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A new running total has been announced for the money raised since 2022 for three Burton charities through the telling and sharing of forgotten stories from the town's history. A total of £10,151 has now been handed over. The latest donation followed a talk to a Leicestership group about Burton fairground ride and cinema pioneers Orton & Spooner and went to Burton & District Mind, the mental health charity. The other charities, who benefit from money raised through forgotten s

A legendary fairground ride, which includes work by Burton’s own Orton & Spooner, has been designated the top priority for restoration by national organisation the Fairground Heritage Trust. Hopes are high that the Rodeo Switchback – which may well be the oldest surviving fairground ride in the country – could be returned to full working order and then rehomed permanently at Statfold Country Park’s National Fairground Museum, near Tamworth, just 15 miles from where Orton & Sp

There are less than two weeks to go until we perform Against The National Interest - our story of World War One conscientious objector Vale Rawlings - at Derby Museum and Art Gallery as part of the 2026 Derby Peace Week. A few tickets are still available for this one-off performance, on Sunday September 20th, from the Derby Museum website. Doors open at 12.30 and the talk - with live performance elements - will run from 1pm to 3pm including an interval. A standard ticket cost

We're delighted to be partnering with Langan's Tea Rooms in Burton upon Trent to run an afternoon tea and a talk event in September. Elaine Pritchard takes up the story. EDITED: We are delighted to share that this event has now sold out. Sunday September 27th, 2026, is the date for our first-ever afternoon tea and a talk event at Langan's Tea Rooms on George Street, just off Station Street and Guild Street in Burton upon Trent. There will be the chance to enjoy one of Langan'

Elaine Pritchard explains about the anti-war protesters who feature in the September event she has written for Derby Peace Week. This week we've had our first read-through for Against the National Interest , a unique event that I've been invited to write and perform as part of this year's Derby Peace Week. Poster shows Vale Rawlings and images of Wormwood Scrubs Joining me, at Derby Museum on Sunday, September 20th, from 1pm, will be three actors who will help me stage this t

Dr Trevor James, editor of the Mid-Trent and Mercia Historian, has reviewed the Vale Rawlings book, Friendship, Love & Truth, and said he highly recommends it as a carefully researched and meticulous study of life in the first 40 years of the 20th century. Author Elaine Pritchard said: "It was a wonderful surprise to learn that Dr Trevor James, a respected and experienced historian, had read my Vale Rawlings book and written such a glowing review of it for the monthly newslet

We've got a busy few weeks' ahead as we make final plans for the stands we'll have at events in Staffordshire and Derbyshire during June and July 2026. Silk Mill Lockout festival - June 20th Our first appearance will be at the Silk Mill Lockout festival on Cathedral Green, Derby, on Saturday June 20th. This annual event commemorates the Silk Mill lockout of 1833/34, when hundreds of textile workers were locked out of their workplace during a dispute for better conditions and

The search is on to track down any surviving relatives of the amazing, Guernsey-born Lily Thomas. May 19th 2026: I have now edited this post thanks to the comprehensive information I've received from generous and helpful members of the Guernsey Family History group on Facebook who have filled in many gaps. But at this time I am still following up leads and looking to find descendants of Lily's siblings and half-siblings. Lily Thomas pictured with her daughter Marguerite and s

By Elaine Pritchard The wreaths laid at the TUC tree at the National Memorial Arboretum to mark International Workers Memorial Day 2026. International Workers Memorial Day was marked by a service and wreath-laying at the National Memorial Arboretum near Alrewas in Staffordshire on April 28th. It was the 10th year that the event has been organised by East Staffordshire Trades Council at this national centre for remembrance. Colourful floral tributes in remembrance of fire figh

A screenshot of the latest coverage on the Society for the Study of Labour History website. Thanks go to the Society for the Study of Labour History who have published a second article this week about the Vale Rawlings project and the publication of the book 'Friendship, Love and Truth'. The article follows an earlier piece they ran almost two years ago when the project was in its infancy. This week's piece explains the developments over the past 19 months including the play,

Elaine Pritchard looks ahead to International Women's Day 2026 in Burton upon Trent. I'm delighted to be attending the annual International Women's Day event in Burton upon Trent on Friday, March 6. Organised by town-based charities SARAC and YMCA, it is being held at the Pirelli football stadium on Princess Way and promises to be an inspiring event. This year's theme is #GiveToGain and emphasises the power of support and reciprocity. Evidence shows that when women thrive the

DJ and music producer Nathan Dawe and Victorian fairground ride makers George Orton and Charles Spooner are separated in time by more than 100 years, but in this article, Elaine Pritchard shares why she thinks they have more in common than just a birthplace. Recently I was invited to the annual model fairground show at Staverton in Gloucestershire where I gave a talk on Orton & Spooner . It’s always a joy to attend events like this because I learn so much more about fairgro

In this article we look at recent donations to charities in Burton upon Trent through the books Friendship, Love & Truth and Labour of Love . You can find out how to buy copies of these books and learn about an event in March 2026 that will bring together all three 'forgotten' stories featured on this website: Vale Rawlings; Orton & Spooner and Lily Thomas. This week the Vale Rawlings Project Community Interest Company made its first donations to Burton YMCA and SARAC sin

The Vale Rawlings book Friendship, Love & Truth , written by Elaine Pritchard, has been officially launched at Burton upon Trent public library. The book can now be bought, priced at £15.99, with all profits going to two charities, YMCA Burton and SARAC (Sexual Abuse Rape Advice Centre). Contact the Vale Rawlings project here for more details of how to buy your copy. The invitation-only launch was attended by groups and individuals who had contributed in some way towards th

We're looking forward to publication of our Vale Rawlings book Friendship, Love & Truth . Only 250 printed copies will be available to buy before Christmas 2025. So, we've decided to set up a Crowdfunder page so that people can donate to our Community Interest Company and choose a copy of the book as a reward. The Vale Rawlings Project CIC raises money for two local charities, YMCA Burton and SARAC as well as raising awareness of forgotten stories from Burton upon Trent. For

Vale Rawlings was a pioneer in the local trade union movement and a committed member of the Burton Trades Council. This month, the...

The cover for the new Vale Rawlings book We are delighted to reveal the cover for our book, Friendship, Love & Truth, The Vale Rawlings...

We're delighted to be taking an increasing number of requests from groups and organisations looking for local history talks and...

Support our CIC and enjoy good food and great company In order to make as much profit as possible for our two nominated charities, YMCA...

We've reached an important milestone in the journey towards publishing our book about Vale Rawlings and his life and times in Burton upon...