Tributes paid to Brum's Councillor of Culture

BRYAN BIRD WORKED HARD TO SERVE THE CITY HE WAS SO PROUD OF

- STAFF REPORTER

TRIBUTES have been paid to former Birmingham Labour councillor and deputy city leader Bryan Bird, who died last month aged 86.

Mr Bird is credited with helping to create the city's flourishing arts and cultural scene. He chaired the council's leisure services committee for many years and helped develop new leisure centres and drove through the policy of school playing fields and sports centres opening for public use 'outside school hours.

He also worked internationally-renowned opera director Graham Vick, who was establishing the City of Birmingham Touring Opera, to take opera to new audiences and involve communities. It launched in 1987 with a production of Falstaf at Cocks Moors Woods, and continues today as the Birmingham Opera Company.

Bryan had the kind of pride in Birmingham that was pretty well unmatched by anyone I know

Cllr Martin Brooks