Dennis Williams
Gone but not forgotten
Re: Some great men of Birmingham..
First, a little story. In 1996, the World came to Brum, at least my small and specialised chunk of it did. I was proud to be part of the local welcoming group at the World meeting of the International Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology at the not long opened International Convention Centre in Broad Street. Hundreds of very experienced and senior Gynaecologists from almost every part of the globe, Americans, Aussies, Europeans and Far Eastern travellers flocked to our door. Took ten years to organise and plan.
Anyway, come the opening day I was probably the only Brummie on site, and not being a Doctor, just a humble Scientist, a bit nervous of mixing with all those polished and smooth Medics. The Conference Hall was packed as we waited for the opening address by the President, Joe Jordan (also from the Home team, but a Geordie by origins). Then a surprise item - who should stroll out but Carl Chinn. Now I have a brummie accent, but his is much fruitier. I thought OMG, this will be a disaster! They will never understand him and laugh him off the stage. How could I be so wrong??
From his very first Brummagem words of welcome he had them like a bunch of school children in his magical grasp. Just twenty minutes of chat about his beloved City and its history. The place was silent and more attentive than at any of the following three days worth of erudite lectures and debates. Folk leaning forward and glittery eyed and smiley. Don’t know how he did it, can’t remember a single word or phrase he used, but by the end of it, I am not ashamed to admit, tears of emotion were running down my face, such was the pride this brilliant man evoked in me. Then a tremendous ovation as he strolled off, grinning like a Villa fan that has just beaten us Bluenoses 5-0.
I think we are very lucky to have such a brilliant historian to represent everything that is good about our fair City. I’ve never met him before or after, just bought and devoured all his great books since that day. He is a true genius to me. One day I hope he gets his just reward of a knighthood. Now THAT would be a meeting of minds, Sir Carl and Her Maj…cor blimey our kid…I’ll go to the foot of our stairs…
and now for some official praise and words...courtesy of wiki and his University site..
Professor Carl Stephen Alfred Chinn MBE, PhD (born 6 September 1956) is an English historian, writer, radio presenter, magazine editor, newspaper columnist, media personality, local celebrity, and famous Brummie, whose working life has been devoted to the study and popularisation of the city of Birmingham in England. Chinn is a supporter of Aston Villa Football Club and has a season ticket in the Doug Ellis Stand at Villa Park.
Born in Sorrento Hospital in Moseley to a father, Alfred, (known as "Buck", died 26 April 2010; himself a notable football supporter and local activist) from Sparkbrook and mother, Sylvia ("Sylvie"), from Aston, Carl grew up in Birmingham and was educated at Moseley School and the University of Birmingham. He was married in 1978 to Kathleen Doyle: they have a son and three daughters, one of whom, Tara, has sung professionally on stage and video with her father.
Carl initially followed his father and grandfather into bookmaking before entering academia, gaining his PhD in 1986. His work in the community made him a popular figure, and in 1994 he was invited by the Birmingham Evening Mail to write a two-page feature on local history. This proved extremely popular and Carl has written a weekly column for the paper ever since.
He holds the position of Professor of Community History at the University of Birmingham and is also director of the Birmingham Lives project. He is the author of 29 books on the history of Birmingham and the urban working class in England. Abd every one is a gem...
Crucially he feels that people should tell their own stories and not have them mediated through the words of others. Those stories can be told in many ways – whether it be in letters, poems, life stories, creative writing, photographs, paintings, drawings, recordings or videos. This local, community and family history has a two-fold social purpose in modern society. First, through an awareness of our own past and that of others we can bring people together, recognising the commonality of human experiences through our own lives and stories and those of others who may appear to be different to us. Second, an understanding of the past can provide a vital bond of continuity for young people living in a perpetually changing world, giving them a sense of place and belonging and an appreciation of the fact that the rights we now enjoy were gained through the hardships of those that came before.
For many years Professor Chinn has received letters and photos from Brummies across the world. They are gathered now in the BirminghamLives Archive, which contains over 40,000 letters, hundreds of life stories, thousands of interviews, cine film, tens of thousands of photos and a wealth of memorabilia. Together they make up probably the biggest collection of working-class life history for any one place in the world. At present Professor Chinn is in discussions with Birmingham Archives and Heritage about handing over this priceless collection to the City - so long as it is made accessible.
In December 2010 he appeared on Ian Hislop's BBC television show "Age of the Do-Gooders", in which he championed George Dawson; a "non-conformist preacher, and a bit of a showman". He has also appeared on the BBC's Question Time.
A keen supporter of local charities and good causes, for which he has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds in the West Midlands, he has also helped build homes for orphans in Romania and more recently volunteered on renovating a school in the Andes in Ecuador. In 2001 Professor Chinn was awarded the MBE for his services to local history and to local charities. So if he's not a famous Brummie then who is? Brilliant bloke..in spite of his football blindness...
