Dear Editor, Is Birmingham Council really going to rename the Gun Quarter because they think people will link it with gun crime?

How daft can you get? It is part of the history of Birmingham which everyone should be proud of, especially in view of the state of our industries today.

Normally councils are not backward in coming forward when there is a statue to be erected, no matter how strapped for cash they are. I thought perhaps one of a gunsmith in his working clothes with a plaque saying, this is one of the gunsmiths who worked in this area which is known as Gun Quarter because they produced guns for sport as well as war.

I have been researching my husband’s family history, his mother’s ancestors, the Birds, lived in that area and were gunsmiths so we are particularly interested, as I’m sure a lot of other people are. I can’t help feeling that changing the name of that area is a bit insulting to the memory of those hard working people.

Eve Mothershaw,

Southampton

Hants

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Dear Editor, I read with horror your story concerning the Gun Quarter and wonder how much more of Birmingham’s history can be destroyed?

Our family business has traded in Birmingham for 55 years, all of us Brummies born and bred and I am ashamed of this ridiculous notion.

The current gunmakers associated with the city, headed by Westley Richards and WW Greeners, are world renowned for their finest quality hand finished sporting guns/rifles and the friendly rivalry with London gunmakers has continued for almost 200 years.

Yes, the city made thousands of guns for wars of the past, sadly, thank God they did! But to associate the trades history or indeed present with the shocking gun crimes of recent years is irresponsible and naive. I wonder how long it will be before some politically correct zealot will start researching the history of the jewellery trade and how in the not too distant past thousands of black workers were extremely badly treated in the quest for gold and diamonds –what price the Jewellery Quarter then?

Ian Hone

By email

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Dear Editor, Why is it that all the hand wringers/wets/PC brigade appear to want to wipe out British history? And in particular why change the area known to all Brummies as the Gun Quarter?

If one were to hazard a guess, The Jewellery Quarter will be next on the list as it could be construed as a magnet for burglars and other ne’er do wells!

My friend Stan Heap was responsible for the upgrading of both the Jewellery Quarter and the Gun Quarter some 20 or so years ago which then provided premises for a huge number of small businesses. It is most disturbing that some pillock in the local authority, has lost all sense of the wonderful history that is Birmingham.

Barry Burton,

Hampshire