28th July 2022, saw the start of the Commonwealth Games in the city, mostly held at an upgraded Alexander Stadium in the Perry Bar area of Sandwell.

As part of the opening ceremony a huge mechanical bull was created and placed in Centenary Square shortly afterwards.

During the final days of the games news broke that the mechanical bull was to be scrapped! A public outcry ensued and BBC Sport’s Mike Bushell led a campaign to have it saved for the city. There was no way to keep the original so it was agreed that a full size replica would be created, this can now be seen permanently installed in the main concourse of Grand Central (New Street Station).

In the meantime the original was stored in a local brownfield in Ladywood, kindly allowed by a local business, although it did look a little sad.

I was very proud that Mike Bushell liked one of my photos of the bull that he saw on my social media, he was delighted when a canvas print was made and that I gave to him in thanks for helping to save one of our city’s great icons.

The recreated full-size version of ‘Ozzy the Bull’ was installed in the main concourse of Grand Central (New Street Station) in 2023 and has been a huge tourist attraction ever since. He now only moves his head from side to side, eyes looking around and blinking his eyelids, the eyes now glowing purple instead of red.

During the promotion of the Peaky Blinders feature film he was donned with a ‘Peaky Blinders’ cap.

For the anniversary for the passing of Black Sabbath’s Ozzy Osbourne he was given a pair of Ozzy sunglasses.