☕ Midlands Morning No. 13 · Sunday 12 July 2026 · West Midlands |
Good morning 👋 Morning! Bellingham did it again last night — twice, actually — and by the time the final whistle went, Utilita Arena sounded like it might lift clean off its foundations. England are into the World Cup semi-final, and we've got everything you need before Wednesday's date with Argentina. Elsewhere today: a fatal crash in Coventry that police need help solving, an attempted murder investigation out in the Black Country, and the amber heat alert that finally lifts tonight. Plus a Solihull chef quietly changing young lives one qualification at a time, and fair warning about the A46 from tomorrow. 🌤️ Hot and mostly sunny, up to 28°C — the amber heat alert lifts at 9pm tonight, so still worth taking it easy in the middle of the day. |
💡 DAILY FUN FACT Ever wondered why hallmarked Birmingham silver and gold carry a tiny anchor? In 1773, Matthew Boulton and the city's silversmiths petitioned Parliament for the right to assay precious metals locally, rather than send everything off to London. Birmingham and Sheffield both won the right in the same act, and the two cities are said to have picked their symbols with a coin toss at the Crown and Anchor tavern on the Strand — Birmingham called the anchor, Sheffield got the crown. Probably a tall tale, but the anchor's been stamped on Brummie metalwork ever since, and the Birmingham Assay Office opened its doors on 31 August 1773 with Boulton himself as its very first customer. |
⚽ MATCHDAY |
Utilita Arena erupted twice last night as Jude Bellingham dragged England past Norway and into Wednesday's semi-final in Atlanta.
🚨 APPEAL |
A 21-year-old motorcyclist died after a collision with a bus on Daventry Road on Friday evening. Police are asking anyone who saw it to come forward.
⚖️ BLACK COUNTRY |
A man in his 40s was found seriously injured at a house in Cradley in the early hours of Friday. Two men are now in custody.
🌡️ HEADS UP |
It's been amber-alert hot since Wednesday, and today's the last of it — up to 28°C before the warning drops at 9pm.
🍳 COMMUNITY |
A chef went back to his home patch and opened a free culinary school. Nine months on, nearly 40 people have already got a professional qualification out of it.
🚧 GETTING AROUND |
From tomorrow, the A46 at Walsgrave closes overnight for three weeks — the first sign of a £112m scheme to finally sort Coventry's last at-grade roundabout.
🎯 ON TODAY |
Comic Con Midlands — final day
today, 9am–6pm · NEC Birmingham, Marston Green
★ SPONSORS ★ |
🏆 SPONSOR SLOT — OPEN FOR BIDS Be the local name readers wake up to Put your business in front of thousands of West Midlands readers every single morning. One business · 3 months at a time · highest bid wins. 🚀 🔒 Bids stay private — only we ever see the numbers. |
📅 WHAT'S ON THIS WEEK |
Comic Con Midlands — final day
today, 9am–6pm · NEC BirminghamEngland vs Argentina — World Cup semi-final
Wed 15 July, 8pm kick-off · Atlanta (watch locally — fan park expected)Titanic Exhibition
Until Sun 19 July · NEC CampusGladiators Experience
Until Mon 31 August · NEC CampusTreasure-hunt heritage walks
Daily, through Mon 27 July · Various city locations
✅ TO-DO AROUND THE PATCH |
☐ BIRMINGHAMDuck into the free Ozzy Osbourne exhibition at Birmingham Museum & Art Gallery — cool, quiet, and free
☐ SOLIHULLCatch the last day of Comic Con Midlands at the NEC, 9am–6pm
☐ COVENTRYVisit Coventry Cathedral and the war-scarred ruins right next door
☐ DUDLEYFamily day out at Dudley Zoo & Castle
☐ WALSALLFind some shade on a walk round Walsall Arboretum, or cool off at Gala Baths
☐ WOLVERHAMPTONBilston's rebuilt outdoor market is now trading daily — go have a look
🧠 DAILY QUIZ Coventry City's finest hour: what year did the Sky Blues win their only major trophy, beating Tottenham Hotspur 3-2 in the FA Cup final? |
A) 1981
B) 1987
C) 1993
👉 Hit reply with A, B or C — get it right and your name goes up on the leaderboard in tomorrow's edition.
✅ YESTERDAY'S ANSWER
Yesterday we asked: England play their World Cup quarter-final tonight, but Birmingham's own Villa Park has hosted World Cup football before. Which year?
The answer: A) 1966.
No correct replies landed in time for today's edition — get yours in and be first on the board.
🏆 LEADERBOARD — JULY 2026
The board is empty — be the first name on it!
That's the lot for today. Hit reply and tell us how last night felt from your sofa — and we'll see you Wednesday for Argentina. Stay cool out there. |
Midlands Morning · your daily West Midlands briefing. |