! ROMANY MEMORIAL REVIEW NEWS LETTER 11 JUNE 2013 TED RUDGE 118 CROPTHORNE RD SHIRLEY SOLIHULL B903JJ

0121 744 5939

! ! [email protected] www.winsongreentobrookfields.co.uk Dear Friends I do hope everyone is keeping well and looking forward to our annual reunion. Normally the newsletter informing members of the date arranged for the reunion is with you at the early part of the year. However since the beginning of 2013 I have been attempting to arrange a meeting with CC to discuss the proposed new memorial. I intended to include any discussions held with Sandwell CC as part of this newsletter, for your agreement, unfortunately no date has yet been agreed. Contributions of over £1,000 towards the cost of a replacement memorial were raised following the newsletter entitled “The future of the Memorial” thank you to all who contributed. As of the 8th June 2013 we have on deposit with Santandar Bank £2,697 towards an estimated cost for the replacement memorial of £4,000. As you know we hold our meetings around the date when your Romany relatives and others were first evicted from Black Patch land (26th July 1905). We meet to pay our respects to the numerous people past and present who have / do regard this land as being their ancestral home and to maintain the memorial provided by many in 2005. This year marks 108 years since the main eviction from the Black Patch land was carried out and it will be our 8th meeting. The date and venue for this year’s meeting will be SUNDAY 21st JULY 2013 at the Tavern, Foundry Lane, , (post code B66 2LL) from 11am to 4pm. If you require a meal please ring the Soho Foundry Tavern on 0121 558 4670 and make the booking, alternatively a Bar-B-Q style meal will be available during the day where no pre booking is required. In the event of bad weather no outside cover is available at the Soho Foundry Tavern so last year we hired a marque part paid for by our visitors “Romany Routes” unfortunately this year that facility is not financially viable. If any member has a gazebo we could use for the duration of the reunion please get in touch ASAP on 0121 744 5939. There will be visits to the memorial in Black Patch Park throughout the day together with the extensive research by Josie Tombs on the families who lived on the Black Patch and much more. Recently the discovery of a letter dated 1970 from a Black Patch Romany to Charlie Chaplin brought to light the claim that Charlie Chaplin was born in a vardo on the Black Patch. Michael (Actor & Author) the eldest son of Charlie together with Michael’s son in law Stany Coppet (Filmmaker) have made two visits to England in pursuit of the claim. In the Autumn of last year I took them around many places especially the Black Patch where they filmed and interviewed for most of the day with the aim of making a documentary of the known facts. I am really please to let everyone know both Michael and Stany will again be coming over from Switzerland, especial for our open day / reunion, where they want to meet and talk with as many descendants of the original Black Patch Romanies as possible. Hoping for good weather and a really good turnout at the reunion on the 21 JULY please try and be there and bring a friend or relation with your family. Best wishes and Custi-Bock Ted Rudge