Our friend Steve Poole from UWE is involved in organising the following event:

A Southern History Society Conference University of Reading, UK

March 21st 2009

The anniversary this year of E. J. Hobsbawm and George Rudé’s Captain Swing offers a timely opportunity to reflect upon the development of rural histories from below over the last four decades.

Please see full programme details and booking form at http://www.winchester.ac.uk/?page=9497

This is a ‘celebration of the working classes, featuring a truly international line up of acclaimed urban artists.’ Created by the same people behind 12 Days of Xmas this event is not only happening during the same week as BRHG’s Down With The Fences but it is just around the corner as well. To see the full lineup of artists visit their website -

http://www.stealfromwork.org/work/index.htm#curent

Opening night – Thursday 1st May 7pm-10pm
Then open everyday 12pm-7pm (closed on Tue 6th)
The Old Motorcycle Workshop
15-19 Stokes Croft (opposite Pieminster), Bristol, UK

Ten days dedicated to places, spaces and environments that are owned by no one but are shared by all. As the world faces a wave of new enclosures, we examine the history of the commons, their enclosure and the resistance to private ownership, then and now.

Speakers Include: Peter Linebaugh, George Caffentzis, Massimo De Angiles, Steve Poole and David Goldblatt.

Click here to see the full programme of events.

Hi all

So I left Bristol a few weeks ago to start a new life in France. I’m currently staying with friends who live in a large farmhouse close to the beautiful village of Montrésor, near the market town of Loches in Central France.

Eventually I, and my partner, Sandra, will be buying a property in the department (37) – hopefully it will have enough land on which visitors will be able to camp when visiting ~ ideally we want to set up a few yurts and hold a number of small annual events. These would include History weekends, Middle Eastern Dance, Storytelling, Yoga, etc. But it’s still early days for these ideas.

We’re still working in the UK so should be able to make the occasional BRHG gig!

On the French history side of things I’ll shortly be starting to research the history of the French Resistance in the immediate area and make my findings available in English (on the web and in booklets). There are a number of locally available publications in French which touch on the subject – though what their political slant is I’m not sure. Where I am living the events of the 2nd World War, the role of the resistance and the role of those who supported the Vichy Government are still contentious.

As well as being an historian I’m also a storyteller and while I’ve been here I created a couple of stories based in the local region – I’m going to tell them this summer at the Trowbridge and the Whytchwood (Cheltenham) Festivals. Perhaps I’ll see one or two of my BRHG friend there and we can have a jar or two.

Should anyone have information they’d like to share on any of the above do get in touch.