'We are a product of the melting pot': Icons including UB40 honoured on Birmingham Airport wall

The colourful display is situated airside, after security, and pays homage to sports, arts and culture heritage and talent from the West Midlands.

The wall features a range of celebrities with a deep connection to the Birmingham area, including Peaky Blinders creator Steven Knight, Comedian Jasper Carrott, Poet Benjamin Zephaniah, Purnell, Reggae-band UB40 and many more. 

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At the unveiling of the event, Birmingham Airport terminal operations director Al Titterington shared how the new mural pays homage to the city's local communities. 

"Our airport is here to serve the local communities, those using the airport but also those colleagues who work here, so in creating a sense of place, we wanted to look in terms of what are the influences from the West Midlands, and what makes the West Midlands iconic," Al Titterington said. 

Reggae superstars UB40 were in attendance, and were happy to see the Grammy-award winning band honoured in the city that made them. 

Robin Campbell emphasised Birmingham's links to the band's global success, and how the band is a "product" of the city. 

He said: "We couldn't exist without having come from Birmingham. We are a product of the musical melting pot, the cultural melting that Birmingham is. Literally our music and the band could not exist without having come from Birmingham in the first place."

Well-renowned Brummie chef Glynn Purnell shared how he hopes the wall will inspire young people from all across the city.  "It's so special to me, I was brought up on a council estate just down the back and I've come here for holidays and stuff and now to be on the wall is fantastic," he shared. 

He continued: "For me it's to inspire young people as well. It's not necessarily about me being proud and honoured, which I am, but also inspiration for young Brummies to make a go of things and try and be successful in their own right."

TV's Jasper Carrott said he felt humbled by the experience: "It's very flattering, and [I'm] very humbled. This is the city I was born in and never left it. I am truly grateful for the recognition.

"Being a Brummie, being amongst all these other Brummies, you start to realise what you have achieved in life. If I've achieved as much as Glynn Purnell or UB40 - I've done well!"

Also in attendance was Benjamin Zephaniah's widow, Qian Zephaniah, who was wearing pieces from the late poet's wardrobe. 

The purple shirt she wore at the unveiling was the same shirt that Zephaniah was wearing in the mural.

Qian said she hoped the airport would welcome people to celebrate Birmingham's local gems, such as the "best curry in the country", the "best parks", "the best reggae music" and, of course, "the Peaky Blinders".