In Stapenhill cemetery, Burton upon Trent, we have TWO survivors of the Charge of the Light Brigade - both Yorkshiremen who settled in Burton to forge 2nd careers after leaving the army. Read more in my latest post at www.facebook.com/ForgottenBur... #17thLancers #Balaclava #CrimeanWar #Skystorians

News about my upcoming event for Derby Peace Week... Having a first run-through with the three actors tonight! Exciting times. supportstaffordshire.org.uk/burton-war-p... #FirstWorldWar #PeaceCampaign #ConscientiousObjector #WW1 #20thC #Staffordshire #History

Burton war protester remembered 109 years on  - Support Staffordshire

Derby’s annual peace week event in September will this year showcase the story of a First World War conscientious objector from Burton upon Trent, called Vale Rawlings. The story – called ‘Against The National Interest’ – is being taken to Derby Museum, on Sunday afternoon September 20th, by Elaine Pritchard of the Vale Rawlings Project […]

supportstaffordshire.org.uk

A joyful celebration today of history and the lessons we can learn from the 1910 women Chainmakers strike and the inspirational Mary Macarthur. #chainmakersFestival2026 #CradleyHeath #WestMidlands #TradeUnions #WomensHistory

Thanks to Dr Trevor James who has given me permission to reproduce his full review for my book Friendship, Love & Truth on my website. Smashing start to the week! 😀📖🎉 www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/histori... #LabourHistory #TradeUnionHistory #BookReview #HistoryMatters #SocialHistory

Historian praises Vale Rawlings book

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 ...

forgottenburtonstories.co.uk

Tickets are now on sale for my collaboration with @derbymuseums.bsky.social and Derby Peace Week - 'Against the National Interest'. derbymuseums.org/event/agains... #FirstWorldWar #conscientiousobjectors #peace #war #ww1

Crossing everything that this coverage in the @bailiwickexpress.bsky.social might help me locate living relatives of Lily Thomas. #Guernsey #FamilyHistory #FamilyTree #WW1 #FirstWorldWar www.bailiwickexpress.com/news-ge/sear...

Search for living relatives of Guernsey WWI humanitarian hero - Bailiwick Express News Guernsey

A Guernsey woman who arranged for more than 25,000 packages to be sent to British prisoners of war during World War One could have a UK housing development named after her. However, before this can ha...

bailiwickexpress.com

Unsung World War One hero could be honoured in her adopted Staffordshire home town, if we can find living relatives. Please share this post to help us. www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/can-you... @guernseypress.com #womenshistory #familytree #history #WW1 #BurtonUponTrent

Can you help find relatives of Guernsey-born Lily Thomas?

The search is on to track down any surviving relatives of the amazing, Guernsey-born Lily Thomas.Lily is one of our forgotten Burton stories and she is well overdue for recognition for the way she too...

forgottenburtonstories.co.uk

Today we marked #IWMD in Staffordshire. www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/remembe... #MentalHealth #TradeUnions #LabourHistory

Remembering the martyrs of labour

By Elaine PritchardInternational 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 tha...

forgottenburtonstories.co.uk

Thanks to @sslh.bsky.social for publishing an article on the progress of the Vale Rawlings project to revive the forgotten story of a Midlands trade unionist & do good in his name. sslh.org.uk/2026/04/09/v... #WW1 #tradeunion #labourhistory @unitetheunion.bsky.social @tuc.org.uk

A week today, Burton celebrates #IWD with an event at the Pirelli Stadium organised by town-based charities YMCA Burton & SARAC. I'm proud that I'll have a stand there. You can read about the women of the past whose stories I'll be sharing, here www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/interna...

International Women's Day 2026

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. Or...

forgottenburtonstories.co.uk

Thanks Birmingham Chamber of Commerce for this great piece on Vale and the new book. www.greaterbirminghamchambers.com/resource/new... #FriendshipLoveTruth #History #YMCA #SARAC #Staffordshire #BurtonUponTrent #UponItAll

New book revives life of Burton activist with all proceeds to local charities

greaterbirminghamchambers.com

Who was Vale Rawlings and how do I buy the book about him? Wonder no more. The answers are here - www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/vale-rawlings #Staffordshire #history #heritage #tradeunions #socialism #community #socialhistory #labourhistory

Vale Rawlings | Forgotten Burton Sto

Explaining the story of trade unionist Vale Rawling and what he did in Burton upon Trent, East Staffordshire, UK in the early 20th century.

forgottenburtonstories.co.uk

It was a pleasure to supply information about Vale William Rawlings, which is now on the Peace Pledge Union website Men Who Said No. It's a looong read but I'm delighted they ran it all. menwhosaidno.org/men/men_file... #ConscientiousObjector #pacifist #FriendshipLoveTruth #Staffordshire

More than £9,000 raised for three #BurtonuponTrent #Staffordshire charities with my two books. There are close links between these stories. They connect us with our past but also inspire us to believe what might be possible in the future. www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/more-th...

