Craddock's Brewery

The Black Country Festival 2017 Mayor’s Welcome

This will be the fourth year of the Black Country Festival and it just keeps getting bigger and better every year.

We are expecting thousands of people to support and enjoy the events taking place across the whole of the Black Country including Dudley borough.

Black Country folk are proud of their heritage and always in the mood to celebrate together.

As both Mayor and as a resident of this borough I am really proud to be part of such a celebration and I am sure to meet many people throughout the festival during my civic duties.

The whole of July will be packed with a range of events including carnivals, music, comedy, fun days, sporting events and the big day itself on the 14 July, Black Country Day.

Make sure you come and have a bostin’ time and get along to some of the community events near you during the festival. I look forward to meeting you.

Councillor Dave Tyler Mayor of Dudley

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03 The Black Country Festival 2017 Introduction & Welcome

My name is Steve Edwards, I am the chairman of The idea of Black Country Festival was to have a The Black Country Festival and one of the founders weekend day to bring together the communities from of Black Country Day. across the region and celebrate the Black Country. Garry Sawers met with Pete Lowe and Ian Marrey who The ethos behind the Black Country festival is to bring organised a community meeting to see if the idea the community together. Working with community could work. It was apparent from the first meeting that organisations we bring community events to local not only would the idea work but one weekend day town centres, parks, pubs and shopping centres. would not be enough. it was decided that July would become Black Country Festival month and community I started Black Country Day after seeing the patriotism events would take place across the whole of the Black of people all around the world celebrating St Patricks Country. Day. I thought that The Black Country had so much history that it deserved to celebrated an promoted. Entering 2014 we had an official Black Country Day, The original day I chose for Black Country Day was an official Black Country Flag, an official Black Country March 30th, the simple reason for this was it was the Anthem and dozens of Black Country Festival events week after St Patricks Day and it was the best time to planned to celebrate the Black Country. The events remind people celebrating St Patricks Day that we also exceeded all our expectations and the Black Country have reason to celebrate our own region. Festival became the biggest community festival in the country with over one hundred thousand people In 2012 I created an open event on social media celebrating at Black Country Festival events. The Black asking people to celebrate the Black Country by Country Anthem even made it in to the charts at walking down the 'cut' (canal), eating scratching, number 32. drinking real ale or visiting The Black Country Living Now entering our fourth Black Country Festival we are Museum. A whopping five thousand people interacted adding more events than ever. Community groups with the event page and it gave a clear indication that from across the Black Country are working tirelessly people were indeed Black Country and proud. to ensure their local community has somewhere and something to celebrate. The date I chose for Black Country day had no real substance or historical importance. Luckily The Black The Black Country is famous for its history but its Country Living Museum had organised a competition future has never looked brighter. to design the Black Country Flag. The winning flag was designed by school girl Gracie Sheppard and Visit: black-country-festival.co.uk to get involved or registered with the flag institute in July 2012, it was see what's happening near you. unveiled on July 14th 2012 at The Black Country Living Museum to celebrate the 300th anniversary of the Newcomen Steam Engine. July 14th was the perfect date to celebrate Black Country Day as the Newcomen Steam Engine is the engine that kick started the Industrial Revolution in 1712. In 2013 Black Country Day was officially recognised by the Department for Communities and Local Government.

In 2013 I asked Black Country Band The Empty Can to rewrite the famous British hymn 'I Vow To Thee My Country' and rename it 'I Vow To Thee Black Country' to create The Black Country Anthem. Black Country Day unfortunately fell midweek so mass Be proud folks. celebrations were not going to happen. Out of our willingness to ensure the Black Country was celebrated, the idea of The Black Country Festival was Steve Edwards - Chairman born. Black Country Festival

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05 The Black Country Festival 2017 Black Country Snacks

06 www.black-country-festival.co.uk The Black Country Festival 2017 Black Country Ales Micro Brewery.. Major Taste

