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...

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

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

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...

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

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

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...

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

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

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...

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

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 [email protected] #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_...

I do love a bit of advanced planning. Took my first booking today to give a talk in 2027. #Staffordshire #LocalHistory www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/local-h...

I'm ready for Saturday's talk at Derby Museum. Tickets just £5 each or free to Derby Museum Friends. The link to book is in the reply below. Lots of interest to Derby social history & Labour History enthusiasts. @derbyshiredro.bsky.social @morwennarae.bsky.social @sslh.bsky.social #Derbyshire

Fundraising curry night - one week tonight - at the Gurkha Curry Lounge, Station Street, Burton upon Trent. Help us spread the word to Midlands curry lovers by sharing this link www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/curry-n... #Staffordshire #Charity #Foodie #BookSky #FoodSky

Book title reveal! Getting real now. www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/vale-ra... #Staffordshire #BurtonUponTrent #LocalHistory #LabourHistory #WritersLife

Anyone up for a curry night in #BurtonOnTrent #Staffordshire? We’ve got one at the Gurkha Curry Lounge, Station Street, on Weds Sept 3. Come & share these great dishes. £25 a ticket. Message for more & how to pay.

#OnThisDay Constance Shreeve died in Burton Workhouse after drinking disinfectant. Vale Rawlings, a recent appointee to the workhouse Board of Guardians, tried to raise concerns at her inquest but was shouted down. We will remember her heartbreaking story. #WomensHistory #OTD #WomenInHistory

It's deadline day and my Vale Rawlings book manuscript will be emailed off to my proofreader today. It might be five to midnight but it WILL be today. The book is going to be called Friendship, Love and Truth - The Vale Rawlings Story. #writingcommunity #BookSky #amwriting #writesky #writers

Love live theatre? #YouthTheatre? #MusicalTheatre? Please support the talented company staging #LegallyBlonde next week in Burton. www.brewhouse.co.uk/events/legal.... #Staffordshire

Thanks to Burton No. 1 Branch of @rmtunion.bsky.social who have joined us a sponsor for 2025/2026. Sponsorship helps us meet essential costs of getting out the Vale Rawlings book and raise more for two charities: YMCA Burton and SARAC. #labourhistory #staffordshire #tradeunions #skystorians #WW1

Any #WW1 #ConscientiousObjection experts know if this W G Rinder would have been Gladys Rinder? It was a reply to Vale Rawlings' friend Austin Smith following some physical abuse Vale (ill & frail) had suffered in custody waiting for his court martial. menwhosaidno.org/context/wome... #WorldWar1

🗳️ #OTD 2 July 1928: The Equal Franchise Act received royal assent in the UK, granting all women over 21 the vote—regardless of property. It gave women electoral equality with men, adding 5 million to the roll and making them the majority in the 1929 election. #VotesForWomen #Suffrage #GenderHist

Can anyone decipher the signature on this memo from the War Office in September 1917 to MP Charles Duncan? #WorldWarOne #WW1 #ConscientiousObjector #ValeRawlings #LabourHistory #DartmoorPrison

#OnThisDay in 1914, Austin Smith, Vale’s friend & Workers’ Union colleague, travelled to Westminster to speak to MPs about Vale’s court case. Vale’s sister had already told Keir Hardie who called it a gross miscarriage of justice. #LabourHistory #TradeUnion

#OnThisDay 111 years ago Vale Rawlings went on trial for 2 charges of assault arising from a strike by young women factory workers in Burton upon Trent. Vale denied the charges as did 7 eye witnesses. Vale was convicted & took 21 days' jail rather than pay fines & costs #LabourHistory #TradeUnions

Setting up on Cathedral Green, Derby, outside the Museum of Making, for the Derby Silk Mill Festival. Come and say ‘hello’ and find out more about our project #ValeRawlings #TradeUnions #LabourHistory #SilkMillLockout

Thank you to everyone who supported last night’s screening of ‘Strikers!’ the Vale Rawlings story at Burton Albion FC’s Pirelli Stadium. Charity event sponsored by Ben Robinson MBE DL. Raising funds for YMCA Burton and SARAC. #Staffordshire #LabourHistory #TradeUnions

111 years ago today in #BurtonOnTrent #Staffordshire, suffragettes from #Derby spoke out at a church service and in the market place. Thousands gathered. Rowdy onlookers caused public disorder. The story makes it into my play Strikers! the film of which is shown this Weds June 4.

My first visit to the scene of the 1944 Fauld explosion today. New RAF report reveals it could have been even worse if the walls of the underground munitions store had not held. Only a quarter of the total munitions store exploded. Hanbury village was devastated and 70 people died. #Staffordshire

🚨 Very important vote on AI & copyright in UK parliament next week - please contact your MP (template letter below) ⬇️ Baroness Kidron added common-sense amendments to a bill, requiring overseas AI cos to respect UK copyright law if they want to operate here. Incredibly, the govt removed these. 🧵

An honour to talk at today's #IWMD service at the National Memorial Arboretum about Vale Rawlings. In the year he helped found Burton's 1st branch of the Workers' Union, 3,474 people nationally died at work and 379,902 were injured. And not ALL workplace accidents were reported. #Staffordshire

Awake early and thinking about #WorkersMemorialDay. I’m honoured to be at the National Memorial Arboretum later today remembering Vale and the ‘flycatcher girls’ and all who lost their lives too soon through their work.

I do love the David and Goliath aspect of Vale's story - captured here in an early 20th century novelty postcard - which shows that in 1914 it was widely known that 'a Rawlings Job' was an unequal contest with the police. www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/a-rawli...