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Friendship, Love & Truth is launched
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
Dec 6, 20252 min read


We're on Crowdfunder!
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
Oct 30, 20253 min read


Discussing the relevance of Vale in 2025
Vale Rawlings was a pioneer in the local trade union movement and a committed member of the Burton Trades Council. This month, the...
Oct 7, 20254 min read


Book cover reveal: Friendship, Love & Truth
The cover for the new Vale Rawlings book We are delighted to reveal the cover for our book, Friendship, Love & Truth, The Vale Rawlings...
Sep 15, 20252 min read


Local history talks for groups in the Midlands
We're delighted to be taking an increasing number of requests from groups and organisations looking for local history talks and...
Sep 11, 20252 min read


Curry Night Fundraiser
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...
Aug 18, 20251 min read


Vale Rawlings Book Title Revealed
We've reached an important milestone in the journey towards publishing our book about Vale Rawlings and his life and times in Burton upon...
Aug 13, 20252 min read


New sponsor for 2025/2026 announced
We are delighted to announce that the RMT, Burton No. 1 Branch, has joined us as a sponsor for 2025/2026. We are hugely grateful to our...
Jul 17, 20251 min read


Strikers and the Silk Mill
By Elaine Pritchard Raising awareness is as important to our project as raising money - and this week we have done a fair bit of both....
Jun 8, 20253 min read


Workers Memorial Day
Today was the annual commemoration service at Staffordshire's National Memorial Arboretum to mark International Workers Memorial Day. It...
Apr 28, 20252 min read


Charity film show June 4
Our one-off performance of Strikers! - The Vale Rawlings Story, at Burton Town Hall last December was filmed live and we will be holding...
Apr 8, 20251 min read


International Women's Day Celebrations
Can we find descendants of the 1914 Burton factory workers? Elaine was honoured to be invited to give a short talk about the Vale...
Mar 7, 20254 min read


Vale Rawlings CIC celebrates its first anniversary
This week (Feb 24) marks a year since the formation of The Vale Rawlings Project Community Interest Company by Elaine Pritchard and Will...
Feb 25, 20255 min read


New opportunities to hear about Vale Rawlings
We're excited by new opportunities to share the Vale Rawlings story with people across the Midlands. Tonight is Elaine Pritchard's first...
Feb 18, 20251 min read


Queen Victoria and the Burton-on-Trent Quads
It's always a good day when a bit of research and reading around a subject uncovers another forgotten Burton story. This week I was...
Jan 30, 20253 min read


Charities receive more than £1,100 each from Strikers!
The money from tickets sold for our production of Strikers! at Burton Town Hall last month has been handed over to the two town-based...
Jan 21, 20252 min read


Do you know a group looking for a speaker?
Did you know that you can book Elaine Pritchard to give a talk to your group, club or organisation about Vale Rawlings and his life and...
Jan 6, 20252 min read


Vale Rawlings Room agreed for Burton Town Hall
Every councillor on East Staffordshire Borough Council has backed a proposal to name a room after Vale Rawlings, just three days after we...
Dec 10, 20247 min read


Strikers! is a hit
Bethany Warren, Heather Gallagher and Dan Tunks in the emotive We'll Meet Again scene of Strikers! Image by Geoff Noble The large gothic...
Dec 8, 20245 min read


Lasting legacy in Burton for Vale Rawlings
Councillors on East Staffordshire Borough Council are proposing that a room at Burton Town Hall is named in honour of the trade unionist...
Dec 2, 20244 min read
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