I recently spent a short time in my home city of Birmingham. (The old colloquial name for Birmingham is Brummagem, or Brum.) I left to live in Jersey in 1977 and last visited the city eight years ago. I racked up nearly 90,000 steps in a full day and two half days in the city. I thought I’d jot down a few thoughts arising during my short stay.

Immigration is a hot topic these days, but it is not new. It is very evident today how multi-cultural the city has become compared to the old days. And that I account a very good thing, but let’s go back to look at the history of new immigrants, especially with regard to Birmingham. The very first immigrants were Irish. They came over in numbers in the second half of the 19c to find work on the roads, railways, canals and in the factories born of the Industrial Revolution. They formed their own communities and there was much animosity between the Irish gangs and their native Brummie rivals. Those were rough times and many were the pubs wrecked and the police needed to be fond of a scrap and breaking a few heads.

In the early 1950s came the Windrush generation from the West Indies. Then the Indian and Pakistan folk started to arrive, bringing a huge work ethic with them. The local shop owners were agog to find the newcomers opening shops and selling goods cheaper, remaining open when all others had shut.

Those were the days where those with rooms to let would hang signs outside – No Blacks, Dogs or Irish. Accordingly, enterprising new immigrants would buy properties and let them to their own country folk.

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And today, as I arrived in Brum for my short visit, little more than 50% of Brummies are White. 31% are Asian. 10% are Black. And my impression is that this mix, including many young, intelligent and vivacious people, have added a definite sense of liveliness to what was once a bit of a gloomy place. Everyone rubs together quite happily and any undercurrents of tension or violence are well hidden, if they exist at all.

The Asians in particular are hard-working and determined to succeed. Retail businesses in the inner city and out into the suburbs will usually be owned by Asians. They are also very family-aware and those a little better off will try to support others, maybe newcomers, to find their feet. The Uber driver I hired was a chap from Pakistan, for example. The married women often wear traditional clothing and can be reserved, though the younger ones are as lively as any White girl. Getting on a bus with my 94-year-old mother, a lady with full-face covering immediately got up and offered her seat.

Not only in Brum of course, but all over, various old buildings have been repurposed as mosques or other religious centres. I, with others, might remember when these places were pubs or Bingo halls, our version of the ‘good old days’. But if these places were so good they’d have stood their ground and be trading still. Most everywhere we remember older times through lenses which filter out the negative aspects and leave only some false idyll. This lives on amongst the cranky few who can’t let go of the past – there are thinly-disguised racial comments on certain social media groups but those people will never be happy under any circumstances.

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Inevitably our ethnic communities have enlivened the cultural face of the city, bringing their own talents and outlook to bear, hand in hand with their White contemporaries. Birmingham has always contributed hugely to the performing arts and our new, young population has only enhanced this. Anybody who watched the closing ceremony of the 2022 Commonwealth Games held in Birmingham will never forget the multi-cultural theatre and performances which showcased the city. Dexys Midnight Runners and UB40, Musical Youth, Beverley Night, Goldie, all topped off by the Brummie-born Black Sabbath.

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But two puzzles remain for me. The first being, where are the West Indian community? I remember them in great numbers, raucous and fun, supporting the West Indies cricket team at Edgbaston, a riot of noise and colour. They are around but less in evidence these days.

Secondly, after so many years of integration, the Black and Asian community have – with exceptions of course – not forged any identity with our local professional football teams Birmingham City and Aston Villa. My Pakistani Uber driver knew little and cared less about Birmingham City as we drove past St Andrew’s, yet for us older Brummies these grounds are like shrines.

So finally, for those readers who may not be familiar with the Birmingham accent, or indeed English football, I give you Jasper Carrott with a football sketch.