The Chamber of Commerce in Sutton Coldfield has received a Royal seal of approval.
A name change to the Royal Sutton Coldfield Chamber of Commerce was announced today during a speaker breakfast event featuring the town’s MP Andrew Mitchell.
It becomes the first ‘Royal’ division of Greater Birmingham Chambers group in the organisation’s 210-year history.
The division’s board decided to officially rename the Sutton arm to bring the Chamber into line with the likes of the Royal Sutton Town Council, the Royal Sutton Town BID, the Royal Sutton Town Hall and other regal links.
Addressing Chamber members at Sutton Coldfield College, MP Mitchell said: “I’m pleased to see you are embracing the Royal title.
“It’s a great thing because I think heritage matters. I hope it will attract even more members because it’s clear from today that you are in a healthy state.”
Phil Arkinstall, president of the Royal Sutton Coldfield Chamber of Commerce, said: “The renaming of the Chamber in Sutton Coldfield has been something that has been discussed for a number of months.
“With the coronation of King Charles III coming up, we thought it was a good time for the Chamber of Commerce of the Royal town to reflect its roots, being one of only a few places in the country with Royal status.”
Sutton Coldfield’s much cherished Royal status even predated the birth of Shakespeare by 36 years and was conferred back in Tudor times by Britain’s most famous (and infamous) monarch, Henry VIII.
In 1528, when Henry was still married to his first wife, Catherine of Aragon, Bishop John Vesey had obtained a charter from the King which referred to Sutton Coldfield as “the royal town and village of Sutton Coldfield”.
The Tudor charter stated: “And that the same town and village shall be ever hereafter be accounted, named and called The Royal Town of Sutton Coldfield in our County of Warwick.”
Nearly five centuries later Gary Phelps as then editor of the Sutton Coldfield Observer and with the backing of Mr Mitchell led a successful campaign via an Adjournment Debate in the House of Commons to reaffirm the Royal tag.
He said: “This is about reflecting the Royal status of the town, making the most of Sutton Coldfield’s unusual Royal status.
“There are only a handful of Royal towns in the UK – Royal status is an unusual branding which makes the town stand out. It goes all the way back to Henry VIII and allowed Bishop Vesey to spend a lot of money turning it into a prosperous place.
“London has its Royal boroughs and we feel Birmingham should do the same with Sutton Coldfield. It is a good opportunity to promote the town and its unusual heritage. It is not just part of Birmingham, it’s a town in its own right with heritage and status.
“We think renaming the Chamber is a really useful thing to do to coincide with the Coronation – it is an opportunity to raise the flag for Sutton Coldfield.”
The original architect of Sutton’s Royal stature, Bishop Vesey – who rests in Sutton Coldfield Parish Church – also gave the town Sutton Park, the biggest municipal park in Europe, and oversaw the regeneration of the town centre back in the Tudor era.
Subsequently securing its place in literature, Shakespeare sent one of his best-loved characters, Falstaff, to Sutton on the way to the Battle of Shrewsbury in Henry IV, Part I, in which he says: “Bardolph, get thee before to Coventry; fill me a bottle of sack; our soldiers shall march through; we’ll to Sutton Co’fil tonight.”
Back in the 21st century, Gary Phelps, who is now vice-president of Royal Sutton Coldfield Chamber, added: “We need to make the most of the town’s unusual branding, it can be a great benefit for businesses. I would like to see more of the town’s organisations, like sports clubs, use the Royal moniker.”
Head of the Royal Sutton Coldfield Chamber Chris Brewerton said: “This is a slice of Midland history and brings the Chamber into line with the Town Council, the Town Hall, the Town BID etc.”
