and Grand Central.”
Hugo Vickers, Chairman of the Commonwealth Walkway Trust, the charity responsible for designing the Walkway, said:
“I’ve been helping create Walkways since the Silver Jubilee in 1977. This is now the 100th Walkway, with routes in the main towns and cities of every Commonwealth nation and territory. I’ve already walked the Birmingham route three times and have met many people out and about enjoying it. These walks are a subtle and special tribute to Her Majesty, designed for the enjoyment of everyone who walks them.”
Notes for editors
Notes for editors
For media enquiries please contact Danann Swanton, University of Birmingham.
- The University of Birmingham is ranked amongst the world’s top 100 institutions, its work brings people from across the world to Birmingham, including researchers and teachers and more than 6,500 international students from over 150 countries.
- The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games, which will be held from 28 July until 8 August 2022, will be a major opportunity to feature the city, the region, and its people on the global stage.
- The Games is already proving to be a catalyst for transformation across the West Midlands, attracting new investment and funding, creating jobs and apprenticeships for local people and new opportunities for local businesses, as well as accelerating projects that will ensure the region is ready to host a fantastic sports and cultural celebration.
- Birmingham 2022 will be the Games for everyone, bringing people together from across Birmingham and the region, to provide a warm welcome to millions of visitors during the summer of 2022.