The perfect pour since 1834! Beer and Gornal go together like peaches and cream and one of the key sites for brewing in the village is at The Old Bull’s Head, which produced it’s first pint way back in 1834. The current brewery, which still utilises some of the early brewing and fermenting equipment, is owned and operated by Black Country Ales, who themselves have been producing their The Royal Oak, Coton Hill, Shrewsbury, SY1 popular beers on the site for over ten years. 2DZ has already opened. Black Country Ales supply beer to their own The following 2 pubs are due to open in July: pubs and alehouses, which number over thirty Bird In Hand, and can be found dotted throughout the area. Victoria Square, Stafford, ST16 2AQ The company is a Black Country business by Queen’s Head, name and nature. A large chain with community 111 Enville Street, Stourbridge, DY8 3TQ. pub ideals. Each of their ale houses has an identity all of it’s own and having visited most of The final pub that’s creating a great deal of them I can honestly say I’ve had good interest is the former Barclays Bank in Load experiences across the board. We did double Street, Bewdley, DY12 2AF. Still yet to be production capacity last year and increased the named, the pub will open once the necessary workforce at the Brewery to try and keep up with planning permissions are granted & a full Black Country Thirsts. Our pubs are dotted refurbishment is carried out. around the Black Country Please see our Facebook page for updates. And the award goes to... It has been a successful year with Black Country Black Country Festival Ales owned-pubs being voted CAMRA Black Country Ales are proud to be supporters (Campaign for Real Ale) Pub of the year in of the Black Country Festival, as it signifies Halesowen and Burton. everything that's great about our local heritage and community. Their popular beers include BFG, Pig on the Wall Why not pop into one of their pubs during July and Fireside. and raise a pint to the Festival. NEW Acquisitions Check out their website for all of their local pubs Black Country Ales have recently purchased 4 - www.blackcountryales.co.uk new pubs & following refurbishment will be opening in June & July. Cheers!

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09 The Black Country Festival 2017 Dudley Building Society Part of the Black Country for over 150 years

With five branches in the region we are able to provide a fantastic range of products and services, this includes:

• A range of savings accounts • Mortgage products and advice from trusted partners with access to a range of lenders • Financial advice • Pension planning and advice Dudley Building Society has been providing • Home insurance mortgages and savings accounts to the Black • Will Writing Service Country for over 150 years. We have embedded ourselves within the heart of the We pride ourselves on our continuous community, offering a friendly face to all of our involvement within the local community; this customers. Being such an integrated part of can be seen in our numerous fundraising the Black Country, we are proud to be involved events, campaigns, specialist accounts and in supporting the Black Country Festival. The our Community Support Fund. festival is a fantastic way to further enhance our solid relationship between the Society and those it serves.

Please come along and visit our Dudley branch on 15th July where we will be open all day and home to a Facepainter offering free face painting and glitter tattoos.

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Strange goings on in On Sunday 11th June 2017 from 11.30am to 5.30pm theBearwood! High Street will host Bearwood’s first ever community-led music, theatre and arts festival right in the centre of the neighbourhood. We are super excited and hope YOU will be joining us on the day! Now, there have been some very strange goings on – we’re not quite sure what’s happening, but local paranormal investigator Ivor Goosebump is looking into it – check him out at https://ivorgoosebump.wordpress.com/ Could the recent reinstallation of Bearwood’s iconic timepieces somehow have caused time to go wrong? All will be revealed on the day of the festival. And boy, what a festival of sights, sounds, tastes it’s going to be! Theatre A theatre trail performed by Highly Sprung will bring to life the mystery, while characters from Bearwood’s past and future will help visitors find the missing ‘cogs’ needed to repair time. Highly Sprung’s innovative blend of physical performance and animated storytelling is sure to excite audiences. of all ages. Play And specifically for younger visitors, there will be plenty to keep them busy with futuristic themed crafts, games, and street art workshops in our extra special play area. Music Live music on the main stage (in the middle of Bearwood Road, by The Bear pub) will reflect Bearwood’s eclectic musical heritage with something to suit all tastes. Curated by the wonderful Bearwood Promoters, headliners The Electric Swing Circus bring an explosive fusion of sounds that reverberates back through time. Food & Crafts There’ll also be cultural and audio feasts provided by the Community Stage, some of the best in regional street foods in the Food Parade (supported by The Bearwood Pantry and others), and a host of local entrepreneurs and crafters showcasing their goods at Bearwood Indoor Market. If travelling by car, you can park for free at Lightwoods Park Extension and catch a vintage Midland Red courtesy bus to the festival drop off point by St Mary’s Church. Make Sunday June 11th 2017 a date in your diary to visit this amazing free event. To keep up to date on all the details, make sure you visit www.wearebearwood.org or email [email protected]. And if you’d like to volunteer please fill in your details right here and we’ll be in touch

Picnic In The Park at Warley Woods on Sunday 2nd July 2017 from 1:00pm - 6:00pm, Bearwood is a free afternoon of activities for all the family, craft stalls, food and a live music stage curated by Bearwood Promoters with the best of local talent. The Picnic is organised by Warley Woods Community Trust. 11 The Black Country Festival 2017 Event Listings

