Glass feasibility study: project brief

A copy of the project brief used to appoint consultants to carry out a feasibility study into the amalgamation of the renowned glass collections at Broadfield House Glass Museum and those at Red House Glass Cone is available via the following link http://www.dudley.gov.uk/leisure-and-culture/museums--galleries/glass-museum/broadfield-house-feasibility-study

Today Charles Hajdamach has been on the radio at 102.5 the Bridge and Linda Waltho will be speaking on the radio on Saturday 27th June between 12 and 1pm.

We are also looking forward to the Reflections Weekend on the 11th and 12th July to bring back past glass memories. This event is also being organised in support of Broadfield House Glass Museum, by Ian, Simon and Brett from the Ruskin Centre.

I will be there with fellow campaigners to promote the cause, handing out leaflets and inviting people to visit the glass museum.

MP criticises council on Stourbridge glass museum plans

http://www.birminghampost.net/news/politics-news/2009/06/24/mp-criticises-council-on-stourbridge-glass-museum-plans-65233-23960130/

The Culture Minister, Barbara Follett MP, warns Dudley Council not to take risks with the collection, not to implement and unnecessary closures and to listen to the local community

http://www.politics.co.uk/mps/press-releases/party-politics/labour/council-must-work-with-local-people-–-says-minister-$1305699.htm


Former Stuart Crystal shop at the Red House Glass Cone up for sale.

http://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/4452403.Special_meeting_on_glass_saga_organised/

I gave Chris from BBC radio WM a tour around Broadfield today.

He saw wine glasses being made in the Hot Glass Studio, press clippings from the campaign and commented on how impressive the museum was.

We were also joined by Malcolm Andrews who was Head Cutter at Corbett Webb/Royal Doulton for 30 years.

Here is a picture of Malcolm Andrews admiring the glass he cut, in the cameo room at Broadfield Glass Museum.

Chris also enjoyed seeing the Graham Cooley Czech Glass Collection.

Simon and Ian from the Ruskin also introduced the Glass reflections weekend they will be holding on the 11th and 12th July to WM.

Today we have made front page of the express and star!

BBC WM are backing our campaign!

I did an interview with Phil Upton this morning and they have been playing it on the news every half hour.

live feed http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/console/bbc_wm/

recordings http://www.bbc.co.uk/iplayer/radio/bbc_wm/

Minister warns council not to risk glass collection!

http://www.stourbridgenews.co.uk/news/4448753.Minister_warns_council_not_to_/

You can read a transcript of the Parliamentary debate here

http://www.publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200809/cmhansrd/cm090618/debtext/90618-0019.htm#09061861000003

You can read the Agenda and Minutes of the Dudley Council Select Committee Meeting of 3rd June, at which I submitted a list of searching questions...

http://cmis.dudley.gov.uk/CMISWebPublic/Meeting.aspx?meetingID=1408

A Parliamentary debate on the Stourbridge Glass Collection held at Broadfield House Glass Museum was held today.

Lynda Waltho MP raised our concernes with Culture Minister Barbara Follett

You can watch it here http://www.parliamentlive.tv/Main/Player.aspx?meetingId=4213 fast forward to 07:16:00

Or click on play on my recording below

Hi Everyone, I've received the following info from Lynda Waltho MP’s office, regarding the debate in Westminster on Thursday 18th June 2009 about the fate of Broadfield House Glass Museum.

As per request below we all need to be contacting our MPs with our concerns, so these can be raised with Barbara Follett - the culture minister.


The debate on Thursday is an Adjournment Debate and follows the main business of the day in the Commons chamber, so it will be whenever the main business finishes. On a Thursday this is usually about 5pm, but it could be any time between 4 and 6pm. The debate will last for 30 minutes, so Lynda will speak for about 15 minutes and the Minister will respond. Other interested MPs can speak briefly but they have to let Lynda know beforehand. As it’s an adjournment debate it doesn’t have a vote. It is a vehicle whereby MPs can raise matters of concern in the House of Commons and have a minister respond. This is about getting it on the record and also holding (in this case) Dudley Council to account for their decisions etc.

Campaign supporters in should contact their own MPs and ask them to lobby the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. Barbara Follett will be the Minister replying to Lynda on Thursday so if she were to receive letters/emails from other MPs (or your supporters could email her directly) supporting the campaign then that would be great.

http://www.barbara-follett.org.uk/contact/index.html

Today we held a Save Our Glass Heritage Press Conference. Below is a picture of Charles Hajdamach, Sue Hill, Janet Hendry, Graham Fisher MBE and Geoff Hill MBE outside Dunsley Hall, Kinver. Linda Waltho MP has been granted a debate in Westminster, to discuss Broadfield House Glass Museum on the 18th June 2009.

Liz Lynne Euro MP arrived at Broadfield House with Councillor Dave Tyler. She met Allister Malcolm the resident glass artist at the Broadfield Glass Studio. Since January Liz is the most high profile MP to see first hand the world class glass Museum in the UK and what it means to the local people.

She also met Barbara and Janet to discuss ways of getting Euro funding to help the Glass Museum.

Lenny Henry backs the Save Our Glass Heritage Campaign!

Published in the Express & Star 19th May 2009 on the Front Page

The Save Our Glass Heritage Spring Concert was a success. The music was great and everyone joined in the singing at the end.

Ian Pearson MP, Lynda Waltho MP was there, Councillor Dave Tyler and Councillor Rachel Harris. Geoff Hill MBE as well as the communities of Stourbridge and Kingswinford.

We had a live link up to Bridge radio and the first song was a South African Song "Malabulabu". The Stream of Sound Choir raised the roof with their emotional singing. Other acts followed, Robyn and David on flute and double bass. Chrissie Homer, Hannah Payton, Richard Boxley and Alun Davies.

This was a free event to raise awareness for the glass heritage in Stourbridge and Kingswinford.
The communities of this area do not want their glass museum to shut and the contents be moved to a lesser facility. The campaign has gained momentum over the last few months and we are well on the way to prove the voices of the community must be heard!

The campaign team would like to thank Richard Boxley, Robyn Parry, David Jackson, Alun Davies, and Hannah Paynton Stream of Sound for agreeing to play at our Spring Concert.

Rehersals have started and the musicians sound really good.

Posters are going up in Kingswinford and we have been featured in the Express and Star Newspaper.

Save our glass heritage - Spring Concert will be held on Sat 9th May 2009 at Kingswinford Methodist Church. This concert is being held as part of a campaign to save the Stourbridge glass and archive heritage. This is the area's identity and glass has been locally made for more than 200 years.

Save our glass heritage want to highlight the importance of keeping the Stourbridge glass collection and archives together and not close Broadfield House Glass Museum prematurely.

We welcome a better facility but require firm assurances that the current facility is not reduced in any way.

A Big thanks to Jenny and Allistair for helping me organise the Spring Concert.

A special mention for Allister Malcolm who will be featuring his work at our forthcoming Spring Concert. Allister is the talented Glass Designer at Broadfield House Glass Museum.

Handing in of the petition!

At the area council meeting 6120 signatures were handed in by Councillor Dave Tyler on behalf of the Friends and the glass association.

Bridge Radio invited me to speak about save our glass heritage campaign. Recognising the importance of the current situation, Graham Fisher gave me a 1 hour slot on his show. We ended the interview with Queen's "We are the Champions" dedicated to the Friends of the Museum and all the staff at Broadfield House Glass Museum!

http://www.thebridgeradio.net/index2.html