A cut above the rest?

The International Monetary Fund have come up with another stunning insight. No doubt after months of deep analysis and contemplation, the IMF are warning that as our own economy shrinks and the Government keeps on cutting and as most of our European trading partners shrink and cut there might be a threat to economic growth. Who would have believed it?

Surely we are a cut above the luckless lands in the Euro zone and anyway have we not all been led up the path of a deep cuts policy with tailor made cuts for different people? It's so clever. For example, there would be one kind of cut for the poor - punitive cuts for disabled people, young people and the many who are forced to rely on benefits - and, quite naturally, a tax cut for the better off now and another just before the next election.

The plutocrats are so vital to us - we couldn't possibly do without them. Those scraps off the heaving tables of the wealthy will assuredly trickle down you see. And none of our still-so-rich bankers are crying 'Wolf' about taking their bat, ball and bad habits out of the country - oh dear me no, perish the thought!

The one thing that all this will not cut of course is the financial deficit - with lower tax revenues from businesses and individuals and increased public expenditure anyway for the legions of unemployed, underemployed and simply forgotten. Unless of course we let them eat cake! Could this be the Government's Plan B?

But let's cut to the chase. It's been so nice to know that we're all in this together and that our wise and considerate Government, the highly paid intelligentsia at the IMF and in our beloved banks will pull us all through - with the IMF suggesting tax cuts (how imaginative!) and the bankers with their bowls ready for a further big cut of the national cake in the next financial bailout.

But enough already. Maybe I should just cut this short - it's beginning to make Reaganomics look almost sensible!

Middle-earth in 2012

The Middle-earth weekend in and around Sarehole Mill and the childhood haunts of JRR Tolkien was a great success and was also an enormous credit to the volunteers involved, particularly the two principals, whose tireless efforts and hard labour enabled this unique event to take place.

'Tireless' is a heavily overused word in certain contexts today but it really does apply in this case - 24/7 availability (admittedly another cliche, but also true here). 'Hard labour' means bent backs and rolled up sleeves when needed rather than when convenient.

There was also a cheerful willingness to pick up tasks that others had not done and resolving, through patient and time consuming management, the extensive list of issues that arise in the long run-up to an original event of this scale in society today. All this and all the while showing inspirational leadership and commitment and much else besides - all on a voluntary basis.

There is a true family atmosphere at MEWE - amongst the volunteers, the performers and exhibitors and the thousands of families who come along and who were exemplary. The Middle-earth weekend is a very special event packed with interest, nearly all of it free so that the modern idol of money does not prevent anyone from coming - and of course with good old fashioned values aplenty.

As with many cultural organisations, the volunteers get older and fewer each year and to have delivered MEWE and its predecessors on no fewer than thirteen occasions is a superb achievement in which great pride can be taken.

Middle-earth Weekend 2012

There are many old favourites and several new features to enjoy at this years Middle-earth Weekend at Sarehole Mill and Recreation Ground, Hall Green Birmingham this Saturday and Sunday 19th and 20th May. Our picture below shows the programme cover for Saturday.

This year the Tolkien Tent has zones within it describing the various stages of Tolkien’s life and we hope you will also take time to visit the Mill and their new Tolkien-related displays and stroll in the grounds to see how The Gaffer’s Vegetable Garden and Sam’s Flower Garden are progressing, together with the new fernery and woodland walk. Here also you can experience how feels walking barefoot in The Shire.
Admission is free and all the usual events can be found such as guided walks and tours, medieval re-enactments, archery, Morris dancing, drama performances and much more. Hope to see you there!

The Birmingham Tolkien Strategy (4) The Strategy for 2012 Onwards

The following objectives are retained, developed from the original strategy or are newly adopted in the light of the current position. By these means, the Birmingham Tolkien Strategy will be taken forward in the coming years.

