Birmingham. It is the place I called home for eighteen-years, and recently it was criticised by a fellow writer.Insulting our pies, low blow. It is a misunderstood place, I find. I might look at Birmingham with rose-tinted glasses, but it certainly is worthy of existence. It should not be consumed into the North or South – it would not suit either.The Midlands are an unconventionally content middle child, leave us alone! I don’t think the South would have us anyway.

Last week in this Observations slot, it was argued that no tourists would want to come to Birmingham. Really? I don’t think the writer can have graced Birmingham with his presence if he thinks this. The Bullring Shopping Centre often finds itself taken over by Japanese, Italian and Chinese tourists that all mount the magnificent Bull, throwing up a joyful peace sign.Probably more important, we have the phenomenal science museum Thinktank, and surely, surely we can boast about bloody Cadbury’s World! The whole area of Bournville – and Bournville Chocolate – is an essential part of British history. Even if since being taken over by Kraft it has become rather tight on the free chocolate during tours, it is still a magical and iconic place.Take that, Norwich.

Also, without the inspirational (or ‘shit’ as it was dubbed last week) backdrop of Birmingham, The Hobbit might not have been as we know it. Birmingham City Council state that J.R.R Tolkien grew up in Birmingham and was inspired by Sarehole Mill when creating ‘the great mill’ in The Hobbit and the bad-tempered miller in LOTR. To say Birmingham has no contribution to people’s lives is a grave oversight. Lord of the Rings, enough said.

Now, I am not going to start a campaign against London as it is an astonishing place. But I find that Birmingham is much more welcoming. When I visited London I was mystified by the rules and code of the escalator. In London, there seems to be a mad rush of people with sour faces, hurdling past you without a thought. In the city of Brum, we all take our time, stand patiently on the escalator, and even smile at each other. We stand on whatever side of the escalator we like! None of this business of keeping to one side so angry, stressed people can barge past. We have freedom in Birmingham!

So, would people notice if Birmingham had never existed, or ceased to exist? I certainly think so. I’ve only delved into a couple of examples of merit, but there are many more. Even if people don’t see the worth of Birmingham, let us carry on how we are; at the very least, the Brummy accent is needed to make Scousers and Mancs feel better about theirs (ed: please take this in the light manner that it was intended, fellow Northerners!).