Antiques Roadshow is coming to Black Country Living Museum

It’s time to dust off your treasures for a great, free day out as BBC One’s ever-popular Sunday evening programme Antiques Roadshow comes to Black Country Living Museum on Wed 21 Jun.

Many of Britain’s leading antiques and fine arts specialists will be on hand to offer free advice and valuations to visitors, who are invited to raid their attics and bring along their family heirlooms, household treasures and car-boot sale bargains for inspection by the experts.

Antiques Roadshow will be 'taking over' Black Country Living Museum from 9.30am until 4.30pm on the day. Entry to the show is free, everyone is welcome, and no tickets or pre-registration is required. 

Antiques Roadshow presenter Fiona Bruce, who marks her tenth year presenting the programme, said: “The best part of working on Antiques Roadshow is that we never know who or what is going to turn up on the day. The visitors, the objects they bring, their stories and the location all combine to make a fabulous experience that we aim to capture for the viewers. If you are a fan of Antiques Roadshow, curious to see behind the scenes, or just fancy a day out, I would urge you to dig out your treasures and come along - we’d love to see you!”

Visitors are welcome to just turn up on the day, but if you have an item __with a particularly unusual story attached, or perhaps an interesting collection, or large items of furniture, you can  let the Antiques Roadshow team know via their website. Alternatively, email: antiques.roadshow@bbc.co.uk or write to Antiques Roadshow, BBC, Whiteladies Road, Bristol BS8 2LR.

100 Year Old 'Viv' Celebrates Birthday here at BCLM

Today we welcomed a very special guest indeed on his birthday weekend – 100 year old veteran James “Vivian” Wollason (or just ‘Viv’, as he’s affectionately known by his family!)

Viv was born right here in Tipton, down the road from the Museum, but we were surprised to learn he had never visited! Although the Museum doesn’t usually cater for birthday parties, when his daughter Judy Hughes called up and explained we felt that such a special birthday warranted special measures.

We arranged costume characters to chauffeur him in a 100 year old Black Country-made car, and even surprised him __with cake, balloons, fish and chips and a hearty chorus of ‘happy birthday’ in the Bottle & Glass Inn. Even Gary Rhodes of the British Army (Royal Yeomanry, B Squadron, Dudley) paid a special visit to congratulate him on his centenary, and to personally thank him. 

Viv has had a fascinating life, and has plenty of stories to tell. He fought in WW2 in the 29^th Armoured Division where he worked as a Tank Engineer. He was called up at 23, and was 29 by the time the war was over. He then worked in offices in Horsley Bridge and had an assistant typist shortly after, who would later become his wife of 55 years.

Viv said: “today has nearly brought tears to my eyes. It’s very kind. Some have asked me what ‘my secret is’ and to that I say this: good food, good wife and everything in moderation. That is what I tell everybody. I still keep active, I live independently and I enjoy cooking and gardening so the truth is I don’t feel old at all!”

Viv was born on 5 Feb 1917 and added that he “was born in the first world war, fought in the second but won’t bother __with another!” He received his telegram from the Queen on 4 Feb and looks forward to another planned birthday party on 5 Feb where he will join his extended family to celebrate.

Happy birthday to Viv from all of us here at the Museum, it was a pleasure to welcome you here finally!

Curators' Blog

Hi I’m Helen,  I am the Curator of Domestic and Cultural life here at  Black Country Living Museum. You may have wondered why  we were closed for two weeks at the beginning of January. 

Well each year that  two week close period gives our Maintenance Team time to carry out a programme of annual repairs and preservation work and for myself __with  the rest of the Collections Team and the support  of our demonstrators, it gives us  a chance to deep clean our buildings. We carry out a deep clean from  top to bottom sweeping away  cobwebs  from nooks and crannies  of over 60 buildings which includes our houses, shops, brew house and not forgetting all of our  vehicle collection too.

One of the harder tasks is in Gregory's General Store and Doo’s Chemist, __with so many boxes and bottles that make up the historic collection, each are taken off the shelves and are individually assessed, dusted, cleaned  and put back in the same spot. One of the delights is that whilst we are closed, we’re able to use 'modern equipment' to help with  washing curtains and vacuuming furniture which we would never  be able to do when we are set in the Victorian and Edwardian era.

So hopefully now we are open for the year ahead, you'll come along to visit us and spot a lovely clean sparkle as you walk around our shops and houses.  

Government’s Rural Action Plan is ‘short on specifics’

The Rural Action Plan launched by the Government yesterday is short of specifics, Independent TD, Michael Fitzmaurice, has said.

