OPUS were commissioned to deliver the safe facilitation of Ozzy's funeral cortege visiting Birmingham. We're proud to have played our part in giving a legend the send-off he deserved.
With 5 days notice, and in peak-event season, OPUS were contracted by Birmingham City Council to write a feasibility for the safe facilitation of Ozzy visiting Birmingham for one final encore - through a cortege passing through Birmingham City Centre.
Following the feasibility, Birmingham City Council were the given green light to proceed with generous support of the family to fund. OPUS mobilised straight away, operationalising the plans for the major city-centre event.
The collaboration and delivery, led by OPUS, covered:
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Safety Planning, embedded through continuous collaboration with JPC Safety, whose experience of London Mal closures enhanced the OPUS offer.
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Traffix implemented traffic management protocols, establishing road closures, diversions, and access plans while balancing resident needs.
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SNSG Security delivered professional security and crowd‑management services, with skilled stewards and dynamic risk handling in real time.
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Working with Augusta Event Services to deploy crowd‑control barriers to safely guide foot traffic and preserve buffer zones along Broad Street.
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Avion TSL supplied bespoke media risers, enabling press and broadcast crews to operate safely and effectively, without obstructing the viewing experience.
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Cross-departmental working with Birmingham City Council including; highways, events, transport and city centre management. OPUS also offered Press and media support for Birmingham City Council teams who were leading on press and media management.
This network of suppliers and partners delivered efficient and robust planning, executed with agility and responsiveness which also included private coordination through the input of the ICC, Library of Birmingham, Brindleyplace and Westside BID.
The funeral procession honored Ozzy Osbourne’s legacy while placing Birmingham’s operational capacity firmly in the spotlight. It’s a testament to what can be achieved when public authorities, safety specialists, and suppliers work in collaboration - especially under evolving public expectations for safety and ceremony.
The OPUS team undertook Event Director, Ops Manager, Stage Manager and Accreditation Coordinator roles
A huge thank you to:
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Bostin' Brass
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JPC Safety and Events Resilience Group
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All Birmingham City Council collaborators
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SNSG Security
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Immediate Medical Care
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Augusta Event Services
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Avion TSL
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Verity Milligan
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Traffix
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West Midlands Metro
And the local businesses who offered support
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Westside BID
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Brindleyplace
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Canal and Rivers Trust
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The ICC and Symphony Hall
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Library of Birmingham
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Aston Villa Football Club
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Walkabout and Brasshouse
“The tribute to Ozzy was a textbook example of how the right partnerships enabled us to quickly and effectively work closely with Birmingham City Council, our safety advisors and a deeply professional supplier team meaning we were able to navigate the events complexity with confidence. The trust between all partners made the difference - and we’re proud to have been part of it.”
Caroline Davis
OPUS Managing Director and Event Director
Photos by Verity Milligan
Click to enlarge
Press Coverage
The coverage has been world wide - views of live streams and footage from the event have amassed millions of streams and views online. Live streams were shared via Reuters, Westside BID, Sky News, BBC and other media partners.
Press coverage included coverage by ITV Channel 4, Rolling Stones, The New York Times, NBC, Planet Rock, The Guardian, The Times, and The Independent to name a few.
Additionally, Event Director Caroline Davis was also interviewed by Birmingham Live on the "behind the scenes" planning which took place.
Crowd Dynamics
Tens of thousands turned out on the day to see the cortege - OPUS' singular largest event audience at any one time. The crowd were extremely courteous, respectful and full of love for Ozzy.
With a crowd that size, it is a significant achievement to ensure they were all kept safe from crushes, vehicles, or other threats. A detailed ESMP and traffic plan was created to ensure that the event design considered crowd safety right from the off.
Musical Heritage
For one powerful afternoon, Birmingham became the stage for a collective farewell.
This moment should stand as a shining example of how vital music heritage is to a city’s identity. It’s not just culture - it’s connection, pride, it’s history.
We're proud to have played our part in giving a legend the send-off he deserved, and in showing the world just what Birmingham is capable of.