Interested in Old Theatres? You will enjoy the 2nd issue of "Old Theatres" magazine. It contains an appeal from the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton for a book being written about the Grand. Click on the link below to see a flyer for the magazine. A few copies of the first issue are also available.

Old Theatres

Not a Black Country event, but one I thought you may be interested in.

There is a King Arthur exhibition at Glastonbury, running from June to September 2009.

For details click => here

Local Cartography - Mary Spence - goes "Double-International".

Mary, from Scotland, now lives in Kingswinford, read about her work here =>>>>> Mary Spence

VOTE MARIO

He (or she) is at it again !!!

Thanks to sharp-eyed Jo Doggett who found this beermat in the magazine rack in the Spar at Crestwood on Sunday 5th June 2009.

Click on the image to see more examples of AJW's art.

About time we found out who he or she is - or is it just one person?

Glass Reflections
Open Weekend at Ruskin Glass Centre,
11th & 12th July 2009

Dear Colleague

The Ruskin Craft Association is holding the Glass Reflections Open weekend at the Ruskin Glass Centre on the 11th & 12th July.

The weekend will be a nostalgic look back at the art of glass making, with the opportunity to promote some of the remaining glass makers left in the Stourbridge Area, while also providing the chance for the general public to see the skills of perhaps their ancestors.

The weekend will be a free event and will include;

Lectures from Professor Keith Cummings & Nigel Benson (Sat 11th only) - Crystal Industry Past and Present
Copper Wheel engravers Steve Piper and Carl Palmer will be demonstrating their unique skill
Redhouse Glass Crafts will be providing a repair service for chipped and damaged glass
A Reunion Bar (supported by Enville Brewery), where ex-glassworkers can come along and meeting old work colleagues (Saturday morning - Webb Corbett/ Saturday afternoon - Stuart Crystal, Sunday morning - Thomas Webb/ Sunday afternoon - Royal Brierley)
Flame lamp working demonstrations
Glass Identification service by Discontinued Designs Ltd, London
'Have a go' sessions in glass blowing, glass cutting and glass engraving
Demonstrations by Studios on site
Trade Stands
Refreshments from the Ruskin College Organic Coffee Shop

In addition, the Ruskin Craft Association would like to build a library of old photographs which relate to the local glass industry and therefore are asking members of the public to bring photos for the Association to scan and then contribute to the Glass Archives held by Broadfield House Glass Museum and Dudley Archives Service.

Details and further information :

What: Glass Reflections Open Weekend
When: 11th & 12th July, 10am to 4pm
Where: Ruskin Glass Centre, Wollaston Road
Amblecote, Stourbridge
01384 399460
Email: info (at) redhouseglass.freeserve.co.uk

Penny Russell
Tourism Development Officer
Culture and Tourism
Claughton House
Blowers Green Road
Dudley. DY2 8UZ
01384 814039

Broadfield House Glass Museum to Close?

It has been brought to our attention that Dudley Council have a proposal to close Broadfield House and move the collection to the Red House Glass Cone. We understand some feasibility work is going to be done this year to see if it is possible to accommodate the museum at the Red House site. We also understand that the decision has already been made to amalgamate the two sites, and that it is the Council's intention that Broadfield House should be closed by the end of March 2010. This makes a mockery of the feasibility process and suggests that Dudley Council is determined to close the Museum, regardless of whether it is in the best interests of the world-class glass collections housed there.

Broadfield House is the only museum in the country devoted exclusively to glass and in the 30 or so years it has been open it has established a world-wide reputation as a centre of excellence for glass. The museum tells the story of the Stourbridge Glass industry and celebrates the achievements of the glassmakers. It creates a sense of pride among local people in the skills of their ancestors and is well-supported by the local community.

If, by moving the collections to the cone, Dudley Council was to be able to create a bigger and better Glass Museum, we would not be objecting to the proposal. However, we have serious doubts about whether this is achievable. The Cone has precisely the same problems as Broadfield House, namely lack of space and difficulty of access to upstairs rooms. We cannot see the point of going to the trouble and expense of moving site unless there is to be a significant improvement in the existing service.

We urge Dudley Council to carry out a proper feasibility study into the practicalities of moving the Museum to the Cone before making a final decision to close Broadfield House. If the study shows that the service provided by the merger and move is going to be reduced and damaged then we hope the Council has the political courage to abandon the plan and come up with an alternative, which is properly costed and thought through.

We suggest you write to Mr J Millar (Director of Urban Environment) at Dudley MBC, 3 St James Road, Dudley, DY1 1HZ, or Councilor Karen Shakespeare (Cabinet Member for Environment and Culture) at The Council House, Priory Road, Dudley, DY1 1HF to voice your opinion about your museums.