For instance, no figure has been put on what the size of the grants will be for the renovation of houses in rural areas mentioned in the plan, he said.

“On the question of transport and infrastructure there is no specific mention of the plans to upgrade the N4 and N5 roads which are an ongoing concern in this region.

“Very few of the commitments in this 70-page plan are costed.”

We __have seen a multiplicity of these plans being unveiled over the years and they __have never been followed through and the people of rural Ireland have been left high and dry as these plans gather dust.

“It is time that we had real action on the re- development of rural Ireland and not a constant re-hashing of plans that have been announced before several times.”

Fitzmaurice said that that the launch of the Realising Our Rural Potential Plan is welcome and any measures that will aid the development of rural Ireland are certainly most welcome but many of the commitments that are in the plan have been announced before and some of the measures have been announced a number of times.

“There are some glaring omissions too and the figure of €60m extra to be spent on the plan over three years seems a very small figure.”

There are some aspects of the plan which I welcome but a lot of what is included in today plans have been announced in the past.

“Commitments with regard to Leader, CAP, Job Schemes, Broadband, Mobile Phone Coverage, Flooding, Rates Relief and many others too have been made in the past and were included in the negotiations in the programme for Government of which I was a part of.”

‘Action plan needs to be full resourced with a dedicated budget’

Also reacting to the report was Macra na Feirme President, Sean Finan, who said that this action plan needs to be full resourced with a dedicated budget to ensure that the full potential of rural Ireland can be realised.

He said that Ireland has had rural plans developed before like the Commission for Economic Development in Rural Areas Report (CEDRA) which have achieved little.

Rural Ireland in spite of negative commentary by some is very much alive with agricultural activity at its core.

“Sustainable rural development is necessary to ensure young people who want to live and work in rural areas can do so.

“After false dawns in the past, we need this plan to deliver for our young people so they can live, work and contribute to rural Ireland,” Finan said.

‘Recent upturn in the economy has not been felt in rural Ireland’

Commenting on the Rural Action Plan, IFA President Joe Healy said that it must be resourced with sufficient funding that can arrest the decline of rural areas, particularly those areas that are peripheral.

“The recent upturn in the economy has not been felt in rural Ireland. IFA believes that with a well-funded plan, significant inroads can be made.

“It’s an important step towards delivering on the commitment to rural-proof Government policy and revitalise rural Ireland.”

Joe Healy said it was important that the Government report recognised the threat posed by Brexit, which has serious ramifications for the farming and food sectors.

“This report accepts many of the proposals set out in IFA’s rural affairs strategy document A Policy Charter for Rural Ireland. However, action is now required and I am calling on Government to set out specific timelines for the delivery of each one of the measures proposed and the publication of a progress report in 90 days.”

Healy said that agriculture is the backbone of the rural economy and the jobs that flow from a vibrant farming sector, both directly and indirectly, cannot be underestimated in the Government’s rural plan.

“The food and drinks industry as well as the wider agri-industry adds value to what farmers produce.”

The IFA President said rural areas must be made more attractive to live and invest in.

“The report contains some significant proposals, particularly around areas such as rural banking and vacant properties, which have the scope to really revitalise rural Ireland.

“Many areas need a good infrastructure including the provision of a fast broadband service. This will help the strong entrepreneurial spirit that exists in rural Ireland. The roll out of the national broadband network to all areas must be a priority.”

A farmer busy with lambing and calving to feature on Ear to the Ground

This week’s episode of Ear to the Ground will meet one of the many farmers in the country busy with calving and lambing.

Tonight’s episode will also feature a man who has been training sheepdogs for decades as well as a chef trying to convince cattle farmers to change from beef to a vegetarian option.

Helen Carroll travels to the Doran farm on the border of counties Roscommon and Galway, near the town of Ballinasloe, to see twin lambs being born.

Enda Doran is just one of the farmers who is very busy this spring in Ireland, where over 2m cows are set to calve and as many sheep are expected to lamb.

Spring is the busiest time of the year for Irish farmers and Doran is no different, with 200 ewes to lamb and over 100 cows to calve and milk.

He also runs a busy machinery contracting business and has some barley and oats to sow.

Meanwhile, approximately 30km away in Four Roads in Co. Roscommon, Ella McSweeney will meet with another Moran, Dan, who has been training sheep dogs for decades.

The sheepdog trainer is still going strong at 98-years-old and he reckons he has trained several hundred sheep dogs.

Ella Mc Sweeney travelled to Four Roads to spend the day out on the farm with Moran in order to find out more about what makes him so good at what he does.

