02/08/2014 Midlands Today

Crowds flocked to Birmingham to see a moving artistic commemoration to

the millions who lost their lives in the First World War.

5,000 frozen statues were left to simply melt away

in the summer sunshine ahead of Monday's anniversary

5,000 figures each representing a life lost in the First World War.

Hundreds gathered in Chamberlain Square to take part in Mimimum

Momument created in Birmingham by an award`winning Brazilian artist.

I am very, very happy. I'm emotional. I thank you very much, so

much Birmingham. The first sculpture to be laid

on the steps of Chamberlain Square was in memory

of a soldier without a monument. Captain John Osborne Walford of the

Worcestershire regiment fought at Ypres and Passchendaele, he took his

own life four years after war ended. They were boys, they were 18, 19. He

must have seen these boys coming out from England and then there were no

longer there. I had all those thoughts going round and seeing them

all here, they are all being remembered.

It is really nice, this way to commemorate them. It looks very

effective. Is good for everybody. This is in honour of my great, great

uncle, private Peter Anthony Doyle. He was killed in action in 1917. He

was 19 years old. Minimum Monument has been brought

here with the help of the What a response. Just seeing

everybody here, a huge turnout. It is unbelievable. And it is a

poignant moment, but there is a buzz in the air. It is fantastic, quite

emotional. Here but for a short time, but a

memory which will last a lifetime. And you can see more pictures

from Minimum Monument on The UK Independence Party's youth

wing ` Young Independence ` has been Around 150 delegates attended the

event at Birmingham's Council House. The party says its youth section has

grown rapidly in the last year. Not just a party

for the older generation. UKIP's image as a refuge

for retired Colonels and their wives may need a rethink ` as

more young people are joining up. UKIP, for me, is a different way of

doing politics. I been in a party for two years now and it has been

very refreshing. this will dictate the rest of your working life. It

seems big when you are young, but it is important for your future. I

think it is important for your future. . I think tuition fees for

example, housing prices, all things that are affecting young people.

The speakers are well underway behind me.

2,600 young people are members of UKIP ` 700 of them joined

The numbers have been rolling in. It is exceptional. These are the people

for our future. These are the people who will make the changes in

politics so we must nurture them and help them as well as supports them.

They are excellent. They're now hoping to make it

an annual event. There's been another two medals for

the Midlands at the Commonwealth Games this afternoon, both

for competitors from Warwickshire. Kelly Sibley from Leamington Spa and

her partner Danny Read won a Bronze Emma Beddoes also got a Bronze

in the women's squash doubles with The region now has 33 medals

in total. Time for the weather now

with Charlie Slater. Unfortunately a lot of rain we have

had today. But things are now improving and we should see bright

weather to end the day. Overnight ill be mainly dry and cool. There

will be lows of 11 degrees in parts of Herefordshire. Into Sunday, it is

looking like a really nice day. Lots of blue sky and sunshine and it will

stay dry throughout. Apart from a bit of jazz or, here and there.

Avast improvement on today as reflected in those temperatures

there, too. Things improve as we go into the working week were able be

largely dry and quite bright at times, too.

Before we go time to congratulate Stuart Kertel

from Warwickshire who has successfully completed a four`day

charity mission to push a sprout up Mount Snowdon with his nose!

They'll be a full report on that in Monday's programme.

Your next Midlands update is tomorrow evening at 6.50pm.

that you have a very good evening, goodbye.

It has been one of those days, Sony for some and pouring with rain for

others. Locally there has been intense downpours. Further west,

resolutely cloudy and wet across the heart of