Metal firm wins a right royal pavilion contract

It comes just months after Black Country Metal Works, based in Stafford Road, Coven Heath, was chosen to supply bells for the London Olympics.

The company was given the go-ahead by palace officials to create four designs for the one-off event at the palace.

The company now has a race against time to get the painstaking, £52,000, work completed for the event in July. The festival, held in the 60th anniversary year of The Queen's

Coronation, will last four days and promote the very best of British craftsmanship, alongside some of the country's best global and multi-national organisations.

Two hundred of Her Majesty's appointed warrant holder companies will also be in attendance.

The firm's managing director, Clive Knowles, spoke of his pride at being asked to carry out the work.

He said: "We were approached by a company organising the event last month and a couple of weeks later we were given the green light to create four bandstand/pavilions for Buckingham Palace.

"I'm immensely proud and it shows we are being recognised. We now have to make sure we get them made in time."

The firm produces a range of metalwork including post boxes, brass bells, weathervanes and garden furniture.

More than 50 bells made by the firm were used for sounding the final laps for athletics track events and for rowing and equestrian events during the London Olympics.

Each bell was hand turned and polished and fitted with a solid brass clapper. They were carefully tested and passed for tone and resonance before being delivered.

Mr Knowles, aged 51 is one of three generations of the family involved in the firm that includes his son, Ben Knowles, 27, and his father-in-law Eric Schubert, 71, who founded the company.

Each of the bandstand costs £13,000 and will be placed at selected entrances in the palace grounds. It takes four sheet metal workers and blacksmiths about a month each to complete one bandstand but the Royal order of four is expected to be completed in two months.

Mr Knowles's firm will be among more than 200 exhibitors ranging from The Pimms Company to Kidderminster's Brintons Carpets.