Saturday 1st July 2017 - BANKS'S BLACK Fields, Sandwell Valley. The 38th Sandwell Volleyball COUNTRY BEERS - BLACK COUNTRY LIVING Tournament will once again be held in King Georges MUSEUM Try Banks's top 10 finest ales in our Bottle playing Fields in the Sandwell valley on Saturday July and Glass Inn. 1st 2017. All teams welcomed and we are on facebook. Saturday 1st July 2017 BEGINNERS' BOBBIN LACE MAKING COURSE - BLACK COUNTRY Saturday 1st July 2017 - THE OPEN ROAD - LIVING MUSEUM During the day you will be taught BLACK COUNTRY LIVING MUSEUM Story of Black the basic techniques of traditional bobbin lace making. Country Vehicles. An evening event linked to the Festival of Black Country Vehicles. Saturday 1st July 2017 - BLACK COUNTRY HALF MARATHON The Birmingham Black Country Half Sunday 2nd July 2017 - BEARWOOD PICNIC IN Marathon is a unique point to point race along canal THE PARK 1.00PM - 6.00PM. Warley Woods, B67 towpaths starting in Wolverhampton City Centre and 5ED. (See page 11) finishing in Brindley Place in Birmingham. www.bbchm.net Sunday 2nd July 2017 - BANDS ON THE BEACON Barr Beacon Nature Reserve. Saturday 1st July 2017 - BLACK COUNTRY RADIO'S BILLY SPAKEMON HOSTS THE STAGES Sunday 2nd July 2017 - DUDLEY PERFORMING AT THE CHAINMAKERS FESTIVAL ARTS SUMMER FESTIVAL Dudley Town Hall. Cradley Heath High Street. 11am - 5pm. Sunday 2nd July 2017 - FREE PARTY IN THE PARK Saturday 1st July 2017 - CRADLEY HEATH Inline with the Great Get Together, Grange Park, Dudley. CHAINMAKERS FESTIVAL Cradley Heath High Street. A family friendly street festival involving market stalls, fun Sunday 2nd July 2017 THE BLACK COUNTRY fair rides, speeches, street theatre, music and debate, ROAD RUN After Raising £23,000 last year, The Black the 2017 festival promises to be a hugely successful and Country Road Run is BACK! Over 1100 people took enjoyable day. part last year , running, walking & raising money for Charity. Check out the website & get involved Saturday 1st July 2017- HALESOWEN CARNIVAL www.theblackcountryrun.com Highfield Park, Halesowen. 12noon - 6pm. Music, Dance Fair, Vikings, market & Bar!!!! Sunday 2nd July 2017- STOURBRIDGE CARNIVAL [email protected] Stourbridge Town Centre. (See page 8).

Saturday 1st July 2017 JUNIOR HERITAGE Sunday 2nd July 2017 - WALL HEATH SUMMER SKILLS WORKSHOPS - BLACK COUNTRY CARNIVAL High Street, Wall Heath.12noon - 5pm. LIVING MUSEUM Come and take part in a range of Live Music, Fair Rides & Food Stalls. This years Wall hands-on traditional art and craft activities. Heath Carnival is gonna be a bosta!!

Saturday 1st July 2017 - METAL WORK Tuesday 4th July 2017 - 175TH ANNIVERSARY EXPERIENCE - BLACK COUNTRY LIVING PROGRAMME CRICKET MATCH Stourbridge CC v MUSEUM Join our skilled metalworkers for a day of MCC. The War Memorial Atheletic Ground High Street, heat and hammers. Amblecote. 11.30am.

Saturday 1st July 2017 - MUSIC OF THE NIGHT Tuesday 4th July 2017 - CARTOON MON SOME ENCHANTED EVENING Brierley Hill Civic. Come and find out more about Charlie Grigg the 7.30pm. Tickets £10 www.gigcaritas.com (see page 14). cartoon mon from Langley who drew Korky Kat and Desperate Dan for the Dandy comic. Talk by his son Saturday 1st July 2017 - SANDWELL Steve Grigg and poet Billy Spakemon. Free admission. VOLLEYBALL TOURNAMENT King Georges Playing Sandwell central Library. 2.00pm - 3.30pm.

