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| Season:
Summer 2003 |
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| Vol:
36 |
| No.
3 |
| Year:
2003 |
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| Editorial: |
The Black Country Summer Programme of activities is now well under way and I hope that everyone is enjoying taking part in the numerous excursions and walks. The varied activities have been arranged with great care and flare by Lance and Pauline Warren, Doug Winterborn and numerous other colleagues, and are part of the many benefits of belonging to the Black Country Society. Our membership numbers are extremely healthy and are being increasingly swelled by people joining via our website. However, the Society always welcomes new members, and with casual readers in mind, a membership application form is printed on page 24. I would urge anyone who regularly purchases this magazine but who has not yet joined the Society so to do - membership benefits include the chance to participate in the above events, discounts on numerous Society publications, delivery of this magazine quarterly to your door, and much more.
This issue of The Blackcountryman includes an interesting discussion on a Black Country classical pianist's tragically short life, and a sobering account of the harsh and uncaring regime at the nineteenth century institution known as Wednesbury Bedlam. Light relief is offered by the Cartoon and Stan Hill's usual comic offerings on his Black Country humour page, whilst the book reviews section contains details of a major new publication on the Stourbridge and Dudley glass industry, together with a fascinating new Society publication by Peter Skidmore on The Civic Heraldry of the Black Country: this is the only publication in which it is possible to find a description and illustration of the arms of all the Black Country civic authorities which existed in 1966 on the eve of local government reorganisation. To coincide with the exhibition "Invasion - the Romans in Britain" currently being held at Dudley Museum and Art Gallery, there is also the second in the occasional series of 'Living History' articles - this time the fascinating reconstructions at The Lunt Roman Fort at Baginton near Coventry are explored.
I am, as always, gratified by the amount of correspondence that I receive as Editor of 'the premier magazine of the Black Country', and urge members and readers to write to me concerning any aspect of the magazine, whether it be articles (long or short), queries about previous items, or suggestions as to how the magazine can be improved. I hope that everyone has liked the colour centre spreads of recent issues, and I intend to increase the number of colour photographs in the future. The magazine, along with the Society as a whole, is not a static institution, and therefore will continue to evolve whilst not deviating from its primary objectives of entertaining and informing the members of one of the best local history and heritage societies in the country.
Finally, as I deal only with editorial issues concerning this magazine (not advertising, not requests for back issues, and not walks and talks), but am contacted frequently about such Society matters, may I make a plea that if anyone wishes to contact the Society, they first consult the Contact Details on page 84 to ensure that they deal with the correct individual: i.e. membership queries to the Membership Secretary, requests for back issues to the Stock Officer etc. This saves all involved time and effort. |
| 10
things you can read about in this month's issue: |
| The Life of William Fellowes (1921-1970) - Michael Jones |
| Helping Mr Lewis - Ray Jones |
| Dudley Grammar School Cricket 1st Eleven 1938 - Dr. John Cox |
| The 'Ten Bob' Piano - Dianne Mannering |
| BC Personalities No.60 - Ken Rabey - Stan Hill |
| Brierley Hill National (C of E) School - Pearl Taylor |
| Bedlam in Wednesbury - Lyn Tambe |
| St Johns Church Kate's Hill, Dudley - Prof. KGB Bakewell |
| Commemorating Wolverhampton's Historic Vehicles - Steve Field |
| Three Lost Landmarks - Arthur Truby |
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