CANALS AND GLASS COMBINED - PRESTIGIOUS MUSEUM OFFERS SERIES OF GUIDED WALKS EXAMINING HISTORIC GLASS INDUSTRY VIA MEDIUM OF INLAND WATERWAYS

"Jewels on the Cut" Canal Walk

A guided walk along the Stourbridge Canal towpath, revealing the hidden stories behind some of the landmarks connected with the famous Stourbridge glass industry. Led by Graham Fisher MBE, Outreach Worker at Broadfield House Glass Museum.

Start: The Bonded Warehouse, Canal Street, Stourbridge
End: Red House Glass Cone, High Street, Wordsley
Time: 10am
Dates (all Sunday): 26th July, 30th August, 13th September
Duration: 1 1/2 - 2 hours
Tickets: Adult £3, Children (under 16) £2 (Children must be accompanied by an adult)

Places are limied so pre-booking is recommended. Call Broadfield House Museum on 01384-812745

Walk Guide Graham Fisher says:

‘These walks have developed as an extension of more formal seated presentations and follow on from the success of a venture undertaken as part of the International Festival of Glass 2008. They now offer the opportunity for enthusiasts to experience for themselves the wonderful heritage of Stourbridge Glass from the perspective of a gentle stroll one of the loveliest stretches of waterway in the area.’

For further details, photo opportunities, bookings etc - either contact the Originator or Broadfield House via the contact number indicated.

JEROME K JEROME SESQUICENTENARY

1859 TO 2009

Jerome K. Jerome, the world-famous author, best known for his immortal classic of English humour, Three Men in a Boat, was born in Walsall 150 years ago on the 2nd May, 1859.

The Jerome K. Jerome Society, based in Walsall, is looking forward to a year of celebrations to mark this momentous anniversary. 2009 is also the 25th anniversary of the Jerome K. Jerome Society. A variety of events are planned including a trip down to Ewelme in Oxfordshire to visit Jerome’s grave and to deliver the coffin-shaped gravestone of his younger brother Milton Melancthon Jerome, who died of whooping cough in Stourbridge in 1862. This pilgrimage will take place on the weekend following the Society’s annual dinner on May 1st – the day before Jerome’s birth date. The annual dinner is always the highlight of the Society’s calendar and this year the Society has been able to persuade Sir Donald Sinden CBE D.Litt to be the guest speaker at the dinner.

Sir Donald is an English actor of stage and screen who has remained enormously popular with audiences since his days as a film star in the 1950s. He has starred in many outstanding British films including The Cruel Sea; Doctor In The House; Above Us The Waves and Doctor At Large.

He has been a Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) stalwart since the 1960s. Among many notable stage appearances are The War of the Roses opposite Dame Peggy Ashcroft and he gave an outstanding comedy performance partnered with Dame Judi Dench as Beatrice and Benedict in the “British Raj” revival of Much Ado About Nothing. He also won the Evening Standard Best Actor Award for his outstanding performance as King Lear .

He regularly appears on television including, recently, Sir Joseph Channing in Judge John Deed. He is currently on a UK and European tour, taking in various venues to talk about his life, work and anecdotes in An Evening with … Sir Donald Sinden.

The dinner will be held at The Fairlawns Restaurant, Aldridge, Walsall where the Society usually hold this event. Past speakers include : Hubert Gregg, Benny Green, Richard Stilgoe, Miles Kington, Libby Purves, Roy Hattersley MP, Henry Kelly, Giles Brandreth and Lord (John Julius) Norwich.

The Society is also sponsoring a Schools Creative Writing Competition with cash prizes to be awarded to the winners some time during May. This is open to all children aged between 11 and 15 in Walsall schools.

Other events include a one-man-show performed by Jeremy Nicholas, the Society’s President, at The Grange Playhouse, Walsall and other venues. Jeremy will also give a talk in London at The Garrick Club during September and the year will culminate with the Society’s annual Christmas Carol Concert on Friday 4th December.

The Society is also publishing a book – The Best of Idle Thoughts. Idle Thoughts is the Society’s magazine and the 31st edition of the magazine will be published during 2009. The Best of Idle Thoughts will provide a miscellany of articles from the first 30 editions of the magazine. The Society was established in 1984 when the author’s birthplace, Belsize House, Bradford Street, Walsall, was restored by local Architect Gordon Foster, MBE. It was formed to support a small museum commemorating the life and works of the author in Belsize House and is now a thriving organisation with members throughout the world. It plays its part in attracting tourism to Walsall, the town of Jerome’s birth.

The Jerome K Jerome Society website can be found by clicking here => www.jeromekjerome.com/

Following the success of their first Midlands family history fair, the West Midlands Group of Family History Societies have organised a second event to take place at Worcester Racecourse on 15 August 2009.