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14 Event Listings Continued

Tuesday 4th July 2017 - OUR BEST SECRET Sunday 9th July 2017 - WILLENHALL The Charlie Grigg story with Black Country Radio's TRANSPORT SHOW Willenhall Memorial Park, Billy Spakemon. West Bromwich Central Library. 2pm. Pinson Road. 10.30am - 4.30pm

Wednesday 5th July 2017 - 175TH ANNIVERSARY Tuesday 11th July 2017 - LIGHTHOUSE THEATRE CELEBRATION CRICKET MATCHES CAFE Chubb Buildings, Wolverhampton. Main set - The War Memorial Atheletic Ground High Street, Far cry voices. Amblecote. 1.00pm Start. Thursday 13th July 2017 - BLACK COUNTRY QUIZ Friday 7th July 2017 - STREET FOOD AFFAIR WITH IAN BOTT Smethwick library. Come and join 5.00pm - 9.00pm. The Bonded Warehouse, popular historian Ian Bott as he poses questions with Stourbridge. (See page 36) a Black Country theme. £4 per team of 4. Reserve a place on 0121 558 0497. 7.00pm. Saturday 8th July 2017 - GORNAL FUNDAY Recreation Ground, The Quarry, Vale Street. Friday 14th July 2017 - BLACK COUNTRY 12noon - 4.00pm. VARIETY SHOW Come and join the Boonyeds for an evening of magic, music and comedy including Ron Saturday 8th July 2017 - FAMILY CREATIVE Popple, Jonathan Hipkiss, Black Country Gaz and WRITING WORKSHOPS - BLACK COUNTRY more. £3 admission . Advance booking required. LIVING MUSEUM Come as a family. Please call 0121 557 3277 for tickets. Great Bridge Library. 7.00pm. Saturday 8th July 2017 - NETHERTON PARK FUN DAY Northfield Road, Netherton, DY2 9ER. 10am-5.00pm. Friday 14th July 2017 - CIGAR BOX GUITAR SHOW WITH CHICKENBONE JOHN Saturday 8th July 2017 - PELSALL CARNIVAL Wednesbury Library. 7.00pm. 10.00am - 1.00pm. www.pelsallcarnival.org Friday 14th July 2017 - ROSS NOBLE COME & Saturday 8th July 2017 - TIPTON LIBRARY’S HAVE A LOFF ON BLACK COUNTRY DAY AT THE BLACK COUNTRY DAY Music, poetry, face painting CIVIC Brierley Hill Civic Hall. and a whole lot more at our annual fun day - come and share in the fun. Free admission. 10.30am - 12.30pm. Friday 14th July 2017 - ROBBIE WILLIAMS TRIBUTE £29.95 per person. Calderfields Golf Club. Saturday 8th July 2017 - WORDSLEY FESTIVAL Tel: 01922 632243. King George V Park. (See page 23) Friday 14th July 2017 - JULIAN STRINGLE QUARTET Saturday 8th - 9th July 2017 - WILLOW BASKET Sandwell Arts Café. 12.00pm. WEAVING - BLACK COUNTRY LIVING MUSEUM Friday 14th July 2017 - THE BUGLES BOONYEDS Saturday 8th July - 9th July 2017 HOST THE BLACK COUNTRY VARIETY NIGHT BLACK COUNTRY WEEKEND - BLACK COUNTRY Great Bridge Library, Great Bridge. LIVING MUSEUM Join us as we spend the weekend celebrating the region in the run up to the Festival. Friday 14th July 2017 - 'THEM BAY 'EM BIN BIN 'EM Cradley Heath Library. An evening of Black Country Sunday 9th July 2017 - SUMMER FAYRE - Banter, Comedy and song' supported by the Rowley SUMMER FAMILY FUN DAY To celebrate the 3rd Town Friends Group. Advanced booking required. anniversary of the opening of the Oak House Barns 6.30pm - 8.00pm £2 per person. visitor Centre. we are holding a summer fayre. There will be musical mayhem workshops with Andy Saturday 15th July 2017 - BLACK COUNTRY BEER DAY II Casserley, live music from Ian Casey and family magic A public transport tour of some of the Black Country and comedy from Ron Popple there will be craft areas [email protected]. activities, tombola and stalls to browse. Tea room will be available courtesy of the Oak House Museum. 12.00pm - 4.00pm. 15 Event Listings Continued

