Spoken Words evening - Cradley Heath

David Francis has been holding a spoken word evening at a Cradley Heath pub for the last 4 years. it runs every 1st Friday of the month and is co-ordinated by Stourbridge writer Richard Bruce Clay.

It is an 'open mic' format platform, ideal for new or experienced performers wanting to read their works, there are often Black Country dialect readings and folk music.

David recently hosted a BBC televised dialect event and would welcome performers from Black Country Society members.

The venue is The Hollybush, Newtown Lane, Cradley Heath, B64 5EA

(There is also a comedy night every Thursday if this suited the performer better)

British Glass Foundation receives donation

On Saturday 15^th October 2011, at a meeting of the Friends of Broadfield House Glass Museum (‘Friends’) held at Broadfield House, a cheque for £1000 was presented by Barbara Beadman, Chair of Friends, to Allister Malcolm, a Trustee of the British Glass Foundation (BGF).

The amount had been agreed by the Friends at their recent AGM as a gesture of support for the work of BGF.  Allister Malcolm said he was delighted to receive the cheque on behalf of the  BGF and thanked the Friends for their most generous donation which he assured them would be put to very good use.

 

Picture: Chair of ‘Friends’ and proprietor of Plowden & Thompson, Barbara Beadman (left) presents Allister Malcolm, Trustee of BGF, with a cheque for £1,000.

Events Around Wolverhampton

Some events you may be interested in around the Wolverhampton Area:

WOLVERHAMPTON ART GALLERY

Wolverhampton Society of Artists
15 Oct - 14 Jan

The popular Wolverhampton Society of Artists exhibition returns with a diverse
range of styles, mediums and subject matter. Info.

The Black Country in 10 Objects
Until 19 Nov

10 fascinating objects tell the story of the Black Country landscape since
the early Industrial Revolution. Info.

Talk by Ed Ruscha
21 Oct 2.30pm

Renowned artist Ed Ruscha will give a walk-through tour of the exhibition
in a rare appearance in the UK. Info.

BILSTON CRAFT GALLERY

Reverberation: The Art of Bashing Metal Then and Now
Until 26 Nov

Reverberation highlights the region's metal-bashing industries,
and explores current British innovation. Info.

Etched Metal Jewellery Workshop
15 Oct 11am - 3pm

Learn a variety of techniques to create beautiful patterns on metal
with metal-worker Rebecca Gouldson. Info.

Craft Shop Autumn Showcase
Until 19 NovSnuggle up with something cosy and stylish this Autumn
with hand woven scarves and knitted goods. Info.

BANTOCK HOUSE MUSEUM

Exhibition: The Part we Played
31 Aug - 13 Nov

A look at the contribution made to the war effort by Wolverhampton Factories.

Valuation Day: Fine Art & Antiques
20 Oct 11am – 4pm

Items will be valued by Fieldings Auctioneers including ceramics, jewellery,
collectables, clocks, books etc.

Once Upon a Time...
25 Oct 11.15am - 12pm
Come along to the prformance space and listen to a story then afterward create some wonderful crafts.

WOLVERHAMPTON ARCHIVES

Wolverhampton's Black History Display
Until 31 DecThrough original documents, photographs and newspaper reports the stories of local heroes such as Denise Lewis and Tessa Sanderson, George Africanus and Sathnam Sanghera will be told.

Wolverhampton Poetry Display
4 - 31 Oct A display of the winning entries of a poetry competition based
around the theme of Wolverhampton.

Historical Syphons Donated to British Glass Foundation

The British Soft Drinks Association, which is the national body representing the collective interests of UK soft drinks manufacturers has gifted to the British Glass Foundation their collection of historic glass soda siphons and bottles.

The collection comprises about 20 soda siphons and 50 glass and ceramic bottles.  Jill Ardagh, Director General of the British Soft Drinks Association in London, said “We are just about to move premises and sadly will no longer have room for our collection of historic glass soda siphons and bottles.  I am very pleased that we have found a good home for the collection and it is heartening to know that the collection can find a new lease of life in both safe and appreciative hands”.

Graham Fisher MBE, Trustee of the British Glass Foundation, the charity set up to protect the glass collections at Broadfield House Glass Museum, said that he was hoping that in the future the Foundation will be able to arrange an exhibition to show off the collection.  Graham is a keen waterways and glass expert and also well known as an author and radio presenter on 102.5 FM The Bridge Radio. 

