Thanks to @sslh.bsky.social for publishing an article on the progress of the Vale Rawlings project to revive the forgotten story of a Midlands trade unionist & do good in his name. sslh.org.uk/2026/04/09/v... #WW1 #tradeunion #labourhistory @unitetheunion.bsky.social @tuc.org.uk
A week today, Burton celebrates #IWD with an event at the Pirelli Stadium organised by town-based charities YMCA Burton & SARAC. I'm proud that I'll have a stand there. You can read about the women of the past whose stories I'll be sharing, here www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/interna...
Thanks Birmingham Chamber of Commerce for this great piece on Vale and the new book.
www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com/resource/new...
#FriendshipLoveTruth #History #YMCA #SARAC #Staffordshire #BurtonUponTrent #UponItAll
Who was Vale Rawlings and how do I buy the book about him? Wonder no more. The answers are here - www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/vale-rawlings
#Staffordshire #history #heritage #tradeunions #socialism #community #socialhistory #labourhistory
It was a pleasure to supply information about Vale William Rawlings, which is now on the Peace Pledge Union website Men Who Said No. It's a looong read but I'm delighted they ran it all. menwhosaidno.org/men/men_file... #ConscientiousObjector #pacifist #FriendshipLoveTruth #Staffordshire
More than £9,000 raised for three #BurtonuponTrent #Staffordshire charities with my two books. There are close links between these stories. They connect us with our past but also inspire us to believe what might be possible in the future.
www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/more-th...
Hi Blueskystorians - I'm looking for your favourite, recent-ish examples of work that is conceived and published as local history, but reaches out to national/global themes. Any thoughts?
What an evening! @luxmuralis.bsky.social and East Staffs Borough Council have brought an epic free public art experience to Burton upon Trent. Last chance to see it 5-8pm tomorrow.
More details of the launch of my new book are live on the Forgotten Burton Stories website - www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/friends... #Tradeunions #LabourHistory #BurtonUponTrent #SocialHistory #TradeUnionHistory #Socialism #FriendshipLoveTruth #ValeRawlings
Even as our politicians and media fuel division, people across Britain are showing that hope and unity are stronger.
This is just one of many stories of people standing up for what’s right. 💥
Share yours below! #Hopecore
A woman with grey hair and glasses, wearing a black dress with a white pattern, leans over a table signing a book for a waiting buyer in Burton upon Trent library.
A shot from the back of a room at Burton upon Trent library shows the backs of heads of people sitting in rows of chairs. At the front of the room a woman in a black dress with a white pattern on it, grey hair and glasses stands behind a table talking to a book buyer.
A group of eight people smile at the camera: four men and four women.
A group of people smile at the camera: three men and five women.
A great night at the launch of the Vale Rawlings book, Friendship, Love & Truth, at Burton upon Trent library. Thanks to everyone who came along and bought books.
A number of brown boxes, which contain books, are piled up on a wooden pallet and covered in clear plastic wrapping. The pallet stands on a path in front of a small area of stones and foliage.
Thanks to everyone who helped my Crowdfunder reach & exceed its target! Copies of 'Friendship, Love & Truth' are here in Burton upon Trent and the first ones are being despatched to, and collected by, Crowdfunders. Hoping to raise lots for YMCA Burton and SARAC #SocialHistory #ValeRawlings
A screenshot from Crowdfunder, showing the total raised of £218 which is 87% funded with 15 days to go. There is an image of the book cover on the screenshot showing a 1914 black and white image of Vale Rawlings in a convict suit standing next to a Daily Citizen newspaper billboard saying 'Rawlings to be set free'.
I'm 87% funded on Crowdfunder. Thank you to everyone who's donated. 'Friendship, Love & Truth' will be out in early Dec. By supporting the Crowdfunder & choosing a book as a reward you'll be among the first to get a copy. All profits to YMCA & SARAC.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/vale-rawlings
Thanks to everyone who has already supported the Crowdfunder for my new book about forgotten British trade unionist Vale Rawlings.
It's 49% funded in just three days. Could you help?
Have a look at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/vale-rawlings
#LabourHistory #TradeUnions #BurtonUponTrent #YMCABurton #SARAC
If you're thinking of buying our book when it's out before Christmas, you can secure your copy NOW by donating to our new Crowdfunder campaign. www.crowdfunder.co.uk/vale-rawlings
#FriendshipLoveTruth #TradeUnion #WomensHistory #YMCABurton #SARAC #ValeRawlings #BurtonUponTrent
East Staffs TUC hosts a free meeting Friday Oct 24 7.30pm to discuss the Vale Rawlings story & its relevance in 2025. Lots of union speakers. At Burton Caribbean Association DE14 3JS. #TradeUnions #LabourHistory
A square image has illustrations of film stock running down either side. In the centre are three colour images of some of the actors who appeared in the play Strikers! taken during the live performance. Black text on a red background says, 'Monday October 20th 7.30pm Brewhouse Arts Centre Main auditorium'.
