Vale Rawlings
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valerawlings.bsky.social
Vale Rawlings
@valerawlings.bsky.social
160 followers 210 following 160 posts
Book about forgotten trade union pioneer Vale Rawlings called 'Friendship, Love and Truth' due out Dec 2025. #LabourHistory #SocialHistory #TradeUnions #Staffordshire #ConscientiousObjector #WW1
Posts by Elaine Pritchard of Burton upon Trent.
Posts Replies Media Videos
valerawlings.bsky.social
I'm 87% funded on Crowdfunder. Thank you to everyone who's donated. 'Friendship, Love & Truth' will be out in early Dec. By supporting the Crowdfunder & choosing a book as a reward you'll be among the first to get a copy. All profits to YMCA & SARAC.
www.crowdfunder.co.uk/vale-rawlings
A screenshot from Crowdfunder, showing the total raised of £218 which is 87% funded with 15 days to go. There is an image of the book cover on the screenshot showing a 1914 black and white image of Vale Rawlings in a convict suit standing next to a Daily Citizen newspaper billboard saying 'Rawlings to be set free'.
November 17, 2025 at 3:36 PM
valerawlings.bsky.social
Thanks to everyone who has already supported the Crowdfunder for my new book about forgotten British trade unionist Vale Rawlings.
It's 49% funded in just three days. Could you help?
Have a look at www.crowdfunder.co.uk/vale-rawlings
#LabourHistory #TradeUnions #BurtonUponTrent #YMCABurton #SARAC
November 1, 2025 at 10:14 PM
valerawlings.bsky.social
If you're thinking of buying our book when it's out before Christmas, you can secure your copy NOW by donating to our new Crowdfunder campaign. www.crowdfunder.co.uk/vale-rawlings
#FriendshipLoveTruth #TradeUnion #WomensHistory #YMCABurton #SARAC #ValeRawlings #BurtonUponTrent
Vale Rawlings: Friendship Love & Truth
Raising funds for two Burton charities through publishing a book about the life and times of forgotten local man Vale Rawlings (1887-1940).
www.crowdfunder.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 2:06 PM
valerawlings.bsky.social
East Staffs TUC hosts a free meeting Friday Oct 24 7.30pm to discuss the Vale Rawlings story & its relevance in 2025. Lots of union speakers. At Burton Caribbean Association DE14 3JS. #TradeUnions #LabourHistory
October 21, 2025 at 4:04 PM
valerawlings.bsky.social
FINAL screening for 2025 of Strikers! - the filmed live version of my play about Vale Rawlings - is at Brewhouse Arts Centre, Union Street, #BurtonUponTrent 7.30pm Mon Oct 20th. Tickets £8. Pay on the door by cash or card. #CommunityPlay #LocalHistory #WW1 #WomensHistory #Staffordshire #TradeUnion
A square image has illustrations of film stock running down either side. In the centre are three colour images of some of the actors who appeared in the play Strikers! taken during the live performance. Black text on a red background says, 'Monday October 20th 7.30pm Brewhouse Arts Centre Main auditorium'.
October 9, 2025 at 5:47 PM
valerawlings.bsky.social
📣Union members in the Midlands: A thought-provoking evening in #BurtonUponTrent. Speakers will include @stuart-richards.bsky.social; Danielle Jackson of @pcsunion.bsky.social and Louise Regan of @neunion.bsky.social & me. 📣
24/10/2025
www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/discuss...
Discussing the relevance of Vale in 2025
Vale Rawlings was a pioneer in the local trade union movement and a committed member of the Burton Trades Council. This month, the successor to that organisation, now called East Staffordshire Trades ...
www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk
October 7, 2025 at 2:48 PM
valerawlings.bsky.social
Exhibition: working-class community and mutual aid during the First World War sslh.org.uk/2025/10/04/e...
Exhibition: working-class community and mutual aid during the First World War
Remembering to Help, Helping to Remember, an exhibition funded by an SSLH grant, has opened at the Heugh Battery Museum in Hartlepool. Michael Reeve reports. Stories of the struggles, heroism and s…
sslh.org.uk
October 4, 2025 at 9:13 AM
valerawlings.bsky.social
Thrilled to be speaking on Orton & Spooner at Burton Library as part of #StaffsHistFest on Oct 25, 1.30-2.30pm. Entry is free but booking is essential. Donations welcome. Call the library on 01283 881208, book in person at the library desk or email burton.library@staffordshire.gov.uk #skystorians
On a beige background, with curly decorative edges in each corner, sit a row of three images: the first shows the Orton and Spooner families in a Victorian photograph; the second shows part of a grand Orton and Spooner fairground ride and the third is the cover of Labour of Love the book about Orton & Spooner by Elaine Pritchard. The words 'Labour of Love' are in red type at the top of the image. Above the three pictures it says 'The story of Burton's fantastic fairground and cinema entrepreneurs George Orton and Charles Spooner'. Below the images it says 'A talk by local author Elaine Pritchard'.