Objective 1: Raise the recognition of Tolkien’s connections with Birmingham and the influence on his work of the city, its people and environs. Make this tangible within the City and more widely known nationally and internationally. The means of achievement are: (i) Develop a promotional programme using printed and on-line publications, media output and broadcasts to inform and attract visitors. (ii) Develop an integrated and easily accessible website covering all Birmingham related Tolkien information and provide extensive links. (iii) Provide improved visitor facilities and Tolkien related displays at Sarehole Mill. At an appropriate time develop a business case for a Tolkien Visitor Centre at Sarehole.

Objective 2: Preserve the landscapes, locations and buildings in Birmingham with links to Tolkien and his writings and secure them for the future. The means of achievement are: (i) Ensure that the condition of key buildings, sites and landscapes related to Tolkien is monitored and maintained and that they receive adequate investment. (ii) Ensure that Tolkien related buildings in Birmingham are easily identified.

Objective 3: Develop educational programmes including literacy, creative writing and drama based on Tolkien's work and the natural environment, people and buildings that influenced him. The means of achievement are: (i) Deliver educational programmes at Sarehole Mill, Moseley Bog and at other locations in The Shire Country Park and Tolkien related areas.

Objective 4: Engage community groups, individuals and organisations interested in Birmingham's Tolkien heritage and help them to work together. The means of achievement are: (i) Arrange meetings to develop new ideas and respond to issues and opportunities. (ii) Organise 'large group' strategy meetings covering relevant organisations and individuals. (iii) Promote the work of groups including the Birmingham Tolkien Group, the Tolkien Strategy Group, the Tolkien Society, The Shire Country Park Friends and Shire Productions. (iv) Support staff in the Library and the Museums Trust in producing Tolkien related materials and activities.

Objective 5: As part of an overall high quality programme, develop, support and connect with Tolkien related events and activities in Birmingham and more widely. The means of achievement are: (i) Ensure security of provision for the annual Middle-earth Weekend or successor events. (ii) Continue to conduct and develop the existing tours, walks and visits. (iii) Encourage special events related to Tolkien as opportunities arise. (iv) Produce a high quality visitors’ guide to Tolkien’s Birmingham. (v) Develop links with other towns and cities with Tolkien connections and promote these to visitors, in a reciprocal fashion, along with other museums and centres.

Objective 6: Enhance and conserve The Shire Country Park and Sarehole Mill and work with other bodies to conserve Tolkien related sites in the City and encourage public artwork. The means of achievement are: (i) Support capital bid/s for Sarehole Mill, the Mill Pool and its surrounds and assist volunteer-led projects that enhance the environment of the Mill and pool. (ii) Improve the signage, fencing, interpretation, accessibility and contiguous walkways in The Shire Country Park. (iii) Extend The Shire Country Park by including The Ackers and ‘green oases’ throughout its length as satellite units. (iv) Support the use of Perrott’s Folly as a base for community purposes ideally with a small Tolkien Visitor Centre complementary to Sarehole. (v) Continue approaching Severn Trent to conserve the Waterworks Tower and explore options for opening the site to visitors. (vi) Give in-principle support for the Ent Statue and other Tolkien related exterior artworks. (vii) Extend the area covered by the Moseley Bog improvements to include the Dell and adjacent land and provide connections between them.

Objective 7: Maximise funding opportunities for sustainable Tolkien related developments, contribute to the recognition of his legacy and enhance the positive image of Birmingham. The means of achievement are: (i) Develop and refine a funding strategy for this programme. (ii) Develop enhanced, longer term, Tolkien awareness in key organisations, individuals and the wider population, and produce an appropriate marketing plan. (iii) Ensure that the Tolkien Strategy for Birmingham, its activities and future continuations integrate with the Heritage and other Council strategies (iv) Through the above and by other means work for the benefit of Birmingham and its people.

The achievement of these objectives will be monitored and aided by the Tolkien Strategy Group and the Birmingham Tolkien Group in conjunction with Birmingham City Council and the Museums Trust.