Saturday 15th July 2017 - BLACK COUNTRY FILM Sunday 16th July 2017 - CHASE JAZZMEN SHOW Come and watch a selection of short local Darmouth Park, West Bromwich. 1.00pm. history films - come in and share some bread pudding and scratchings. Tipton library. 10.30am - 12noon. Sunday 16th July 2017 - SAUCE CITY JAZZ BAND Haden Hill Park. 2.00pm. Saturday 15th July 2017 - BLACK COUNTRY FUN DAY 10.30am - 12.30pm. Tipton Library. Saturday 16th July 2017 - WALSALL CLASSIC CAR AND TRANSPORT SHOW Walsall Arboretum. Saturday 15th July 2017 - CYRIL ET LEILA DUCLOS 10.30am - 5pm. The Walsall Classic Car Show is a [FRANCE] Bleakhouse Library, Oldbury. 7.00pm. fantastic day out. A great Display of pre and post war classic plus some great commercial vehicles of Saturday 15th July 2017 - CYRIL ET LEILA yesteryear. DUCLOS [FRANCE] Sandwell Park Farm. 2.00pm. Tuesday 18th July 2017 - ROY FORBES Saturday 15th July 2017 - DJANGOS CASTLE Cradley Heath Library. 7.00pm. [SPAIN] Wednesbury Museum and Art Gallery. 12.00pm. Thursday 20th July 2017 - BLUE SILK Saturday 15th July 2017 - LIVE MUSIC - ELIGH Great Barr Library. 7.00pm TOADD Black Country Arms. High street, Walsall, WS1 1QW. 9.00pm. Thursday 20th July 2017 - MAIN SET - KATIE FITZGERALDS A night of story, song and spoken word. Saturday 15th July 2017 - OH FEST Old Hill High Street. Featuring Parades, Classic Cars, Thursday 20th - Sunday 23rd July 2017 - loads of Stalls & Entertainment. OH Festival is fast BUSHFEST COMEDY FESTIVAL 4 day outdoor becoming a ‘not to be missed’ event. comedy festival starting 7pm Thursday and Friday 2pm Saturday and Sunday. Real ale and full bar Saturday 15th July 2017 - RAINBOW FAIR available. A mixture of pro. and semi-pro. and new 11.00am - 2.00pm. Upper Ettingshall Methodist acts. free admission with acts asking for bucket Church, Upper, Ettingshall Road, Coseley WV14 9QU. donations, diary it now - laugh later, please see bushcradley.co.uk for more info. Saturday 15th July 2017 - STONE STREET, BLACK COUNTRY FESTIVAL Stone Street, Dudley. Friday 21st July 2017 - DIGBY FAIRWEATHER West Bromwich Central Library. 7.00pm Saturday 15th - 16th July 2017 - 1940's WEEKEND Spend the weekend in wartime Britain at Black Friday 21st July 2017 - GREAT BIRMINGHAM Country Living Museum. TROMBONE COMPANY Lightwoods Park. 6.00pm.

Saturday 15th & Sunday 16th July 2017 - TEENAGE Friday 21st July 2017 - SARAH BARNWELL MARKET 11:00 am – 4:00 pm. The Red House Glass QUARTET Sandwell Arts Café. 12.00pm Cone, High Street, Wordsley, West Midlands. DY8 4AZ. Saturday 22nd July 2017 - AD CONCERT BAND 15th to 16th July 2017 - WOLVERHAMPTON FIESTA Mary Stevens Park. 10.00am - 5pm. The band will be West Park, Wolverhampton. From 10am. Admission: performing a mixture of light concert classics, music £3 adults - £2 children. Giant Fun Fair , Tribute Acts: from TV and stage shows, film scores and Rhianna (Sat), Beyonce (Sun) & One Direction. Clowns. arrangements of other popular music. Punch and Judy Shows. Hot Air Balloons. Saturday 22nd July 2017 Sunday 16th July 2017 - BRIC-A-BRAC AND JAZZ BLACK COUNTRY RADIO'S BILLY SPAKEMAN Bargains galore! Call in to our Bric-a-Brac sale at Haden HOSTS THE BLACK COUNTRY FESTIVAL Hill House Museum. Stalls in house and Old Hall, shop SUMMER FETE At Grafton Lodge Residential Home, along to the sounds of Jazz courtesy of the Birmingham Grafton Road, Oldbury. 2pm - 5pm. Jazz Festival. Old Hall and tea room open. To book a table contact 01384 569444. Advanced booking essential. £10 per table set up 10am. 11am - 4pm. 16 The Black Country Festival 2017

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21 The Black Country Festival 2017 Craddock’s Brewery

The Duke William CAMRA’s Cider pub of the year and home to Craddock’s brewery – what more reason do you need to visit The Duke William?

