BCS NEWS 2020
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Important FOOTBALL BOOK update
The most exciting news of the year so far involves the forthcoming reprint
and update of the society's publication 'White Shirt - Black Country' which
relates the careers of the 52 Black Countrymen who as footballers have
represented England. More players than any other area in the country.
This is a fascinating book for all fans of football.
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White Shirt - Black Country is in stock and available for purchase online - visit the Gift/Book Shop page.
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Are You Looking for a Special Gift for Someone?
Send them a surprise BCS Membership or choose a Book about the Black Country from our Library - Humour, Personalities, Cooking, Religion, Football, Rivers, Boxing and much more ... visit the Membership page and send them a surprise that will last a whole 12 months.
LINDA PIKE IS A FILM PROJECTIONIST
WITH A PASSION FOR CINEMA!
She is a post graduate student at the University of Worcester and researching cinema audiences, their response to films and employment within cinemas in the Midlands during World War Two. She would love to hear from any of our website visitors in relation to Cinemas in Worcester, Stafford and the Black Country.
So did you enjoy ‘going to the pictures’ during the 1940s?
Who were your favourite film stars (such as Tyrone Power, Clark Gable and Bette Davis or did you prefer the British stars like John Mills, Vivian Leigh, Patricia Roc?)
Was Gone with the Wind, Mrs Miniver and Millions Like Us amongst your favourite films or did you prefer war films such as Above Us the Waves, This Happy Breed or Old Mother Riley films?
Did you work in a cinema as an usherette or perhaps even a film projectionist, which was an opportunity for women to become technically involved in film presentation while men were at war.
If this interests you please contact:
Linda Pike
Linda.pike54@hotmail .com Tel 01684 772028 or 07971 623767
BOOK LAUNCH
THE BOOK LAUNCH HAS BEEN POSTPONED AT
THE BLACK COUNTRY MUSEUM
Please visit this page on the website to find
out when the new launch date will take place.
BCS AGM 2020 is postponed until
further notice.
A Tribute to Ron Moss by Keith Hodgkins.
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Ron Moss was one of the great stalwarts of the Black
Country Society. His passing in April 2019 deprived the Black
Country of one of its most significant local historians and
researchers of the past 50 years. Ron became an early member
\of the Society in the late 1960s, chaired the Industrial
Archaeology Group from 1978 to 2006 and served as President in
1996-97. The IA Group gave Ron a platform from which he could explore, record and expound on all aspects of the industrial Black Country, in particular the chain and anchor trades of his home district. Alongside his writings, his lectures and his photographs, Ron will be forever associated with the rescue, refurbishment and running of Mushroom Green Chainshop on behalf of the Society. To honour his memory the Society is planning to unveil a commemorative plaque on the Chainshop.
Keith Hodgkins, Society President 2016-18, joined the BCS in 1973 and straightaway became involved with the Industrial Archaeology Group where he became firm friends with Ron Moss. Since 2012, when Ron`s mobility became restricted due to a stroke, they worked together on digitising and cataloging Ron`s extensive photographic archive. A selection of these images, mostly of Black Country content and portraying Ron`s interests and passions, will form the basis of the presentation by Keith which will be notified at a later date.
NOTICE FOR ALL ART LOVERS!
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ART EXHIBITION
ROBERT PERRY RBSA
THE Black Country & BEYOND
VENUE: HIMLEY HALL, DUDLEY DY3 4DF
11 APRIL - 12 JULY 2020
This exhibition of drawings and paintings demonstrates the talent and originality of one of the Black Country's most renown artists, on his travels around the area and beyond.
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Paintings include a series on the Black Country night scenes, Wyre Forest, the Alps and the Lake District. The exhibition will also include paintings of the First World War battlefields.
Visit the exhibition and have a great day out with the chance to purchase a canvas or two.
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Details:
Robert Perry's website:
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Postponed - please visit the website
for more information
LIMITED EDITION BOOK
The Good Faggot Guide by G. Povey & R. James
This is the essential manual for any Gastronaut. It is a light hearted trip down memory lane
for all Black Country folks. It investigates faggot history, faggot pioneers and provides a
Directory of Faggoteers.
Ghislaine Poveyis Senior Lecturer in Hospitality & Tourism Management at the University of
Wolverhampton and writes a food column for the Express & Star.
Richard James aka Grorty Dick is a present day faggot pioneer. He is also a local entrepreneur
and consultant in Black Country Tourism & Marketing.
The Society has just 70 copies so reserve yours today!!!
Price £7.50
incl Post/Pack
NEWSPAPER PHOTO ARCHIVE LAUNCHED
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The Express & Star has just launched a website of its photo archive containing historical pictures of the public, architecture and events in the Black Country. BCS Editor, Mike Pearson was part of a group of volunteers who have helped prepare the first 3,000 files for digitisation.
For further information see
Celebrating
JAMES WATT
Inventor WHO IMPROVED THE STEAM ENGINE
200 YEARS AGO - James Watt was given a Newcomen Steam Engine to repair ... after the repair, it took him over two years to come up with the solution of how to improve the design and performance. Click on the image to find out what happened next.
Discover more about the events to celebrate the life of James Watt at the following URL
Brendan puts Black Country on the map!
Wednesbury Poet Laureate Brendan Hawthorne has done the Black
Country proud yet again by bringing home a trophy from the National
Dialect Festival held in Blackpool 18-20 October 2019.
This is the second year running that Brendan has won this prestigious
silverware but he will be unable to make it a hat trick next time as he
will be heading the team hosting the 2020 gathering and the host is exempt!
The event will take place in the Black Country 16-18 October 2020 and will be open to the public. Details of venue and times will be released in the New Year, so keep your eyes peeled for details.
Contact: brendanhawthornepoet61@gmail.com/ 07970 441110
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Brendan Hawthorne with National Dialect Festival judges
L-R Catherine Harvey, Judith Addison, Paul Salveson.
Amblecote History Society
Dear Members and Friends,
Due to the Governments updated guidelines on the current situation at the moment, we are cancelling our next meeting on Wednesday 8th April which would have been John Sparry ‘John and his relics’
I will try to rebook John for next years programme.
At present we are going by the daily guidlines of Government advice and will keep everyone updated about our future events and meetings.
Any question's please get in touch. helenjoy.cook@btinternet.com
Meanwhile keep safe and well.
Best Wishes
Helen Cook
Amblecote History Society
Tel 07975 765554
Click here for
