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| Season:
Winter 2000 |
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| Vol:
34 |
| No.
1 |
| Year:
2000 |
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| Editorial: |
I am grateful to the Committee for permitting this issue to have 100 pages as it is my 50th magazine since September 1988 when I took over from Harold Parsons who edited the first 83. This coincides with a cover price increase for casual purchases, only the second price rise in 12 years! Subscribing Society members will not be affected by this increase and readers who are not members of the Black Country Society are urged to join and then to receive their magazines by post or by hand delivery.
Lisa Potts, GM our Black Country Personality � No. 50, was awarded the George Medal in the 1997 Honours List for her courage in saving nursery children during an attack on them outside St. Luke�s School, Wolverhampton, by a crazed machette wielding man. It is a privilege to carry this brave Black Country girl�s story in The Blackcountryman. She was scarred for life and recently, four years on, underwent yet another operation on her left hand which was nearly severed in the attack. The respect and affection amongst the general public was demonstrated for me when my wife and I had lunch with her at a country pub during the Summer. Two elderly ladies who were just leaving stopped by our table and stared for a few seconds and one hesitantly asked, �Excuse me . . . but are you . . .?� Lisa jumped up and said, �Yes, I�m Lisa Potts�, and both of the ladies, totally unknown to her, gave her a hug and kiss and said, �God Bless You�.
For 30 years, since Wordsley Community Association moved to new premises at Wordsley Green I have watched the vacated and thereafter unused former Wordsley Art School and Institute gradually deteriorate. Its demolition which has been going on since September is nearly finished. The provision of this facility in this rural setting as it was then was almost unique. The thinking behind such establishments which developed in Victorian times is covered briefly in Bill Pace�s most interesting article, �Technical Education for Craftsmen�. His experience was in the metal trades, but from the beginning of the voluntary further education movement, non-metal trades such as glassmaking and pottery in this area were included in the programme. It was the need of the latter to improve in the fact of growing foreign competition which led to the founding of Wordsley School of Art, a brief history of which starts on page 73.
An extended book section is included which together with the Pull-out should tempt readers to reach for their cheque books before Christmas. �Book Reviews� includes two substantial accounts, on the Society�s new The Black Country as seen through Antique Maps � a Survey from 1579 by Eric Richardson, and Tim Cockin�s amazing Staffordshire Encyclopaedia, now nearly sold out. Every effort will be made to send out orders received, by return of post.
I hope that all readers will find something of interest in my �landmark for me� 50th Magazine. I am grateful to the many people who have helped over the years, writers, packers, distributors, publicists, programme organisers, advertisers and others whose collective effects have consolidated the term THE BLACK COUNTRY which was a primary objective of the Society�s founders 34 years ago when bureaucrats would have abandoned it.
It is now 13 years since I was invited to become Editor on my retirement from Dudley�s Education Service in August 1988. I have asked the Committee to find a successor in 2001 whom I can ease into the position, hence the notice on page 4. I hope to continue to be of some service to the Society for some time, but because of my age, to use a current popular expression, it would be prudent for the Society to look to the future.
Finally, Seasons Greetings to all readers.
Stan Hill
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| 10
things you can read about in this month's issue: |
| Black Country Personalities - No. 50 Lisa Potts, G.M. |
| Paddington to Birkenhead |
| How Cradley Chose its first |
| A History and Archaeology of Wollescote Hall |
| Wolverhampton Harry |
| British Engineering for Kenya - The Black Country Connection |
| Ashwood Pumping Station |
| A Pilgrim to Ypres |
| My boxing interest |
| The mystery of the Missing Pianner |
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