FINAL screening for 2025 of Strikers! - the filmed live version of my play about Vale Rawlings - is at Brewhouse Arts Centre, Union Street, #BurtonUponTrent 7.30pm Mon Oct 20th. Tickets £8. Pay on the door by cash or card. #CommunityPlay #LocalHistory #WW1 #WomensHistory #Staffordshire #TradeUnion
📣Union members in the Midlands: A thought-provoking evening in #BurtonUponTrent. Speakers will include @stuart-richards.bsky.social; Danielle Jackson of @pcsunion.bsky.social and Louise Regan of @neunion.bsky.social & me. 📣
24/10/2025
www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/discuss...
Exhibition: working-class community and mutual aid during the First World War sslh.org.uk/2025/10/04/e...
On a beige background, with curly decorative edges in each corner, sit a row of three images: the first shows the Orton and Spooner families in a Victorian photograph; the second shows part of a grand Orton and Spooner fairground ride and the third is the cover of Labour of Love the book about Orton & Spooner by Elaine Pritchard. The words 'Labour of Love' are in red type at the top of the image. Above the three pictures it says 'The story of Burton's fantastic fairground and cinema entrepreneurs George Orton and Charles Spooner'. Below the images it says 'A talk by local author Elaine Pritchard'.
Thrilled to be speaking on Orton & Spooner at Burton Library as part of #StaffsHistFest on Oct 25, 1.30-2.30pm. Entry is free but booking is essential. Donations welcome. Call the library on 01283 881208, book in person at the library desk or email burton.library@staffordshire.gov.uk #skystorians
The book cover image is a black and white picture of a man, vale Rawlings, pictured in 1914. He is wearing a convict suit with broad arrows and a small cap. He stands next to a Daily Citizen newspaper billboard that bears the headline ' Rawlings to be set free'. Along the bottom of the book is a horizontal turquoise blue band with the name Elaine Pritchard in white type. Across the top of the book cover are the words 'Friendship, Love & Truth' and the subheading 'The Vale Rawlings Story' in turquoise blue typeface.
Here it is! The cover for my book on Vale Rawlings. Huge thanks to Tilley Bancroft for her design work. So excited! Next big book news will be the pre-Christmas publication date.
#FriendshipLoveTruth #BurtonUponTrent #UponItAll #BurtonHistory All book profits will go to YMCA Burton and SARAC.
A truly joyful, positive and life-affirming day at Sonic Boom Festival 2025 in #BurtonUponTrent. A unique free event in this country. Burton is guilty of not appreciating how blooming wonderful it is.
Change starts today. #UponItAll
m.youtube.com/watch?v=Die_...
I do love a bit of advanced planning.
Took my first booking today to give a talk in 2027.
#Staffordshire #LocalHistory
www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/local-h...
Image is a screenshot of part of Derby Museums website. It shows a black and white image of a 1914 man looking straight ahead at the camera. He wears a hat, bow tie, shirt, waistcoat and jacket. Some of the website navigation can be seen along the top edge of the picture. In the bottom right hand corner text is overlaid saying, Vale Rawlings and 'the Fly-Catcher Girls' with Elaine Pritchard.
I'm ready for Saturday's talk at Derby Museum. Tickets just £5 each or free to Derby Museum Friends. The link to book is in the reply below. Lots of interest to Derby social history & Labour History enthusiasts. @derbyshiredro.bsky.social @morwennarae.bsky.social @sslh.bsky.social #Derbyshire
Fundraising curry night - one week tonight - at the Gurkha Curry Lounge, Station Street, Burton upon Trent. Help us spread the word to Midlands curry lovers by sharing this link www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/curry-n... #Staffordshire #Charity #Foodie #BookSky #FoodSky
Book title reveal! Getting real now. www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/vale-ra...
#Staffordshire #BurtonUponTrent #LocalHistory #LabourHistory #WritersLife
Menu says popadoms and dips on arrival. Starters: chicken tikka, seekh kebab, veg samosa, onion Bhakti. Main courses: Himalayan Garlic Lamb, Gurkhali chicken, Karahi Paneer, Saag aloo,mixed breads, Pilau rice. Dessert: Vanilla ice cream.
Anyone up for a curry night in #BurtonOnTrent #Staffordshire? We’ve got one at the Gurkha Curry Lounge, Station Street, on Weds Sept 3. Come & share these great dishes. £25 a ticket. Message for more & how to pay.
On top of a background of clouds on a blue sky is a red rose. Above it are the words 'Constance Shreeve 1905-1929
#OnThisDay Constance Shreeve died in Burton Workhouse after drinking disinfectant. Vale Rawlings, a recent appointee to the workhouse Board of Guardians, tried to raise concerns at her inquest but was shouted down. We will remember her heartbreaking story. #WomensHistory #OTD #WomenInHistory
Took 14 and a half hours but it’s done and gone. Now chilling with a well-earned drink.