 

Graham Fisher New PR & Communications Bod for British Glass Foundation

Well I can't think of anyone better qualified to do this role. Good luck Graham

Graham will now be responsible for all press releases and comments from this office and his contact details are below:-

Graham Fisher MBE – Trustee British Glass Foundation

Telephone: 07885 786826 (mobile) or 01384 270020(home)

Email: grahamfisher@me.com

If you require any further information then please do not hesitate to contact me.

c/o Hulbert Properties Limited,
Peartree Lodge,
Hulbert Drive , Dudley,
West Midlands , DY2 OXW
Telephone: 01384 217984/239019
E-mail: bgf@britishglassfoundation.org.uk

www.britishglassfoundation.org.uk

Registered Charity Number 1139252

Palethorpes Exhibition - Tipton Library

Following the recent success of its food and drink related local history day Tipton Library is pleased to announce details of a special Palethorpes photographic and memorabilia display.

Palethorpe's is a British producer of cooked meat and pastry products and was particularly well known for its branded sausages. Founded in 1859, it was bought by the Bibby Group in 1969 and then by Haverhill Meat Products (a J Sainsbury, Canadian Meat packers Joint Venture) before becoming part of the Northern Foods Chilled Foods division in 1991. Palethorpes is now part of Pork Farms.

The company moved to Tipton in 1896, claiming at the time to be the world's largest sausage producer. The company expanded during World War I, supplying canned meat products to the British Army

However, it lost market share during and after World War II, with restrictions on meat sales due to the amount of meat that was being imported and by the 1960s, with the development of supermarkets in the United Kingdom, the company was experiencing additional pressure.

In 1967 Palethorpe's constructed a purpose built factory employing 400 people in Market Drayton

The memorabilia includes original sausage boxes from the 30s and the photos include shots of the factory never been seen before in Tipton

Community Library Manager Robert Hazel says 'it is a great oportunity to come in and look at part of Tipton's past. The company was a big employer in the area and hopefully the photos will re-kindle some memories.
The exhibition will run at the library until the end of November

Robert Hazel

Community Library Manager

Sandwell Council... working for you

Sandwell Council

Tipton Library

17 Unity Walk

Tipton

DY4 8QL

W: www.sandwell.gov.uk

T: 0121 557 1796

E: robert_hazel@sandwell.gov.uk

For Your Tomorrow documentary WORLD PREMIERE

This event takes place on Monday 24th October 2011, at the Light House cinema Wolverhampton, 5:15 for 6 pm.

About 6 years ago Don Clark began interviewing men from Wolverhampton & the Black Country about their experiences in the Second World War's Burma campaign. He recorded about 80 hours of oral history-style interviews, and this has been used as the basis for a film: "For Your Tomorrow". A link to the website and trailer is below. Sadly, some of the interviewees have since died, but that does further enhance the value of their testimonies.

Although the interviews were the inspiration for the film, the documentary takes some younger local people, whose grandparents died in Burma, on a journey of discovery with living vets who served alongside their grandfathers. Don hopes it is thoughtful and moving, but also quite uplifting and a fitting tribute to the 'lads' who went to fight in the Far East on behalf of all of us, as part of the Forgotten Army. It has a much broader appeal than if it were simply an account of what happened in wartime.

 

The film has been a long and involved project, involving award-winning documentary-maker Christopher Hird, and the editing was done by Paul Oremland, who came up from New Zealand to edit with Don in Tettenhall.

The film website can be found at: http://www.foryourtomorrow.com . The website gives plenty of detail about the film and you can also book tickets for the premier online. Hurry though as they are selling out fast.

There should be a fairly big piece in the 'Express & Star' this week and Don has been interviewed on Radio WM to be broadcast tomorrow (Monday 10 Octoiber), so people will be starting to hear. The film is bound to appeal to plenty of Black Country Society followers.

 

I will be reviewing the DVD in the Winter edition of The Blackcountryman, so if you cannot get to the premier you will be able to purchase the DVD, details will be included in the review.

National Dialect Day

This arrived in my inbox a couple of days ago. The event is on 22 October 2011

 

The East Lincolnshire Dialect Society, aka "Far Welter’d", has been celebrating the joys of Lincolnshire dialect for over 10 years.  Meanwhile, all over the UK, there is increasing interest in local dialects, and in October people from dialect groups all over the country will be descending on Louth for the National Dialect Day.

