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The Blackpool of the West (A Tale of Two Bridges Or Two Bridges and a Tunnel)

The Blackpool of the West It’s so close to the endless edgelands of Avonmouth, That warehouse-dystopian modernity, Where no-one seems to manufacture anything, Just store stuff, move stuff or exchange stuff, And then choose a café for a coffee and a croissant: The British economy. But a century ago, courtesy Of the Great Western Railway, Severn Beach was reinventing itself, As a holiday resort of sorts, A Pleasure-land of the floodplains With their isolated farms and cottages, And then a railway station opened there in 1923 (The circular Avonmouth line had opened Earlier at the turn of the century). Its inter-war hey-day saw excursions, Cyclists, promenaders, hikers, Chalets, sheds, a structure built from bits of an old bus, A boating lake, cafes, tea shops, And the Blue Lagoon Swimming...

Glocal History and Stroud

The Museum in the Park Local and Global History ‘Glocal History’ A Critique   Let me say at the outset of this critique that I absolutely love the Museum in the Park and I absolutely love visiting there to learn more about Stroud’s local history: my Stroud...

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World Cup Boycott?

The 2026 World Cup My mate says he’s going to boycott the World Cup: He says he’s not going to watch any of the matches; I said you have to set your alarm clock then, Because sleeping through the night isn’t a boycott, That’s just sleeping – if you’re going to...

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Stroud General Strike Exhibition

Hello there, This is for anyone who has read the General Strike 100 May newsletter and is thinking of visiting the Radical Stroud exhibition. The exhibition (some of it anyway) is now on at the famous and enchanting pub, The Prince Albert. If you fancy a visit, I...

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SVA General Strike Exhibition Feedback

250 visitors to the exhibition. 50 at the performance.   ‘I have lived in Stroud all my life and never knew anything about this. Thank you. And great to see Howard beard’s name here. Well done.’   ‘Lest we forget! Our history. Our future.’   ‘Nicely...

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