January 31st – Evening, Birmingham. It’s about a quarter past five, and the city is sliding gracefully into darkness at the end of another working day. I was here to see the lights come on, in and around Colmore Row and the Cathedral, the grounds of which are affectionately known as ‘Pigeon Park’.

People slag Birmingham off continually. It’s beautiful, if you open your eyes. This could almost be Belgravia.

My city, my past, present and future. How I adore it.