Sandwell Talking News Annual General Meeting will take place at the SVI offices in West Bromwich Town Hall on Monday 12 May 2025 from 12.30 pm to 2.30 pm. All are welcome but pre-booking is necessary.
As well as conducting the formal business section of the meeting, we will be entertained by our guest speaker Frank Caldwell. He will be talking about the history of Sandwell Priory and some of the buildings in Sandwell Valley. We met Frank at the Oak House last December when he gave us an interesting and amusing account of how Christmas was celebrated at the house in its heyday. This featured in the Sandwell Talking News Christmas Special 2024 There’s more about Frank below.
We always welcome new Committee Members to help run and support Sandwell Talking News. If you, or someone you know, would like a position on the Sandwell Talking News Committee, please contact us via SVI.
Please contact the SVI office if you wish to attend by calling 0121 525 4810 or email info@sandwellvisuallyimpaired.org.uk.
Programme
Date and time: Monday 12 May 2025, 12.30 pm – 2.00 pm
12.30 pm Registration
12.45 pm Welcome from Tony Averis (STN Chair)
1.00 pm Guest Speaker – Frank Caldwell
1.30 pm Break
1.45 pm 2024 AGM Minutes
1.50 pm Financial report including our thanks to our funders
2.00 pm Election of committee
2.15 pm Listener and volunteer comments and feedback
2.25 pm Closing remarks and thanks
Access to the SVI office is at the rear of the building. Ring the buzzer for SVI and a member of staff will direct you to the meeting.
About Frank
Our guest speaker, Frank Caldwell, is a volunteer with the Museums Service. Frank featured in the STN Christmas Special with his witty history of the 12 days of Christmas at Oak House.
Frank will be talking about the history of Sandwell Priory and some of the buildings in Sandwell Valley. He says: “I don’t think it will be a dry talk. It will encompass gold smuggling, arms dealing, false imprisonment, prison breaks, and some very, very naughty monks.” If any of that sparks your interest – and he’ll talk about a wide area of activity – then please come along.
He promises he’s not making it up! It’s all true, even probably the first known instance of a file being smuggled into a prison in a fruitcake.