The Birmingham Tolkien Strategy (3) Challenges and Opportunities

Ambitious as it was, not all elements of the original action plan have yet been achieved. There remain many challenges mainly relating to the large scale parts of the strategy and the necessary resources; capital, revenue and human. Not least is the putting together of a financial strategy and an appropriate marketing plan.

The Tolkien Centre business plan was delayed by several factors including issues in the River Cole flood plain. A survey revealed that the original site was impractical due to severe flooding - the scale of which was confirmed by the 2007 floods. The rear of the Mill was less affected and this is a possible location for a Tolkien Centre. However, the land is held in trust and special arrangements would be needed. The design would also need to be reconfigured to suit this location close to the Mill.

In Edgbaston there have been delays due to changing corporate arrangements regarding Perrott’s Folly and the Waterworks Tower. The original Perrott’s Folly issues were resolved, although others remain, and the present position is unclear. The Birmingham Tolkien Group are hopeful that the plans of Severn Trent Water will crystallise in the near future.

In Moseley, while planning permission was granted and fundraising for the Ent statue designed by Tim Tolkien made some initial progress, this project has now encountered difficulties and its future is uncertain.

The lottery bid of the Wildlife Trust for Birmingham and the Black Country was successful and reconfigured visitor arrangements for Moseley Bog have opened. It is hoped that it will be possible to include The Dell (which has strong Tolkien connections) and a path connecting The Dell to the bog itself.

It remains an objective to enhance links with Oxford and Stratford in terms of literary tourism. From the Birmingham perspective this would relate to those visitors who have a specific interest in Tolkien.

In terms of future events, there will be substantial opportunities, particularly in terms of visitors in the next few years including the following:

• The next two Tolkien films based on The Hobbit are due for release in December 2012 and December 2013.

• The Tolkien Society's international conference in Loughborough in August 2012 will provide opportunities for presentations and receiving visitor groups.

• The 2012 Olympic Games and the associated cultural Olympics.

• Birmingham Rep have a playwright working with library users and local people to create 'audio walks' culminating in a performance in the natural amphitheatre in Moseley Bog.

Following discussions with interested parties, the Birmingham Tolkien Group will bring forward proposals regarding these opportunities as resources allow.

The Birmingham Tolkien Strategy (2) Achievements

At the local level there has been a great deal of voluntary activity and community engagement. For example, there are 10,000 visitors to the annual Middle-earth Weekend, many coming from outside the city and an increasing number from overseas. This unique event is recognised internationally and was rated as one of the country's top ten family events by The Independent.

A major international conference, Tolkien 2005 at Aston University brought 700 visitors to the city of whom 60% were from overseas. Copies of the conference proceedings were presented to the city by the Tolkien Society. The Tolkien Society also holds its committee meetings in Birmingham and the Society's Northern Hemisphere Seminar in 2010 took place in Birmingham.

While much more remains to be done, there have been many worthwhile achievements in the field of Tolkien activities in Birmingham in the initial period of the strategy, before it and in parallel with it. Amongst much else:

The Middle-earth Weekend goes from strength to strength and in 2011 held an international photographic competition. It is volunteer led with Council support.

The opening of the Sarehole Mill tea rooms. This provided a long-needed facility for visitors to the Mill and was funded by the Museum with support from Hall Green Ward.

The installation of a viewing platform for the mill pool with an interpretation board and the adjacent volunteer-led creation of a garden at the Mill drawing on the flowers and plants of Tolkien's Shire.

The production of books and publications including The Roots of Tolkien’s Middle-earth. A new visitor’s guide is complete and presentations have been given to various groups. Revisions to current literature are made as funding is identified.

Important contributions have been made by the Birmingham based theatrical group, Shire Productions, with its unique dramatic adaptations of excerpts from Tolkien’s major works including The Hobbit, The Lord of the Rings and Farmer Giles of Ham.

