Tomorrow, 21 November, marks the 34th anniversary of the pub bombings in Birmingham.

This terrible event seems to often be written out of the history of Brum. This memorial next to the cathedral is all that marks those events and many people do not seem to even know what it is.

On the night of 21 November 1974 the Birmingham IRA deliberately bombed two ordinary working class pubs in town. Killing 21 and seriously injuring over 200. They nearly got me as I had only left the Tavern in the Town an hour or so before the bomb went of.

The IRA and the British Police then conspired to convict six “patsies” a group of Birmingham Irish who were nothing to do with the bombings but were on their way to the funeral of another IRA thug Jamie McDade.

The actual bombers have never been convicted although their identity was well known to the British Police.

The IRA men who ordered this bombing now drive around in tax payer funded cars and have dinner with ministers; whilst those who were their victims are forgotten.

Please take a few moments to remember the night that terror came to the streets of Birmingham.

Amrao Manush: The pavement dwellers , originally uploaded by A K M Shehab Uddin.

18th September, 2008

This is one of a remarkable set of images by Shehab Uddin.
His work appears in the latest edition of the CPN magazine. I have been moved and impressed by his work and I think he defiantly needs a wider circulation.
This image has been posted from his Flickr steam.

Isn’t Brum great? It looks like the world record for co ordinated Bhangra dancing was set this afternoon here in Birmingham! An event organised by the Hindu Council of Birmingham to celebrate Diwali, the Festival of Lights.

I am reliably told that more people danced in unison than ever has been done in India.

Images for sale are here

Honesty book shop and Jeffrey Archer

Is it possible that the aims of this worthy book store in Hay on Wye is rather undermined by the prescence of a “novel” (if that is the correct term) by Jeffrey (Lord) Archer (formally prisoner 156789)

New project.

These are a test for some ideas. I really like building work (as long as I don’t have to do it!) and have been looking for some spectacular stuff with co operative H&S people. These two guys use machinery to cut old floors, pillars etc. out of buildings. I think that particularly later in the year, when working at dusk, I could get some great shots. So had a quick practice.

More to come hopefully.