Customers drinking in the beer garden have a front row seat to watch Craddock’s seven house ales brewing. But if real ale isn’t your tipple, the pub also stocks 10 varieties of malt whiskies, more than 30 Belgian and continental beers, and an extensive range of premium spirits and traditional soft drinks.

Weekly and monthly events take place in the bar and in the function room upstairs.

Plough & Harrow With its beautiful beer garden and roaring log fire, the Plough & Harrow is a country pub in Stourbridge town centre.

Attracting customers aged 18 to 80, it serves a wide range of award-winning ciders and ales as well as the original pub grub such as cobs, pork pies and scotch eggs.

Dogs on leads and children are welcome in the beer garden.

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Sponsored by

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27 The Black Country Festival 2017 BBC RADIO WM Black Country Day

Join us on 14th July 2017 Black country for on BBC Radio WM, 7am till 7pm.Day All programmes will be coming from our area to celebrate Black C ountry D Look out for our roving reporter ay! giving away “YAM YAM”t-shirts!

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29 The Black Country Festival 2017 Famous faces

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36 The Black Country Festival 2017 MA Pardoes The Olde Swan Inn, Netherton

The story of Ma Pardoe’s (The Swan) in Netherton when it opened at 6.00pm to see what had happened is as rich and fulsome as the beers they are and if everyone was alright. The pub then continued to famous for producing. This unique establishment trade selling Ansell’s Mild and Batham’s bitter while the has always been at the heart of Black Country brewery was re-roofed. Brewing with ales being produced on the same Tim’s first stint at the pub ended in 1987 site since 1835. and shortly after the Pub was sold. Brewing stopped It has taken many turns and twists of fate on site in 1989 and for the remainder of the 1980’s and over the last one hundred and eighty years to see the throughout the 1990’s it was very much a pub of its pub arrive as a Netherton landmark and a local time, permeated by the cultural trends of those periods institution. The building was originally known as The both good and bad. It is fair to say I think that during Swan way back in the early nineteenth century. The this period the original charms and values that had eponymous Mr. & Mrs. Pardoe arrived in 1934 to begin made it great swamped by less wholesome influences their tenure at the pub, at which time the ales where and it is no surprise that this more commercial brewed by Solomon Cooksey. The pub still retains incarnation closed its doors in March 2000. many of the original features from this period and a visit With the pub now in the ownership of to the establishment is something of a history lesson. Punch Taverns the Black Country spirit came to the The walls are strewn with pictures of great historical fore with Tim and business partner Paul Cooksey ( a interest and the decor and features within tell a story third generation of the Cooksey clan) returning to the of a Black Country gone by. It really is worth visiting for Olde Swan in November 2000. The way forward was that reason alone, being every bit a living museum and by returning to the values of the past so the old bar as popular today as it ever was both with patrons of and smoke room now restored to their former glory re- the pub and trade buyers of the ales brewed there. opened their doors. It’s worth noting that Tim re- The current Licensee Tim Newey has opened Ma Pardoe’s at 6pm on the very day the himself a long and interesting history with the contracts had been signed. Enlisting the help of brewer establishment. He pulled his first pint there in 1977 Dave Rawston, the trio refurbished the brewery on site (13p) and so has a direct link with Ma Pardoe, having and doubled the previous capacity for producing ale worked for her and the family until she passed away in which was the main reason for others struggling to 1984, her husband having been taken some 32 years make the operation viable. Since this time and still previously. Tim took on the running of the pub during under the tenure of Paul and Tim the pub has gone what can only be described as a tumultuous period. A from strength to strength, re-establishing trade links - consortium of businessmen bought the business, the brewery’s Original light mild plus Dark Swan, Entire, along with CAMRA and formed Netherton Ales. The Bumble Hole & NPA have never been out of production aim of the company was to brew and sell ales to the - and putting the pub back on its feet. trade and maintain the front of house business, Ma Pardoe’s is now a true Black Country however running a pub and brewery is not the easy attraction, selling traditional black country food and profitable task that everyone thinks it is. prepared on site by local chefs with fresh local None of this was helped by a fire which ingredients and selling home brewed ales both over took hold in 1986 which left the pub with less than a the bar and across the country. It has never been a weeks supply of beer in the cellar and substantial better time to visit or re-visit this great Black Country damage to the brewery. It is a testament to the “fair Boozer than during our Festival. You are assured a play” spirit of The Black Country that Harry Cartilage of warm welcome by Tim and his team. Ansell’s Brewery was the first person through the door

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To advertise your business or event in next year’s Black Country Festivalplease Magazine call 01384 565646

39 Event Listings Continued

Saturday 22nd July 2017- BRIAR FEST Sunday 23rd July 2017 - SIMON SPILLETT High Street, Brierley Hill. 11am - 5pm. QUARTET Oak House, West Bromwich. 1.00pm.

