Forever in our memory

100 years since key place of remembrance opened

- CARL CHINN, SOCIAL HISTORIAN & AUTHOR, DELVES INTO BRUM'S PAST

T was the first time that Edward, Prince of Wales had visited Birmingham, that Tuesday, June 12, 1923, and it was an event that drew tens of thousands of working-class people to the streets to cheer him as he crammed in as many engagements as possible in a little over 12 hours.

Aware of the tough times that were causing distress to so many, the Prince had asked that no public money be spent in decorating the streets to celebrate his appearances.

None was, but along the 34 miles of streets that he traversed, residents and workers had taken it upon themselves to put up 'schemes of adornment of effective and impressive character' - as one national journalist praised them.

The day began with a civic welcome in the Town Hall. In reply, the Prince trusted that he would 'gain some knowledge of your aspirations and your activities, which will not only enable me to realise why the name of this city is known throughout the Empire, but will be of service to me in after life in studying the problems which all my generation will have to face.'

Of course, Edward was doomed never to become king because of his love for a married woman, but then as a young man he was loved by many for his concern for the unemployed and for veterans of the Great War.

Indeed, in his response he referred to the institutional factory for the training of ex-servicemen which he was going to inspect.

The Prince expressed his hope that the employers and trade unionists of Birmingham would do all that they could do to find vacancies for the trainees. Thence he set off to see as much as he could.

According to the Manchester Guardian, everywhere he went he passed through 'avenues of a cheering populace, who threw flowers and waved flags, and at the different works masses of the employees hurrahed and with an enthusiasm that left no doubt of the immense popularity of the visitor'.