In 2009, the first ever National Dialect Day was held in Lancashire, bringing together regional dialect speakers from all over the country, from as far afield as Northumberland and Cornwall.  Poets, story-tellers and singers came together to compete in three competitions, with traditional and contemporary offerings.  A group of Far Welters attended that event, and also in 2010, when it was once again held in Lancashire.

Now the competition is on the move.  This year’s event will be organised and hosted by Far Welter’d, and will take place in the British Legion Hall on Northgate, on Saturday October 22^nd.  The competition will take place between 1pm and 5.30pm. 

From 7.30pm onwards, with the competitive side of things out of the way, there will be an evening of entertainment, featuring a wonderful mix of dialects from all over the UK.

Next year the competition will be held in Northumberland in 2012, and in 2013 it will travel to deepest, darkest Devon.  The aim is to raise the profile of local dialects, spoken and written, around the UK, and so preserve an important aspect of our national heritage.

In 2009, Far Welter’d shared a stage at an event in Lincoln Drill Hall with Dr Benjamin Zephaniah, who now lives in Lincolnshire.  One of his passions is local dialects, and he was very interested in Far Welter’d.  He currently spends a lot of time out of the country, but has said he will try to come to the event in October.  

The three trophies presented at the inaugural event in 2009 will travel around the UK with the competition.  They are:

The Bill o' Bows Trophy for a performance of original work in chosen dialect.

The Sam Laycock Trophy for a performance in the host county’s dialect.            

The Eddie Topping Trophy for a performance in any English dialect.

As the underlying theme of this event is local culture, Far Welter’d will be taking the opportunity to show its visitors some good old Lincolnshire hospitality, so there’ll be some tasty local food being served up, including the likes of stuffed chine, haslet, award-winning local sausages and plum bread.

The following day, Sunday, October 23^rd, the town centre will be closed for the staging of a Victorian Fayre, organised by the Town Partnership.  The first such fayre was held in October 2010 and was a huge success.  This is the perfect incentive for our visitors to make a weekend of it in our lovely town, and to help them make up their mind, part of the marketing has included a link to the video of last year’s Victorian Fayre, produced by Louth student, Paul-Arthur Talmard at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s2VKmMTWgtY          

For further information, please contact Alan Mumby

t. 01507 600055

m. 07941 116559

e alan743@btinternet.com

News from Media Archive for Central England (MACE)

MACE release From 'ATVLand' in Colour - Monday 19 September 2011 From 'ATVLand' in Colour - The History of the ATV Centre - the Most Advanced Studios of Its Time. On Monday 19th September, MACE released From 'ATVLand' in Colour, the first of ten DVDs which, in different ways, will capture the history of the region READ MORE» Search Your Film Archives is Launched Thanks to the Screen Heritage UK Programme, visitors to MACE's website at www.macearchive.org can now use our ADVANCED SEARCH page to browse not only our online catalogue but the collections of the BFI and 9 other regional film archives across the UK. This new search tool is called SEARCH YOUR FILM ARCHIVES READ MORE» Titles from MACE's Collections to feature in BBC's new Reel History of Britain Series  Look out for titles from MACE's collection in Reel History of Britain which started on Monday 5th September at 6:30pm on BBC2. In this brand new 20-part series for BBC Two Daytime, Melvyn Bragg retells the fascinating stories of life in Britain from 1900 to 1970 through the archive collections of the British Film Institute and regional archives across the UK, including MACE READ MORE»

About MACE MACE is the screen archive for the Midlands. We provide opportunities for everyone to connect with the culture and history of the Midlands as reflected in film, videotape and digital moving images from 1896 (the birth of film) to the present day. We do that mostly by collecting, researching, preserving and making available to you what is a truly remarkable body of material. To browse our catalogue, visit our website www.macearchive.org. Media Archive for Central England MHT Building University of Lincoln Brayford Pool, Lincoln LN6 7TS Tel: 0116 252 5066/Sales: 0116 252 5062 Email: macearchive@le.ac.uk Company No. 3172021 | Charity No. 1100890

Staffordshire Daily Photo Blog

Revd Mark Hathorne, husband of local author Carol Hathorne has his own blog - a new photo each day. Some Staffordshire, some Black Country images. It is well worth a visit.

The 'Staffordshire Daily Photo' (part of the international City Daily Photo family) blog-site has been successfully launched, and has now over sixty postings, going back to April.

Here is the link: http://staffordshiredailyphoto.blogspot.com/