Medal designer's 'surreal' Sabbath experience

Toby Williams, a 20-year-old student from Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire, recently had an unforgettable experience thanks to his talent and creativity. Toby studies jewellery and silversmithing at Birmingham City University, and he entered a competition organized by his university's jewellery school. The challenge was to design a special medal for the legendary rock band Black Sabbath, who were being honored with the freedom of Birmingham. Toby's design, a gold cross-shaped medal with intricate details and references to Birmingham and its music scene, was chosen as the winner. The medal hangs from a multi-colored ribbon and comes in a sleek black case.

Toby described the whole experience as 'surreal. ' Even though he is not a huge fan of heavy metal, he does enjoy some of the bands connected to Birmingham. He was thrilled to see that his design was appreciated not just by the judges, but also by the band members themselves. Toby was invited to the ceremony where the medals were presented to Black Sabbath. He got to go on stage and meet the band members, including Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, Geezer Butler, and Bill Ward. Toby said it was 'mind-blowing' to see the band examining the medals and discussing the details he had included.

After the ceremony, Toby had a brief conversation with Sharon Osbourne, Ozzy's wife. When she learned that Toby did not have a ticket to the band's farewell concert, she quickly arranged for him to receive tickets, backstage passes, and an invitation to the exclusive after-show party. Toby said, 'If it wasn't surreal before, it certainly was then. ' At the after-party, he met several famous guests, including Axl Rose from Guns N' Roses, whom he described as 'a cool guy. ' Toby also presented Sharon Osbourne with a pearl necklace as a thank you for her kindness. He even witnessed a special moment when Ozzy's daughter, Kelly, was proposed to. Now, Toby is looking forward to entering more competitions and seeing where his skills can take him next. His story is a great example of how creativity and hard work can open doors to incredible opportunities and unforgettable experiences.