September 22, 2025 at 12:39 PM
valerawlings.bsky.social
Here it is! The cover for my book on Vale Rawlings. Huge thanks to Tilley Bancroft for her design work. So excited! Next big book news will be the pre-Christmas publication date.
#FriendshipLoveTruth #BurtonUponTrent #UponItAll #BurtonHistory All book profits will go to YMCA Burton and SARAC.
The book cover image is a black and white picture of a man, vale Rawlings, pictured in 1914. He is wearing a convict suit with broad arrows and a small cap. He stands next to a Daily Citizen newspaper billboard that bears the headline ' Rawlings to be set free'. Along the bottom of the book is a horizontal turquoise blue band with the name Elaine Pritchard in white type. Across the top of the book cover are the words 'Friendship, Love & Truth' and the subheading 'The Vale Rawlings Story' in turquoise blue typeface.
September 15, 2025 at 3:03 PM
valerawlings.bsky.social
A truly joyful, positive and life-affirming day at Sonic Boom Festival 2025 in #BurtonUponTrent. A unique free event in this country. Burton is guilty of not appreciating how blooming wonderful it is.
Change starts today. #UponItAll

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Die_...
BUT Wip 10 16x9
YouTube video by East Staffordshire Borough Council
m.youtube.com
September 13, 2025 at 6:34 PM
valerawlings.bsky.social
I do love a bit of advanced planning.
Took my first booking today to give a talk in 2027.
#Staffordshire #LocalHistory

www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/local-h...
Local history talks for groups in the Midlands
We're delighted to be taking an increasing number of requests from groups and organisations looking for local history talks and presentations in the Midlands. Author and playwright Elaine Pritchard is...
www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk
September 12, 2025 at 7:51 PM
valerawlings.bsky.social
I'm ready for Saturday's talk at Derby Museum. Tickets just £5 each or free to Derby Museum Friends. The link to book is in the reply below. Lots of interest to Derby social history & Labour History enthusiasts. @derbyshiredro.bsky.social @morwennarae.bsky.social @sslh.bsky.social #Derbyshire
Image is a screenshot of part of Derby Museums website. It shows a black and white image of a 1914 man looking straight ahead at the camera. He wears a hat, bow tie, shirt, waistcoat and jacket. Some of the website navigation can be seen along the top edge of the picture. In the bottom right hand corner text is overlaid saying, Vale Rawlings and 'the Fly-Catcher Girls' with Elaine Pritchard.
August 28, 2025 at 4:56 PM
valerawlings.bsky.social
Fundraising curry night - one week tonight - at the Gurkha Curry Lounge, Station Street, Burton upon Trent. Help us spread the word to Midlands curry lovers by sharing this link www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/curry-n... #Staffordshire #Charity #Foodie #BookSky #FoodSky
Curry Night Fundraiser
In order to make as much profit as possible for our two nominated charities, YMCA Burton and SARAC, we want to cover the essential costs of printing and publishing Friendship, Love & Truth - The Vale ...
www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk
August 27, 2025 at 10:40 AM
valerawlings.bsky.social
Book title reveal! Getting real now. www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk/post/vale-ra...

#Staffordshire #BurtonUponTrent #LocalHistory #LabourHistory #WritersLife
Vale Rawlings Book Title Revealed
We've reached an important milestone in the journey towards publishing our book about Vale Rawlings and his life and times in Burton upon Trent. A first draft of the manuscript has been completed by a...
www.forgottenburtonstories.co.uk
August 18, 2025 at 10:37 AM
valerawlings.bsky.social
Anyone up for a curry night in #BurtonOnTrent #Staffordshire? We’ve got one at the Gurkha Curry Lounge, Station Street, on Weds Sept 3. Come & share these great dishes. £25 a ticket. Message for more & how to pay.
Menu says popadoms and dips on arrival. Starters: chicken tikka, seekh kebab, veg samosa, onion Bhakti. Main courses: Himalayan Garlic Lamb, Gurkhali chicken, Karahi Paneer, Saag aloo,mixed breads, Pilau rice. Dessert: Vanilla ice cream.
August 14, 2025 at 10:51 AM
valerawlings.bsky.social
#OnThisDay Constance Shreeve died in Burton Workhouse after drinking disinfectant. Vale Rawlings, a recent appointee to the workhouse Board of Guardians, tried to raise concerns at her inquest but was shouted down. We will remember her heartbreaking story. #WomensHistory #OTD #WomenInHistory
On top of a background of clouds on a blue sky is a red rose. Above it are the words 'Constance Shreeve 1905-1929
August 13, 2025 at 2:59 PM
valerawlings.bsky.social
It's deadline day and my Vale Rawlings book manuscript will be emailed off to my proofreader today. It might be five to midnight but it WILL be today. The book is going to be called Friendship, Love and Truth - The Vale Rawlings Story. #writingcommunity #BookSky #amwriting #writesky #writers
August 11, 2025 at 10:10 AM
valerawlings.bsky.social
Love live theatre? #YouthTheatre? #MusicalTheatre? Please support the talented company staging #LegallyBlonde next week in Burton. www.brewhouse.co.uk/events/legal.... #Staffordshire
Legally Blonde The Musical - Brewhouse Arts Centre and Café Bar
Wed 13th Aug 2025 @ 7:30 pm - Elle Woods is blonde, brilliant, and unstoppable! Bursting with high-energy music, hilarious moments, and heartfelt surprises, Legally Blonde The Musical is a fabulously ...