Over 30 organisations have now booked space ranging from Family History Societies, Record Offices, Commercial Enterprises and Local History Societies. Help will be on hand in the form of help desks to offer advice on how to overcome that ‘brick wall’ that many researchers get to at some point in their research.

Phil Bufton of Herefordshire FHS and a member of the Group said:

“The response to our first fair was fantastic and we are hopeful that this fair will be equally successful. It is an ideal opportunity for new and the more experienced family historians to meet and talk to other people about their hobby. The racecourse at Worcester is an ideal venue centrally located within Worcester, providing plenty of space for our exhibitors and plenty of free parking for our visitors."

“We are confident this event will prove to be a great success for everyone involved.”

For further information or to book tables please contact Phil Bufton, email philbufton@hotmail.com.

The West Midlands Group of Family History Societies has been formed under
the umbrella of the Federation of Family History Societies. The aim of the
group is to promote family history societies, local history societies and
any other local group across the West Midlands area. By sharing information
and resources, a much wider audience can be reached.

Contact details: Jackie Cotterill, BMSGH. Tel: 01562 743912 email: gensec @ bmsgh.org (remove spaces either side of the @ to send email - this is to avoid spam).

The website of the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal Society (SWCS) has undergone a major upgrade and is now ‘live.’ Just about every aspect of www.swcs.org.uk has been refreshed with updated text and images and browsers are presented with a completely rebranded appearance right from the front page onwards.

The website is a ‘work in progress’ spearheaded by SWCS members Dave Hart, SWCS Electronic Communications Officer and Webmaster Andy Walder, of Tech Office Ltd. (Brierley Hill) and is amended or updated on an ongoing basis. However, this latest overhaul offers a dynamic new window onto the activities of one of the most prestigious canal societies in the country which this year is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Contents include an overview of SWCS and the eponymous canal it represents, details of activities, gatherings and awards, archives, a free-to-access open message board and much more besides. Central to its continuing success is its innovative Education and Resources (E&R) Section. This provides a ‘one stop shop’ for anyone wishing to know more about the Staffordshire & Worcestershire Canal in particular or waterways in general and is linked directly with the on-line reference Wikipedia. The E&R section is aimed directly at educational establishments and has been a major factor in the website already having been ‘hit’ from every continent on the planet.

Immediate Past Chairman of SWCS Graham Fisher MBE says: Dave Hart and Andy Walder are to be congratulated on producing once more a website that is well up there with the big guns. Their design flair, content and accessibility parameters will ensure that the message of SWCS continues to be carried forward. This can only be of benefit to anyone interested in the future of our wonderful inland waterways heritage.’

Stourbridge Navigation Trust Event - October 2009

Here are some brief details and early notification of the Stourbridge Navigation Trust Open Weekend ...

Stourbridge Navigation Trust.
Location: Bonded Warehouse, Canal Street, Stourbridge (end of the Stourbridge Town Arm canal)
Date: October 17th - 18th 2009
Large Rally of Boats, Display of Steam Engines, Organs and Vehicles plus Childrens Rides & Trade Stalls in Canal Street
Craft Fair in the Bonded Warehouse
Entrance to the public FREE
Boat Trips also available (Charge applies)
Contacts: Boat Entries Colin Clements 01384 395216 Booking Fee £10. Vehicles and General Enquiries Chris Dyche 01384 375582

SWCS looks after the Staffs & Worcs Canal but when the Stourbridge Canal was being restored a separeate sub group, Stourbridge Navigation Trust (SNT) was set up under the auspices of SWCS. Over the years the SNT has become an entity in its own right (it also owns Fellows Morton Clayton - FMC - which runs the BlackCountryman Trip Boat) and is now a totally self-contained organisation; however, in view of its historical origins it still works closely with SWCS and several people cross-pollinate between both. Chris Dyche, for example, who has held just about every post that matters on SWCS and is currently SWCS Treasurer, is also heavily involved with SNT and is currently their Secretary. Hence the affiliation between SNT and SWCS. (At the SNT open weekend, for example, that Saturday night entertainment is usually organised by SWCS)

Dialect poetry Website

Ross Holland recently wrote to me to say he has a website dedicated to publishing original poems in traditional English dialects online. You can find it here...

http://www.freewebs.com/englishdialects

Currently he has poems from most English regions, but as of yet no one has submitted one for the West Midlands. He is keen to get the West Midlands represented on the site.

Ross is an East Midlander myself, though lived in Bromsgrove for a couple of years and worked in Birmingham. He says it is such a contrast to the East Midlands Dialects that it would be fascinating for any budding Black Country Poets to submit an entry.

NC Big Band - appearances

The NC Big Band are an enthusiatic group of individuals who will be performing at a number of events locally. For details please click here (updated 160908)