RED HOUSE GLASS CONE MUSEUM, THE TITANIC AND WWII

What's the connection between the Titanic, Radar and a glassmaking factory?  The answer is The Red House Cone Glass Museum, home to glassmaking since the eighteenth century, and also a popular venue for 1940s events. With live music and entertainment, wartime re-enactors, exhibitions, and of course demonstrations of glass making, and lots of other activities and displays, this event attracts plenty of visitors!

Stourbridge has a rich industrial history,  including generations of craftsmen, skilled in glassmaking who had, by 1827, established the "crystal mile" with Red House Glass Cone Factory at the centre of this industry. Crystal glassware crafted here was supplied to the Titanic for her maiden voyage.

In 1936 Winston Churchill was again warning parliament of the growing threat from Germany and emphasizing the need for the design and manufacture of all supplies needed by the Air Force, the Army and the Navy.

In 1936 production ended at the Red House Glass Cone, although all the work was moved to the White House Glass Works. It was there, that the skilled craftsmen from Red House Glass Cone continued to use their expertise, but this time for war work. They made landing lights for aircraft, cathode ray tubes, electronic vacuum tubes used for radar and other specialized types of glass for electronic and chemical equipment needed during WWII.


Source
www.gracesguide.co.uk/stuartandsons
www.dudley.gov.uk/see-and-do/museums/red-house-glass-cone
www.churchill-society-london.org.uk (speech 12th November 1936)

RE-ENACTORS REQUIRED FOR THE JACKFIELD WORLD WAR II WEEKEND EVENT!

Re-enactors are required for The Jackfield World War II Weekend on May 23rd and 24th May 2015.  The event will be held at The Boat Inn, Jackfield, Ironbridge, Telford TF8 7LS, and daytime entry is free. Tickets are available for their Saturday evening 1940s Dance and supper.

Military and civilian vehicles and entertainers are also needed alongside WWII re-enactors to re-create the Homefront and wartime Europe!

You can contact the organisers on 07830 434 826 and there's more information about this event at Rods 1940s events calendar at www.40s-events.co.uk.

CRICH TRAMWAY MUSEUM 1940s EVENT 2014 AND THE RED LION.

It's getting closer to the start of the 1940's event season and the re-enactors are probably planning which events to attend! One of the earliest in the calendar is Crich Tramway Easter 1940s Weekend.  The World War Two re-enactors and carefully restored trams made their 2014 event very enjoyable! There was also lots of 1940s entertainment including George Formby, a vintage and military vehicle parade, visits and speeches from the nation's wartime leaders, an exhibition hall and of course rides on the trams.

Pictured above are WWII re-enactors enjoying a drink and lunch at the Red Lion Hotel in Crich Village. When I took this photo I didn't know what an interesting story there was about the Red Lion.  Originally situated in Stoke-On-Trent,  it was the local pub for the tram crews of the Potteries Traction Tramway Company who also gathered there to receive their weekly wages. Due to be demolished it was transported brick by brick, with individual bricks being carefully restored, to its new home in Crich Village.
An equisite example of Victorian/Edwardian architecture, it's nice to know that this building has been preserved!

Source www.dailykos.com/story

The 1940s Picture Post at the Vintage and Handmade Fair at Walsall Town Hall

Is it the lure of the past when life moved at a slower pace, or the fab clothes that makes vintage fashion so popular today? Whether it's the Bette Davis dazzle you're looking for or the cool charisma of Audrey Hepburn, Walsall's Vintage and Handmade Fair at Walsall Town Hall, West Midlands, offered plenty of variety for fashion fans. A Rock 'n Roll band provided the sound of the '50s and a hairdresser was on hand to re-create the necessary vintage hair styles.

1940s re-enactors were also present, enjoying some shopping and also adding some sparkle to the occasion (pictured above) by "putting on the ritz,"

These lovely jumpers were on display, hand knitted by Kath to original vintage (including 1940's) patterns (pictured).

 Further Vintage Fairs are planned including Pelsall Community Hall on Sunday 29th March, and you can get more information by emailing vintage.duo@hotmailco.uk or visit them at Vintage Duo's Vintage Fairs on Facebook.

(There's more photo's on the 2014 Pictures page!)

HOW TO GET THE 1940's LOOK!

Despite the fact that fashion was rationed in WWII, women still managed to look stunning.  They mended or altered worn clothing, turned tattered lace curtains into a chic bolero jacket and used beetroot juice for lipstick.  Today it's easier to get the 1940's look, and the re-enactors can provide us with plenty of tips!

Just a classic white cotton blouse and a-line skirt, wavy hair with victory rolls, red lipstick and a matching flower can create a lively 1940's look.

This display from the Black Country Museum July 2014 (WWII event) shows us some original 1940s clothes including a red tea dance dress, a shirt dress and a tailored cream suit, and of course a hat makes the outfit!

There's plenty of original and reproduction 1940's clothes on Ebay and Amazon with brand names such as Lindy Bop and The Seamstress of Bloomsbury and also Viva-la-Roses and Collectif (Vintage) offering an excellent choice. You can also find some bargains at the vintage and antique fairs and in the charity or thrift shops. Or, just like the WWII women, you can make your own. Whatever you decide it's all about enjoying some of that magical vintage style!

THE RE-ENACTORS AND THE SPIRIT OF THE 1940's!

It's the re-enactors that make an event!  Without them, however authentic the venue is, it's empty.  There may be bunting, displays or steam trains but it's the re-enactors that turn the clock back and make it real, magically transporting us back in time.

Rain or shine they turn up to the many events, sometimes travelling from all over the UK throughout the season.  Sometimes they stroll or promenade.  Sometimes they bring vehicles or exhibitions and displays. They try to dress as authentically as they can and many study the history of WW11. They reminisce, share their knowledge or just give the visitors a chance to chat, and give their time freely, they are volunteers.

And it's not just the themed 1940s events that attract so many re-enactors.  There's also another growing trend for people to dress up and attend Vintage and Militaria Fairs. 

The organisers are starting to encourage this. (Pictured - Living History Re-enactment Group at Militaria, Stoneleigh 2015).  Is this a new fashion trend, keeping history alive or something more sociologically important. Or are we trying to re-create the spirit of 1940's Britain?  Whatever it is, it's a visual statement from people of all ages and all walks of life. A 21st Century phenomena!

Winston Churchill - 50th Anniversary

On the 24th January 2015, fifty years after the death of Winston Churchill, events are taking place all over the UK to mark this occasion. The tributes include a Service of Remembrance at the Houses of Parliament on January 30th at 12.40pm.  Then there is a re-creation of the funeral procession which sailed along the Thames in 1965. In the evening at Westminster Abbey there is a Service of Commemoration. The Churchill Central website has been launched especially for this occasion with lots of information about his life.

Not surprisingly, there's also lots of TV coverage about this including, Churchill: 100 Days That Saved Britain, Sunday 25th January ITV 10. 20 pm and Churchill: The Nation's Farewell, January 28th 9.00pm (a documentary) BBC 1.

"This is the lesson: never give in, never ,never, never.... in nothing great or small, large or petty....never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense. Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy." At Harrow School, October 29th 1941

Source
www.nationalchurchillmuseum.org
www.independant.co.uk/news/winstonchurchill
www.churchillcentral.com