Here he is with another delighful Brummie God of mine...Malcolm Stent, the Ward End wonder...what a pair!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjoR7bLx-KM&feature=youtu.be
First, a little story. In 1996, the World came to Brum, at least my small and specialised chunk of it did. I was proud to be part of the local welcoming group at the World meeting of the International Society for Colposcopy and Cervical Pathology at the not long opened International Convention Centre in Broad Street. Hundreds of very experienced and senior Gynaecologists from almost every part of the globe, Americans, Aussies, Europeans and Far Eastern travellers flocked to our door. Took ten years to organise and plan.
Anyway, come the opening day I was probably the only Brummie on site, and not being a Doctor, just a humble Scientist, a bit nervous of mixing with all those polished and smooth Medics. The Conference Hall was packed as we waited for the opening address by the President, Joe Jordan (also from the Home team, but a Geordie by origins). Then a surprise item - who should stroll out but Carl Chinn. Now I have a brummie accent, but his is much fruitier. I thought OMG, this will be a disaster! They will never understand him and laugh him off the stage. How could I be so wrong??
From his very first Brummagem words of welcome he had them like a bunch of school children in his magical grasp. Just twenty minutes of chat about his beloved City and its history. The place was silent and more attentive than at any of the following three days worth of erudite lectures and debates. Folk leaning forward and glittery eyed and smiley. Don’t know how he did it, can’t remember a single word or phrase he used, but by the end of it, I am not ashamed to admit, tears of emotion were running down my face, such was the pride this brilliant man evoked in me. Then a tremendous ovation as he strolled off, grinning like a Villa fan that has just beaten us Bluenoses 5-0.
I think we are very lucky to have such a brilliant historian to represent everything that is good about our fair City. I’ve never met him before or after, just bought and devoured all his great books since that day. He is a true genius to me. One day I hope he gets his just reward of a knighthood. Now THAT would be a meeting of minds, Sir Carl and Her Maj…cor blimey our kid…I’ll go to the foot of our stairs…
and now for some official praise and words...courtesy of wiki and his University site..
Professor Carl Stephen Alfred Chinn MBE, PhD (born 6 September 1956) is an English historian, writer, radio presenter, magazine editor, newspaper columnist, media personality, local celebrity, and famous Brummie, whose working life has been devoted to the study and popularisation of the city of Birmingham in England. Chinn is a supporter of Aston Villa Football Club and has a season ticket in the Doug Ellis Stand at Villa Park.
Born in Sorrento Hospital in Moseley to a father, Alfred, (known as "Buck", died 26 April 2010; himself a notable football supporter and local activist) from Sparkbrook and mother, Sylvia ("Sylvie"), from Aston, Carl grew up in Birmingham and was educated at Moseley School and the University of Birmingham. He was married in 1978 to Kathleen Doyle: they have a son and three daughters, one of whom, Tara, has sung professionally on stage and video with her father.
Carl initially followed his father and grandfather into bookmaking before entering academia, gaining his PhD in 1986. His work in the community made him a popular figure, and in 1994 he was invited by the Birmingham Evening Mail to write a two-page feature on local history. This proved extremely popular and Carl has written a weekly column for the paper ever since.
He holds the position of Professor of Community History at the University of Birmingham and is also director of the Birmingham Lives project. He is the author of 29 books on the history of Birmingham and the urban working class in England. Abd every one is a gem...
Crucially he feels that people should tell their own stories and not have them mediated through the words of others. Those stories can be told in many ways – whether it be in letters, poems, life stories, creative writing, photographs, paintings, drawings, recordings or videos. This local, community and family history has a two-fold social purpose in modern society. First, through an awareness of our own past and that of others we can bring people together, recognising the commonality of human experiences through our own lives and stories and those of others who may appear to be different to us. Second, an understanding of the past can provide a vital bond of continuity for young people living in a perpetually changing world, giving them a sense of place and belonging and an appreciation of the fact that the rights we now enjoy were gained through the hardships of those that came before.
For many years Professor Chinn has received letters and photos from Brummies across the world. They are gathered now in the BirminghamLives Archive, which contains over 40,000 letters, hundreds of life stories, thousands of interviews, cine film, tens of thousands of photos and a wealth of memorabilia. Together they make up probably the biggest collection of working-class life history for any one place in the world. At present Professor Chinn is in discussions with Birmingham Archives and Heritage about handing over this priceless collection to the City - so long as it is made accessible.
In December 2010 he appeared on Ian Hislop's BBC television show "Age of the Do-Gooders", in which he championed George Dawson; a "non-conformist preacher, and a bit of a showman". He has also appeared on the BBC's Question Time.
A keen supporter of local charities and good causes, for which he has raised hundreds of thousands of pounds in the West Midlands, he has also helped build homes for orphans in Romania and more recently volunteered on renovating a school in the Andes in Ecuador. In 2001 Professor Chinn was awarded the MBE for his services to local history and to local charities. So if he's not a famous Brummie then who is? Brilliant bloke..in spite of his football blindness...
Here he is with another delighful Brummie God of mine...Malcolm Stent, the Ward End wonder...what a pair!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CjoR7bLx-KM&feature=youtu.be