However, Ella also sets up a a competition between Dan’s Border Collie, Dell, and a €2,000 drone to see which one can herd sheep the best.

Darragh McCullough made the journey to Carnew Mart in Co. Wicklow, where Ear to the Ground challenged vegan chef James de Burca to prepare a meat free meal for the farmers attending the mart.

In recent months, former President Mary Robinson and TD Mick Wallace __have called for people to reduce their consumption of meat in order to reduce the impact of climate change and carbon footprint.

Darragh investigates beef producers role in climate change and asks should we cut down on our carnivorous appetites to reduce the impact of climate change.

Ear to the Ground will be aired on RTE 1 at 8.30pm tonight and will also being repeated on Sunday.

Women’s roles in farming organisations to feature on Ear to the Ground

Women’s roles within farming organisations, such as the IFA, is set to feature on this week’s Ear to the Ground.

An infestation of aggressive species of shellfish in the River Shannon and a bookshop in Co. Mayo will also be examined on tonight’s episode.

Tonight, Helen Carroll will meet with a number of women who feel that the age of male domination over the Irish agriculture sector is coming to an end.

At ground level, there are many thousands of women either running their own farming enterprises or actively involved in the family farm.

Despite this women are underrepresented when it comes to positions of influence with any of the main farming lobbies.

For example of the 53 members of National Executive of the IFA, only one is a woman.

Helen speaks with women to find out whether they think a change in attitude or policy is needed to allow for a better gender representation in Irish farm organisations.

Meanwhile, Darragh McCullough will travel to Lanesboro in Co. Longford to see how an infestation of Asian Clams threatens to damage the delicate ecosystem of the River Shannon and its lakes.

The clams are an aggressive species of shellfish, with a single clam having the potential to produce up to 70,000 offspring in a single year.

These foreign invaders are filter feeders and __have the potential to take all of the available nutrients from the freshwater fishing grounds, leaving nothing for the fish, or indeed, the fishermen.

Darragh visited Lanesboro to see first hand how the clams are impacting on the local coarse fishing areas, while he will also meet with competitors in the World Pike Fishing Championships.

Ella Mc Sweeney will make the journey to Louisburgh in Co. Mayo to see how a local project aims to rejuvenate the main street of the town.

The Co. Mayo town has opened up the country’s first community run bookshop, which is breathing life back into this town.

The bookshop has been embraced by everyone in the community, from school children to adults, becoming a social hub of the community in the process.

Ear to the Ground will be aired on RTE 1 at 8.30pm tonight and will also being repeated on Sunday

Top 200 EBI herds in the country revealed

The top 200 EBI (Economic Breeding Index) herds in the country __have been revealed by the Irish Cattle Breeding Federation

This is the first listing to be released since the EBI base change was carried out last year.

Remaining in pole position for a third consecutive run is the herd belonging to Kieran Hearne from Carrick-on-Suir in Co. Waterford.

Hearne has an average herd EBI of €182, which is up €9 from the top figure in September, with €52 coming from the milk sub-index and €93 coming from the fertility sub-index.

In second position was Timothy Fitzgerald from Portlaoise, Co. Laois with an EBI of €171, with €38 coming from the milk sub-index and €95 coming from the fertility sub-index.

With an EBI of €170, made up of €52 from the milk sub-index and €85 coming from the fertility sub-index, was David Fitzgerald from Mallow, Co. Cork who came third on the list.

Kevin Downing, Whitechurch, Co. Cork has climbed two positions to fourth with an EBI of €164, while Vincent O’Connor from Killarney, Co. Kerry is in fifth position with an EBI of €162.

Recording the biggest jump of this evaluation was Thomas Supple from Ballyheigue, Co. Kerry, with his average EBI rising from €120 to €132, an average jump of €12, figures show.

The latest ICBF figures show there are 19 herds with an EBI of €150 or more, an increase of 12 herds from the previous evaluation.

This top 200 list, which is available on the ICBF website, saw 20 herds making the list for the first time, with 72 herds climbing up the ranks.

Figures show that the average EBI of the Top 200 herds is €130 with €37 coming from the Milk Sub-Index and €57 from the Fertility Sub-Index. This compares with a national average of €67, the ICBF show.

Source: ICBF

What Is EBI?

EBI is a single figure profit index aimed at helping farmers identify the most profitable bulls and cows for breeding dairy herd replacements.

It comprises of information on seven sub-indexes related to profitable milk production. These are; (i) Milk production, (ii) Fertility, (iii) Calving performance, (iv) Beef carcass (v) Maintenance (vi) Health and (vii) Cow Management.