In fact this was a re-opening after restoration work. The building was originally opened in 1834 albeit in an unfinished state.
Today Their Royal Highnesses Charles Prince of Wales and Camilla Duchess of Cornwall visited Birmingham to officially re-open the building. After a walkabout in Victoria Square they entered the Town Hall for a concert which included a mixed dance performance by 200 students of the Elmhurst School for Dance - of which the Duchess is a patron, the Ex Cathedra Choir and organist Thomas Trotter. During this concert the Town Hall was officially re-opened and the Prince spoke highly of it's architectural value. After leaving the Town Hall they had another walkabout to greet spectators and a great number of school children who had turned up for the occasion.
A bonus for the day was the weather... the sun actually shone!
On the downside, a huge television screen which had been set up to relay the concert to the people outside was drowned out by a certain local radio station which had it's own idea for entertainment... they only stopped when they realised they were babbling away during the National Anthem!!!
But it was a great day and many people went home with unforgettable memories of chatting to members of the Royal Family, including myself.
The photograph above shows the Town Hall in all it's glory and that revolting bit of tat called the Iron Man.
Various activities took place in several places around Birmingham City Centre. But I have just concentrated on a few photographs (and 1 video) of some of the traditional dance events in Chamberlain Square. I say a few, because last year I took hundreds at the Big Birmingham Morris Caper