www.brewhouse.co.uk
August 8, 2025 at 6:50 PM
valerawlings.bsky.social
Thanks to Burton No. 1 Branch of @rmtunion.bsky.social who have joined us a sponsor for 2025/2026. Sponsorship helps us meet essential costs of getting out the Vale Rawlings book and raise more for two charities: YMCA Burton and SARAC. #labourhistory #staffordshire #tradeunions #skystorians #WW1
A beige template representing a newspaper front page is headed 'Breaking News'. Below that is today's date and the website address forgottenburtonstories.co.uk. The headline reads 'Thank you to the RMT for their 2025/2026 sponsorship. Below that is the RMT union logo, white text on a green background.
July 17, 2025 at 8:47 AM
valerawlings.bsky.social
Any #WW1 #ConscientiousObjection experts know if this W G Rinder would have been Gladys Rinder? It was a reply to Vale Rawlings' friend Austin Smith following some physical abuse Vale (ill & frail) had suffered in custody waiting for his court martial. menwhosaidno.org/context/wome...
#WorldWar1
This letter is on headed paper from the C. O. Information Bureau, 6 John Street, Adelphi, London, WC2. It is typed. Date is May 1st, 1917. It is to J. Austin Smith, 4, Frederick street, Burton-on-Trent. It says:- Dear Comrade, I think you will find that Mr Snowden will himself put a question in the House about the case of Vale Rawlings if he thinks it is advisable, but it could do no harm for you to make the suggestion. I will pass on particulars of this occurence to Mr Ammon. I do not think you need fear that he will be killed, but certainly the facts about his treatment should be brought to the notice of the authorities. Yours sincerely W G Rinder.
July 7, 2025 at 2:24 PM
Reposted by Vale Rawlings
womenshistnet.bsky.social
🗳️ #OTD 2 July 1928: The Equal Franchise Act received royal assent in the UK, granting all women over 21 the vote—regardless of property.

It gave women electoral equality with men, adding 5 million to the roll and making them the majority in the 1929 election. #VotesForWomen #Suffrage #GenderHist
July 2, 2025 at 8:08 AM
valerawlings.bsky.social
Can anyone decipher the signature on this memo from the War Office in September 1917 to MP Charles Duncan?
#WorldWarOne #WW1 #ConscientiousObjector #ValeRawlings #LabourHistory #DartmoorPrison
A memo with the address heading War Office, Whitehall, SW1 dated 20th September 1917. It reads: Dear Mr Duncan, On the 16th August you sent me a letter addressed to you from Princetown by a Conscientious Objector named Vale Rawlings who complained of his heart. After a special medical examination this man was discharged altogether from the Army, and his fare home from Princetown was paid as he was unable to pay it himself. Sincerely yours [signature illegible] Charles Duncan, Esq., M.P.
July 1, 2025 at 10:49 AM
valerawlings.bsky.social
#OnThisDay in 1914, Austin Smith, Vale’s friend & Workers’ Union colleague, travelled to Westminster to speak to MPs about Vale’s court case. Vale’s sister had already told Keir Hardie who called it a gross miscarriage of justice. #LabourHistory #TradeUnion
A vintage black and white image of the Houses of Parliament with Westminster Bridge in the foreground.
June 22, 2025 at 6:21 PM
valerawlings.bsky.social
#OnThisDay 111 years ago Vale Rawlings went on trial for 2 charges of assault arising from a strike by young women factory workers in Burton upon Trent. Vale denied the charges as did 7 eye witnesses. Vale was convicted & took 21 days' jail rather than pay fines & costs #LabourHistory #TradeUnions
On the left is a black and white photo of Vale Rawlings from 1914. He has signed it 'Yours in the workers cause Vale W. Rawlings'. On the right is a colour photo of actor Dan Tunks. He is speaking the words of Vale Rawlings at a rehearsed reading performance of the play 'Strikers!' the story of Vale Rawlings and the flycatcher girls' strike. The logo of the Vale Rawlings Project is at the top of the image.
June 19, 2025 at 9:12 AM
valerawlings.bsky.social
Setting up on Cathedral Green, Derby, outside the Museum of Making, for the Derby Silk Mill Festival. Come and say ‘hello’ and find out more about our project #ValeRawlings #TradeUnions #LabourHistory
#SilkMillLockout
June 7, 2025 at 8:36 AM