More than £9,000 donated through forgotten Burton stories

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...

forgottenburtonstories.co.uk

Hi Blueskystorians - I'm looking for your favourite, recent-ish examples of work that is conceived and published as local history, but reaches out to national/global themes. Any thoughts?

What an evening! @luxmuralis.bsky.social and East Staffs Borough Council have brought an epic free public art experience to Burton upon Trent. Last chance to see it 5-8pm tomorrow.

More details of the launch of my new book are live on the Forgotten Burton Stories website - www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/friends... #Tradeunions #LabourHistory #BurtonUponTrent #SocialHistory #TradeUnionHistory #Socialism #FriendshipLoveTruth #ValeRawlings

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 pr...

forgottenburtonstories.co.uk

Even as our politicians and media fuel division, people across Britain are showing that hope and unity are stronger. This is just one of many stories of people standing up for what’s right. 💥 Share yours below! #Hopecore

‘Brummies united against racism’: poster campaign takes on the far right

A message of neighbourly solidarity is thriving in Birmingham against a backdrop of racist intimidation

theguardian.com

A great night at the launch of the Vale Rawlings book, Friendship, Love & Truth, at Burton upon Trent library. Thanks to everyone who came along and bought books.

Thanks to everyone who helped my Crowdfunder reach & exceed its target! Copies of 'Friendship, Love & Truth' are here in Burton upon Trent and the first ones are being despatched to, and collected by, Crowdfunders. Hoping to raise lots for YMCA Burton and SARAC #SocialHistory #ValeRawlings

I'm 87% funded on Crowdfunder. Thank you to everyone who's donated. 'Friendship, Love & Truth' will be out in early Dec. By supporting the Crowdfunder & choosing a book as a reward you'll be among the first to get a copy. All profits to YMCA & SARAC. www.crowdfunder.co.uk/vale-rawlings

Thanks to everyone who has already supported the Crowdfunder for my new book about forgotten British trade unionist Vale Rawlings. It's 49% funded in just three days. Could you help? Have a look at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/vale-rawlings #LabourHistory #TradeUnions #BurtonUponTrent #YMCABurton #SARAC

If you're thinking of buying our book when it's out before Christmas, you can secure your copy NOW by donating to our new Crowdfunder campaign. www.crowdfunder.co.uk/vale-rawlings #FriendshipLoveTruth #TradeUnion #WomensHistory #YMCABurton #SARAC #ValeRawlings #BurtonUponTrent

East Staffs TUC hosts a free meeting Friday Oct 24 7.30pm to discuss the Vale Rawlings story & its relevance in 2025. Lots of union speakers. At Burton Caribbean Association DE14 3JS. #TradeUnions #LabourHistory

FINAL screening for 2025 of Strikers! - the filmed live version of my play about Vale Rawlings - is at Brewhouse Arts Centre, Union Street, #BurtonUponTrent 7.30pm Mon Oct 20th. Tickets £8. Pay on the door by cash or card. #CommunityPlay #LocalHistory #WW1 #WomensHistory #Staffordshire #TradeUnion

📣Union members in the Midlands: A thought-provoking evening in #BurtonUponTrent. Speakers will include @stuart-richards.bsky.social; Danielle Jackson of @pcsunion.bsky.social and Louise Regan of @neunion.bsky.social & me. 📣 24/10/2025 www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/discuss...

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 successor to that organisation, now called East Staffordshire Trades ...

forgottenburtonstories.co.uk

Exhibition: working-class community and mutual aid during the First World War sslh.org.uk/2025/10/04/e...

Exhibition: working-class community and mutual aid during the First World War

Remembering to Help, Helping to Remember, an exhibition funded by an SSLH grant, has opened at the Heugh Battery Museum in Hartlepool. Michael Reeve reports. Stories of the struggles, heroism and s…

sslh.org.uk

Thrilled to be speaking on Orton & Spooner at Burton Library as part of #StaffsHistFest on Oct 25, 1.30-2.30pm. Entry is free but booking is essential. Donations welcome. Call the library on 01283 881208, book in person at the library desk or email burton.library@staffordshire.gov.uk #skystorians

Here it is! The cover for my book on Vale Rawlings. Huge thanks to Tilley Bancroft for her design work. So excited! Next big book news will be the pre-Christmas publication date. #FriendshipLoveTruth #BurtonUponTrent #UponItAll #BurtonHistory All book profits will go to YMCA Burton and SARAC.

A truly joyful, positive and life-affirming day at Sonic Boom Festival 2025 in #BurtonUponTrent. A unique free event in this country. Burton is guilty of not appreciating how blooming wonderful it is. Change starts today. #UponItAll m.youtube.com/watch?v=Die_...

BUT Wip 10 16x9

YouTube video by East Staffordshire Borough Council

m.youtube.com