HEARTLANDS VE/VJ EXHIBITION 7th-11th June 2005.

I visited this exhibition on 8th June and had to return 2 days later to continue looking at the marvellous collection of photographs of Brum.
Organised by the Heartlands Local History Society, there were stalls by the Birmingham Air Raids Association, the Merchant Navy, the Royal Naval Association and various other exhibitors.
The exhibition was opened by the Lord Mayor on the 7th and school groups were invited round to brush up on their history.
The exhibition finishes on the 11th June (tomorrow) at 4.00 pm.

Birmingham historian Carl Chinn arrives to do a Radio WM "roadshow" from the exhibition.

A mannequin of a 1940's policeman keeps a wary eye on the stalls.

The boards are covered with pictures and articles relating to Birmingham during WWII.

In the foreground, albums full of old photographs of the area and the people who lived there. Against the wall a "model" battleground.

World War II memoribilia.

TOLKIEN WEEKEND 15th May 2005

Well, it is the 50th anniversary of 'The Lord of The Rings', the books that is. I won't wax lyrical about the books (best story ever) or the films (best ever) but it was an excuse to go for a shufty round the mill with my camera and I couldn't resist visiting the frolics and celebrations either.
I spent many happy hours in and around the mill when I was young, I was not inspired to write great literary works but I caught loads of sticklebacks.
For more information on Tolkien and the Birmingham connection go to
http;//www.bbc.co.uk/birmingham/features/2002/11/tolkien/jrr-tolkien-biography.shmtl
and
http;//www.virtualbrum.co.uk/tolkien.htm

The entrance to Sarehole Mill and grounds on Cole Bank Road, Birmingham.

A grey wizard tries to scrape a living selling programmes to passing humans.

Sarehole Mill.

More of the mill buidings.

The mill pond.

The mill pond again. Various vegetables are being grown in the scrap of land behind the mill.

The rear of the mill building by the mill pond.

The water-wheel in full flow.

A view of Cole Bank Road from inside the mill.

Some of the forecourt buildings.

A view of the forecourt.

A Wraith stops for a friendly chat with a stall-holder.

The wizard counts his takings (didn't they get paid enough for the film?)

A gypsy caravan and horse.

A troll guards the path to the archery field.

The forecourt at the mill.

Vikings of a Dark Ages Reenactment Society gave weaponcraft and combat displays.

"CHARGE!!!!"

Getting stuck in.

"I'm up for it!"

Battle of the champions.

That troll again!

The Moseley Morris Dancers perform near the entrance.

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If you look carefully Elves can be seen mingling with the humans.

The Falconberg Medieval Reenactment Society gave excellent demonstrations of armour, weapons and archery. Here the squire takes time out for posing with a cuppa.

Archery practice.

The target.

"Can't you keep still for a minute?"

..."it all started when I rubbed this lamp".