Saturday 22nd July 2017- DUDLEY CLASSIC CAR Sunday 23rd July 2017 - MABLES VINTAGE FAYRE SHOW 11.00am - 3.30pm. Dudley Town Centre. Chasewater Railway, Pool Lane, WS8 7NL. Parade starts at 11.00am. (See page 57) Sunday 23rd July 2017 - TIPTON LEISURE Saturday 22nd July 2017 CENTRE FUNDAY Tipton Leisure Centre. Alexandra LES ZAUTO STOMPERS DE PARIS [FRANCE] Road, Tipton DY4 8TA. 10.00am - 3.00pm Manor House, Stone Cross. 2.30pm. Saturday 29th July 2017 - RAISE A GLASS FOR A Saturday 22nd July 2017 - SHEILA WATERFIELD LOCAL HERO Commemorate Sandwell heroes from Blackheath Library. 7.00pm. the Great War. Smethwick library. 11am - 12.30pm.

Saturday 22nd July 2017 Friday 8th September 2017 - FUN AND FOOD WOLVESTOCK - NORTHCOTE FARM FESTIVAL We love Food in Walsall!! Here at the hub Wolvestock make a welcome return on 22nd and 23rd within Walsall College, we will be hosting a Fun and July. Tickets will be available adult £10, Child (5 to 16 Food Festival for you and your family. Come and join years) £4. Tel: 0870 320 7000. us and our local suppliers for a day of tasting for everyone. Sunday 23rd July 2017 - BROCKMOOR AND PENSNETT FUNDAY The Dell Stadium. 1pm - 5pm.

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41 The Black Country Festival 2017 Castle Writers Dudley www.castlewritersdudley.com

We are a diverse group of people who are all intent on improving and exploring our creative writing abilities through constructive criticism and inspiration of fellow writers. We have among our ranks, poets, short story writers, novelists, essayists and playwrights.

Come join Castle Writers Dudley at the Duncan Edwards statue in Dudley Market Place on Saturday 15th July 2017 from 11am - 4pm, for some poetry and stories.

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46 The Black Country Festival 2017 Dudley Funday Saturday 15th July 2017 Supported By 11am - 5pm

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57 The Black Country Festival 2017 The Fountain Inn

Opening Hours: Monday - Saturday 12noon - 10.30pm Food Hours: Monday - Saturday 12noon - 9pm Sunday 12noon - 5pm

The Fountain Inn is a Gornal institution. Beer has been sold on the site since 1846 and as a multi-CAMRA-award winner, the alehouse is ideally located in the centre of Gornal Village, where you will find Alan Davis and his team running a family pub famous for its wide selection of drinks and fine home cooked food. For lovers of ale it’s a mini-mecca. Nine draught ales fill up the bar with regulars being supped alongside the wide range of guest beers available. This impressive line up is complimented by a truly diverse selection of world beers, wines and spirits. The advice to “please drink responsibly” definitely applies to any session in The Fountain as one really is spoilt for choice. The pub however has always had a great reputation for its atmosphere and chilled out clientele. In the summer the pub really comes into its own. The beer garden is a fine sun trap located next to the old Brewhouse, which has been converted into a restaurant serving a fine mix of traditional home cooked food and some more exotic options, all cooked fresh on site by the in-house chef. For those local to Gornal The Fountain is already established as solid pub with a great reputation for good beer, good food and good company. For those passing through it should be a destination, whether it be to attend an evening of music, which happen most bank holidays, to join in with the pub quizzes, to sample the fine food or simply to sit in the sun, enjoy the ale and watch the world go by.

Get yourselves down there during the Festival.

58 www.black-country-festival.co.uk The Black Country Festival 2017

59 The Black Country Festival 2017

Black Country Radio is your local radio station. The Black Country is an incredibly proud community with a loud voice and your local radio station is full of personality! We’re a station FOR the Black Country, MADE IN the Black Country.

