Medal designer's 'surreal' Sabbath experience

A 20-year-old student who designed a medal for Black Sabbath has said it was "surreal" to be invited to their final concert.

Toby Williams from Cleobury Mortimer in Shropshire was also invited to attend the band's after-party by Sharon Osbourne.

His design was chosen in a contest organised by Birmingham City University's jewellery school, which he attends and presented to the band when they were given the freedom of Birmingham.

Mr Williams said: "Even though I'm not a huge heavy metal fan there was a lot of bands there that I like."

The medal he designed was full of references to Birmingham, including local bands, and Mr Williams said it was "really nice to see its not just you that likes the designs".

He was there when the medals were presented to the band at a ceremony to mark the giving of the freedom of the city and he went up on stage to meet them.

He said it was great to see them examining the details on the medals talking to each other about them.

The experience of meeting all the members of the band was "mind-blowing," he said.

At the end of the ceremony he said hello to Ozzy Osbourne's wife, Sharon and when she discovered he had not going to be at the farewell concert, she arranged tickets, back stage passes and an invitation to the after-show party.

"If it wasn't surreal before, it certainly was then," he said.

At the after-party he met guests including Guns N' Roses frontman Axl Rose, who he said was "a cool guy" and he presented Sharon Osbourne with a pearl necklace to say thank you for the invitation.

He was also in the room when Ozzy's daughter, Kelly, was proposed to.

Mr Williams, who is studying for a Higher National Diploma in Jewellery and Silversmithing, said he was now looking for other competitions to sign up for.

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