Blaise Festival News

I was interviewed 30th Jan. 2020 at 16.50. on Bradford Community Broadcasting. Follow the link and I am on the Drive Time Thursday 30 January 4 – 5pm, at 10 minutes from the end. Bradford Community Broadcasting listen again

I am also interviewed by Andrew Edwards of Radio Leeds on Saturday at 06,50. That’s around 55 minutes in if you listen again

The Annual Blaise walk on Saturday is met 11.00. at Impressions Gallery, but setting off no earlier than 11.20. and no later than 11.30. A collection will be taken, £5 suggested minimum

We finished at Jacobs Well by about 13.30. where pub cooked pie, peas and a pint for £5. was enjoyed.

 

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Bring Back Blaise Wool Festival at Bradford Industrial Museum Sunday 2nd Feb. 11.00. – 16.00.

See Bradford Industrial Museum Event Page

 

Blaise Wool Fair Bradford Industrial Museum 11.00. to 16.00. Sunday 2nd Feb. Free in. Donaions urged

Bring Back Blaise Festival 2nd Event. AnnualGuided Bishop Blaise Walk. Saturday 1st Feb.

Glyn Watkins leads a narrated walk along part of the procession route of Bradford’s 1825 celebration of Bishop Blaise , Patron Saint of wool-combers. One of the largest processions Bradford has seen. Walk less than 3 miles. Refreshment stop included.

Assemble Impressions Gallery, BD1 1SD.

St 1st. 11.00. Donations taken (min £5 suggested).

Bring Back Blaise Festival 1st Event. Combing out the Blaise Story.

Glyn Watkins tells the strange tale of Bishop Blaise, wool combing and Bradford. With pictures. 19.00. 31st Jan. Meeting Room 3 Bradford City Hall.Free but donations taken.

Bradford Woolly Heritage Community Interest Company launch declared Tops.

The launch of a Company aiming to encourage involvement of people with the history of Bradford and the wool trade has been declared a splendidly woven event by the organisers and audience

The Bradford Woolly Heritage Community Interest Company was launched in Bradford City Hall on Thursday, and has been created by Bradford based poet Glyn Watkins; Landlord of the Jacobs Well pub Dan Horsman; and Leeds based educator and art director Julia Armstrong. It grew out of Glyn’s attempt to revive the celebration of Bishop Blaise, Patron Saint of Woolcombers, in Bradford.

A packed audience heard how the Bring Back Blaise Festival had grown from a walk with a few people to having Bradford’s first wool fair at the Industrial Museum; and how the Company intends to weave the festival into a City wide, internationally linked event on St. Blaise’s Day, 3rd February, 2025. The 200th anniversary of the last time Bradford celebrated Bishop Blaise in a big way.

The positive audience reaction showed that wool and Bradford history still has a place in the hearts of many locals. From people with decades in the wool trade to people who had just moved to Bradford, everyone in the audience expressed appreciation for the attempt to make Saint Blaise’s day a day that anyone can enjoy.

This years Bring Back Blaise Festival runs from Friday 31st January to Monday 3rd February. Events included a talk about Bishop Blaise and wool combing at City Hall, 19.00. 31st Jan. and The Blaise Wool Fair at Bradford Industrial Museum Sunday 2nd Feb.

Picture: Julia Armstrong, Dan Horsman and Glyn Watkins directing their attentions to photographer Joe Ogden

Launch of the Bradford Woolly Heritage Community Interest Company 19.00. Thurs 9th Jan. at Bradford City Hall

Invitation to the Launch of Bradford Woolly Heritage C.I.C

Bradford Woolly Heritage Community Interest Company aims to support the Blaise Festival & other events and encourage an interest in and engagement with the history & culture of Bradford and/or al aspects of wool.

19.00. Thursday 9th Jan. Meeting Room 5 Bradford City Hall.

Entrance on Channing Way. Ring bell to enter. Meeting will be an hour or less. Refreshments at Jacobs Well afterwards.

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Bradford Woolly Heritage, set up by Bradford based poet and showman Glyn Watkins; local landlord Dan Horsman, (Jacobs Well) and educator Julia Armstrong (Greyswood Art + Design)

intends to inform and entertain the people of Bradford about the rich and important history of the wool trade in Bradford.

Our first event is the 2020 Bring Back Blaise Festival, from Friday 31st Jan. to Monday 3rd Feb.

The festival was initially started by Glyn over a decade ago as an attempt to help Bradford to recognise the importance of Bishop Blaise, the Patron Saint of Woolcombers. All wool towns used to celebrate his day on 3rd February, but Bradford’s was the biggest and best. Unfortunately the last one was in 1825! The Blaise Wool Fair will be the held at the Bradford Industrial Museum. and will include stalls, music and much more.

Bradford Woolly Heritage will aim to build the celebration of St Blaise to a point where it becomes a community generated, city wide celebration of Bradford, it’s people, and wool culminating in a programme of events in 2025; the 200th anniversary of the last big Bishop Blaise Festival, and the year of the Bradford Bid.

To grow the Bishop Blaise celebration and other events and activities we need support. If you are interested in helping, or just want to find out more, please come along to the meeting. We are interested in connecting with people and organisations with an interest in local history, textiles and the wool industry and any local community groups to explore how we can work together. The meeting will be an hour or less and you are invited to join us at Jacobs Well afterwards