Archaeological investigation of Sarehole Mill Car Park has been carried out by Birmingham Archaeology under the auspices of BTG and the Museum. Flood plain studies have been conducted in the area surrounding the Mill.

Bus and walking tours of Tolkien linked sites in and around Birmingham include one-offs' with special itineraries for overseas visitors. There are regular 'Discover Tolkien' walks to Moseley Bog from Sarehole Mill guided by a member of staff.

There has been excellent representation of Birmingham at the annual Tolkien Society conferences in Oxford with very well attended papers.

The production of a definitive list of Tolkien-related sites in and around Birmingham.

Extensive research into Tolkien’s family background in Birmingham is underway.

Reconfiguration of the display areas in Sarehole Mill with refreshed content and a more coherent Tolkien area has begun.

The formation of The Shire Country Park Friends and their associated environmental and outreach activities has been of great benefit.

The development of links with organisations including the Oratory, King Edward's School, the Perrott’s Folly Company, Severn Trent Water and the Environment Agency.

The creation of a distinctive amphitheatre outdoor performance area, the Withywindle Arena, near to Sarehole Mill for drama performances and other community led events.

Exploration by the Birmingham Tolkien Group of the nature of and possibilities for a Tolkien Visitor Centre located at Sarehole.



The Birmingham Tolkien Strategy (1) Introduction

J.R.R. Tolkien is one of the best known authors in the world. His epic work 'The Lord of The Rings' was voted the most popular book of the 20th Century, and his children's story 'The Hobbit' is equally well-read. LOTR was also made into three highly successful films. The Hobbit is being made into two films which will stimulate public enthusiasm and there is great interest worldwide in his life and the places he knew.

Tolkien lived in Birmingham during his formative years in nine homes in the south of the city from 1895 to 1911 when he went to study at Oxford University. Although he did not live in the city after this date, he referred to Birmingham as his home town and himself as a 'Birmingham man'. Few cities in the country are so fortunate in their literary connections. He explained later in his life that he had drawn inspiration for his writing from the peoples and landscapes of the city and the surrounding countryside.

The Birmingham Tolkien Strategy acclaims this connection and recognises the need for a broad perspective. It assesses the achievements, the challenges and the opportunities and presents a way forward.

An overall strategy is essential because despite the progress made, Birmingham can make much more of its close Tolkien connections in ways suited to the distinction of Tolkien and the international respect for his work.

Middle-earth Lives!

And now for something completely different (despite the fact that Sam Gamgee, Frodo's faithful companion, was elected as Mayor of Hobbiton seven times!) Whatever else you do the weekend after next - May 19th and 20th - don’t forget to look in at Birmingham’s unique Middle-earth Weekend. There’s nothing else like it anywhere in the world. Volunteer led, it has achieved a fiercely loyal following and attracts 10,000 visitors from near and far. It's held at Sarehole Mill recreation ground in Hall Green - and in the recently refurbished Mill itself.

Of course there are many attractions to do with world renowned author JRR Tolkien who lived just across the road from the Mill as a child and who took his ideas for the landscape and the people of The Shire from his surroundings in old Sarehole – a surprising amount of which can still be seen today. This year's event has the theme of The Hobbit in view of the 75th year since publication and the release in December of the first of the new films.

But our two-day event attracts anyone who likes the deliberately old-fashioned family atmosphere with no charge for admission. There are lots of activities and exhibitions, medieval crafts, a model trebuchet, a climbing wall (a charge for this) dancing, singing, drama and much else besides. Birmingham has recently launched it's Tolkien Strategy (more in the next posting) so let’s enjoy the Middle-earth Weekend and make the most of this uniquely strong connection between Birmingham and Tolkien!

Brum Stands its Ground!

Great result in the Mayoral referendum! NO thank you Westminster, NO thank you corporate executives, managers and 'elites', NO thank you to another ghastly Boris and Ken spectacle and NO thank you to another half baked idea importing a system concentrating power in an individual.

