Birmingham's 'raging bull ' wins prime spot in 2023 calendar

Birmingham 's mighty mechanical bull has been chosen to kick off the 2023 calendar for the city's business district where millions of people visited it.

The 'raging bull ', as it became known, formed the centrepiece of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games Opening Ceremony in July, before being relocated in Centenary Square.

And the 2.5 tonnes, 10-metre-tall moving sculpture has now achieved another landmark, by kicking off the Westside Business Improvement District's 2023 calendar.

The striking photo with a background of moody clouds, representing the month of January, was taken by Chris Fletcher, aged 50, from Coleshill, Warwickshire, who is no stranger to BID calendar success.

Chris, who receives a £75 voucher to spend on Westside, said: “The bull was something new in Birmingham to go and see. It had been moved to outside the Library of Birmingham straight after the Games ended, so I went along on 21 August when conditions on the day were perfect. It was very big. It looked big on TV, but you don 't realise the size until you are close up to it. ”

Chris, who works in software in the automotive industry, said he had been taking photos in his spare time for just over a decade. His atmospheric image of a misty canal-side setting off Broad Street was also chosen to represent January in the 2022 calendar.

After being selected for the 2022 calendar, he received an email reminder of this year 's competition so entered again.

He added: “It 's the only calendar I can think of that promotes Birmingham in this way and also gives local photographers something to enter and have their work seen in. I 'm really pleased to be in for the second year, and both for January. ”

The 'raging bull ' originally featured special effects, including smoke coming from its nostrils and lightning within its body. It was due to have been dismantled after the Games ended on 9 August but earned a six-week reprieve following an online petition signed by thousands of people.

According to reports, the sculpture is now being stored in a city car park off Great Tindal Street, but is earmarked to return to public display after some restoration work. This is likely to be indoors in order to protect its outer layer which is made of dense foam.

The BID will carry further stories about the monthly calendar photo winners throughout the year.

See more of Chris 's work on his Instagram account @cpf_photography.