Our broadcast area is big – you can hear us on lobbying groups, champions of change - giving a 102.5FM, broadcasting to a potential audience voice to the local community. Through this fascia, of over 240,000 households and DAB across we held an incredibly successful hustings session Birmingham (as part of the local DAB trial). We – broadcast live – which gave listeners the chance also stream online to give our listeners the to ask the questions they want to ask of their chance to take us with them wherever they go. prospective MP. So many positive reactions came from that, with people saying that the evening had We broadcast 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 helped them both form an opinion that decided days a year featuring over 70 individual shows their allegiance – but also meet their neighbours every and over 100 volunteers working hard and create a sense of community. behind the scenes to make us tick. Black Country Radio are regularly out and about - During the day we seek to entertain - covering local you’ll see us out and about during the Black travel, local news and a barrage of local guests Country Festival! Catch us in Coventry Street who are (literally!) on a waiting list to come in. We (opposite the Duke William public house) as part of give listeners access to local councillors and MP’s, Stourbridge Carnival 2017. And also catch us un community organisations and groups. In fact, from Dudley then centre for the festival celebrations. cause related interviews through to championing We’ll also be out and about at a range of other new local talent we try and cover a broad events…. If you see us out and about - come and spectrum. say hi!

Tune in on evenings to hear the best in specialist And you can find out lots on our website - and feature shows. You’ll hear a huge mix of blackcountryradio.co.uk. Our local events passionate presenters, covering a broad range of calendar gives an opportunity for not for profit and music genres. From jazz to reggae, rock to indie, charitable organisations to get free exposure for trance to dance and urban – we give those people themselves and their fundraisers, promoting the a platform to do what they love. hard work they are doing - not just online but on air too. Black Country Sport broadcasts at least twice a week and covers the leagues that the ‘big boys’ Black Country Radio is wholly voluntary - everyone forget…but which the public love. Whether that’s from the management right through the football, rugby, cricket, speedway, boxing, baseball organisation is a volunteer who gives up their time or American Football including live match day to commit to making great local radio. We have no commentaries of our grassroots clubs’ fixtures, greater funding than any other community station reports, in-depth coverage, interviews and the - income is gained through hard work, including latest sports news, intermixed with discussions on advertising opportunities on air and online with the the wider world of sport. station.

Black Country Week is a weekly show which gives Black Country Radio is the people of the Black a specific view on all the latest local current affairs Country making great radio for the people of issues. From local council news right through to the Black Country.

62 www.black-country-festival.co.uk The Black Country Festival 2017

www.black-country-festival.co.uk 63 The Black Country Festival 2017 Meet the Team

Steve Edwards Dave Brownhill James Stevens

Gemma Williams

Steve Pitts Ian Marrey Keith Horsfall

64 www.black-country-festival.co.uk The Black Country Festival 2017

65 The Black Country Festival 2017 Thank you

We hope you have found this a useful and We at The Black Country Festival Committee interesting guide to this year’s Black Country have been working with a huge amount of Festival. It only remains for me to say thanks people in an attempt to co-ordinate the to those who have helped make the fantastic variety and wealth of events that the magazine and the festival the success that proud people invest their time and energy into we all hope it will be. producing in July. The very nature of the festival means that it belongs to the people and, as a Firstly - huge thanks to all the advertisers. Also community event, it is as fast moving and fluid to National Express West Midlands, Dudley as the communities that produce it. Which is Building Society, BBC in the Midlands, BBC something we are proud of and we are Radio WM, Dudley College, Wolverhampton touched by the passion and enthusiasm University, Westley Group Ltd, Carillion shown. Contruction Ltd, Hadley Industries, Thomas Lister Ltd and Walsall Housing Group. We have tried to treat every event and celebration with an even hand but inevitably there will be things we will have missed out. If Secondly a massive thank you to all the people we have not included your event or celebration who have come together and given their time we apologise. Please head to our website or and energy to this fantastic idea of celebrating our facebook page and we will attempt to our history, heritage and future in the month of remedy this oversight swiftly. July. The fact that MP’s and Councillors from across all parties leave politics at the door to Next year we aim to make the festival even support the festival is a testament to the spirit bigger with support from The Black Country of cooperation and fair play it engenders. Consortium.

The biggest thanks of all, however, is to you, So let’s hear from you if you are organising an the people of The Black Country. This Festival event in 2018, especially in Sandwell, Walsall belongs to you, celebrate it however you like. or Wolverhampton. Attend some or none of the larger events. Celebrate at home with family and friends or at The Black Country Festival Committee a sports event. Celebrate abroad if you can’t make it home. But celebrate. This idea started in our area and we have made history with it. You will see it begin to catch on in other areas, proud of their roots, which is great. But remember it started here in The Black Country. And you started it.

66 www.black-country-festival.co.uk The Black Country Festival 2017 Mayor’s Welcome