And despite the attempted inducements and scarcely veiled threats it wasn't even close, with 57.8% voting against the notion of an elected mayor. This was a people's verdict - and one that we can be proud of. Let us hope that this result along with similar outcomes in other major cities is respected in London.

The London elite - sorry, Government - should give back the powers and assets taken away from local authorities by successive administrations. And up and down the country - and above all here in the largest city outside the capital - we will show how we can use the powers in the best interests of our people and industry.

Vote No to a Birmingham City Boss

Thursday May 3rd is local election day and also the referendum day on whether a directly elected Mayor should be introduced for Birmingham. In the past two months I've made 20 postings written by myself and guest authors setting out the reasons why this big city boss would be a bad thing.

I hope that you found them helpful in coming to your decision. I won't repeat them here but they're summarised in the previous posting.

The question that you are asked on the referendum paper itself muddies the waters by being less than straightforward. Many consider it to be biased in favour of an elected mayor. I am surprised that it got the assent of the Electoral Commission.

To vote 'No' is to select the option: "By a leader who is an elected councillor chosen by a vote of the other elected councillors. This is how the council is run now."

In urging support for this I am not trying to pretend that the present system is perfect - it's not. I would much prefer a refreshed committee system (as it was in Chamberlain's day) and the only way to get that option considered is to resist the pressure from government, big business and other elites and reject the introduction of a US style executive mayor.

It will be close and your vote is important. Thank you for considering the arguments we've been putting forward!

Fourteen Reasons to vote No to an elected Mayor

1 An elected Mayor in Birmingham would mean that far too much power was given to one person. Other countries may be happy with this sort of thing but it is not the way we do things in this country - and for good reason.

2 The role of councillors would be diminished. The City Council, shrunk in importance immediately, would almost certainly be shrunk in size within a few years. We could end up with as few as 40 councillors struggling to represent over a million citizens.

3 Joseph Chamberlain's success was as a city councillor working with the committee system. He succeeded because the Council had powers which successive governments have since taken away - along with many of our assets - to make our country one of the most centralised democracies in the world. There is no need for an elected Mayor to set things right - they can do this any time they want.

4 Birmingham is different to the capital where the London Boroughs do the hard work delivering basic services to residents while the Mayor grandstands and plays personality knockabout with rivals.

5 Elected Mayors can do what they like for four years and even if they prove to be incompetent they cannot be got rid of since there is no 'recall' mechanism. And we couldn't get rid of the system either without an Act of Parliament. Precious little chance of the government finding time for that.

6 An elected Mayor would be easily lobbied and leant on by vested interests - as experience in other countries shows.

7 The 'Yes' campaign, driven by central government and favoured by business executives, is elitist and top-down. There is an opportunity on Thursday May 3rd to let them know what you think of this.

8 The Mayor, as an individual, would be more easily pressurised by central government - 'Yes' men one and all - to implement policies that are not in the best interests of Birmingham citizens.

9 Elected Mayors don't produce better Local Government. Under Chamberlain Birmingham was described as "the best governed city in the world". And it still could be. Let's have our stolen powers back along with the democratic framework that worked so well.

10 The time-honoured position of Lord Mayor of Birmingham would be greatly diminished along with the civic function. What a disaster this would be for service to local communities, charities and Birmingham's civic inheritance.

11 An elected Mayor could be a compulsive globetrotter - at the taxpayer's expense. Look no further than London.

12 An elected Mayor could employ many deputies at large salaries without the public having a say. The Mayor could take it easy. Revealingly, one of the would-be candidates in Birmingham says that they could do a full time job as well as being Mayor.

13 The Leader of the Council is currently paid £66,000. An elected Mayor would want more than this - far more - at the taxpayer's expense.

14 The May 3rd referendum is costing £250,000 which the Government bills to Birmingham. Voting for the yes campaign would only add to the expense.