The Birmingham Press Club has announced its first events of the year – a Spring Ball and a murder mystery.

Its traditional autumn ball has been moved to a new slot, and will be held on April 27 at Birmingham’s Burlington Hotel.

The club has also organised a talk by the former head of CID at West Mercia Constabulary, John McCammont, entitled ‘Managing the Murder Media’.

He spent 31 years in the police service and rose through the ranks to become detective chief superintendent.

Among the enquiries he led was the 1995 investigation into the high profile murder of French student Celine Figard, which saw the pioneering use of mass DNA screening.

The event will be held at Asha’s, Newhall Street, on March 30.

Press Club chairman John Lamb said: “John McCammont will no doubt provide a unique insight into what happens during a murder investigation.

“The ball on the other hand will be a much more light hearted event.

“We have decided to switch the ball to the spring for a number of reasons, one of which was the decision last year to hold the annual Midlands Media Awards in autumn.

“It was felt that the media awards was more suited to autumn, and so as not to have too many major events at the same time, we decided to move the ball to spring.

“That also gives us the opportunity to breathe new life into the ball.”