BCS NEWS 2020
PEOPLE
ROSE MONK COOK
Congratulations to BCS Member Rose Monk Cook,
who runs the Duncan Edwards Foundation. She has
received the Sporting Heritage Award and the Covid
Superstar Award from Dudley CVS [Council For
Voluntary Service].
They recognised Rose’s efforts in supporting frontline
health workers with PPE during the pandemic and also
running the museum within COVID19 regulations.
BLESSING CHIPATA
Congratulations to Dudley’s latest singing superstar, Blessing Chitapa.
She won the public vote in the final of ITV’s ‘The Voice’ show. Blessing
was spotted singing on instagram by the shows producers. They invited her to audition and although she was studying Biology, Physics and Chemistry at Dudley College, she took up the challenge and won through to the last four participants and then the last two singers on the weekend programme. Blessing’s musical inspiration is Brandy (USA). She sang ‘Angels’ (Robbie Williams/Guy Chambers) in her performance. It will be released as a single prior to her show prize of a ‘recording deal’ album in 2021.
NEWSFLASH: JULY 2020
THE Black Country has officially been designated a UNESCO Global Geopark.
The region is renowned for being at the centre of the industrial revolution and this UN status recognises the importance of its geology which coupled with the working population, contributed to meeting the demands of industrialisation throughout the World.
COSELEY AVENUE OF REMEMBRANCE
MATT MILLS has created a website about the Coseley Avenue of Remembrance which he researched from 2011 to 2016. He has included photos of the trees and information on how the memorial came about. I am sure you will find the website interesting.
NEW BOOK - NOW AVAILABLE
Palethorpes - 5 generations
made 'World Famous'!
The Black Country Society are to sponsor a book
researched and written by John Dunn who worked at the
company for 30 years. The book will feature the
Palethorpes family history and contain over 100 black and
white images, taken from the original 'glass' plates used
by photographers of the time. Palethorpes were one of the
largest and most benevolent employers in the Black
Country and were said to be 'The Largest Sausage
Manufacturer in the World'. It is a fascinating read and part of Tipton and Market Drayton history. The images show all stages of making sausages and pies, the promotion and delivery of products.
The book is A4 size with 96 pages of Palethorpes history, products, production, premises, vehicles and advertising. BCS Launch 'introductory' price: £14.00 incl. post and packaging.
Reserve your copy by contacting the Treasurer today -
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
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
UNESCO 'HERITAGE' SITE
The UNESCO Global Geopark status puts the area known since 1846 as the Black Country, on the world map and creates the opportunity to celebrate the unique character of the area and its varied population.
The Society are delighted to receive the news and look forward to being a part of the bigger picture in preserving the valuable heritage and promoting its culture, both past and present.
40 Geosites including Wrens Nest National Nature Reserve in Dudley and Red House Glass Cone in Wordsley will be amoung the first to be developed.
If you want to know more as plans develop or would like to join us in celebrating the past 50+ years of research, visit the Membership Page.
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.
BRADLEY CANAL RESTORATION GROUP
There has always been a lot of enthusiasm for the history that working canals have brought to the area! Over the years restoration groups have made a huge difference to the landscape, turning industrial into leisure and pleasure for the eye. Visit the website and see how you can contribute.
FOOTBALL FANS
SPECIAL
52 Black Countrymen as
footballers have
represented England.
More players than any
other area in the country.
This is a fascinating book
for all fans of football.
White Shirt - Black Country is in stock and available for purchase online - visit the Gift/Book Shop page.
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
BEST SELLER
REPRINTED
The Gospels in
Black Country
dialect
Kate Fletcher was born in Bilston, attending school there. During the Second World War, at the age of seventeen, she commenced training as a nurse at ‘The Woodlands’ Orthopaedic Hospital in Birmingham, where she acquired her Orthopaedic Nursing Certificate.
Kate wrote a number of poems in dialect verse, several of which were published in ‘The Blackcountryman’ and also broadcast on local radio. The success of her ‘poetic’ version of ‘The Old Testament in Black Country Dialect’ created great demand for this kind of work. This volume was first published in 1975, soon followed by Part Two. In 1989 Kate published this work: ‘The Gospels in Black Country Dialect’.
Visit the BOOK/GIFT Shop to purchase the books.
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.
Contact: brendanhawthornepoet61@gmail.com/ 07970 441110
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
