Dear Brum - a love letter to Birmingham

‘Of course I’m here writing you again…’

With these words Birmingham Poet Laureate Casey Bailey’s updated love letter to the city started an evening of celebration.

In a video reading, Dear Brum was set to a stunning backdrop featuring key landmarks in Birmingham and was a real celebration of the city’s talent and diversity.

The event was held at the newly refurbished Banqueting Suite in the Council House last night and guests included former civic heads, councillors, business leaders and creative leads in the city.

The evening began with Lord Mayor of Birmingham Cllr Maureen Cornish introducing the poet and poem: “A love letter to Brum – an epitome of what this city is about and everything Birmingham stands for.”

Dear Brum was written as a love letter to Birmingham, to capture the hearts and minds of Birmingham and provide a voice for our citizens to shout about what we love about our city.

It is about creating a moment to inspire the Birmingham community and shine a light on our city, inspiring civic pride not only ahead of the Commonwealth Games, but beyond too.

After the reading Casey talked about how he came up with the poem:

“I wanted to think about things that are iconic in the city and the fact that it isn’t always a love story. I wanted to encapsulate all the emotions I have towards the city.”

Cllr Ian Ward, leader of Birmingham City Council who spoke at the event said:

"This fantastic poem was a highlight of an unforgettable evening that made me feel so proud of Birmingham and the incredible talent we have here. The Commonwealth Games are almost upon us and I want people in neighbourhoods right across the city to feel part of the Games and their legacy. This is such a golden opportunity for Birmingham. As Casey’s poem says, we’ve got to ‘go for gold’.”