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Arnold Bennett
Voted greatest West
Midland writer in 2005 and will appear on the Regional Wall of Fame in
Birmingham's City Plaza.
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Citizen of the Century
Stoke on Trent has a proud and illustrious history, with world
famous sons such as Arnold Bennett, Reginald Mitchell and Sir Stanley
Matthews, as well as current global stars such as Robbie Williams.
As they celebrate 100 years of the federation of the six towns, the
city council teamed up with Staffordshire University, the Sentinel
newspaper and BBC Radio Stoke to create a short-list of some of the
city's most famous people and Arnold Bennett was one of the nominees.
On 31st March the Chairman of the society, Morag Jones, along with the
Secretary, Carol Gorton, attended a special Lord Mayor's centenary
dinner at the Kings Hall, Stoke. Among the nominations were Sir
Stanley Matthews, Lord Jack Ashley and Millicent Duchess of
Sutherland. Morag and Carol were honoured to share the evening
with Lord and Lady Strathnaver, the son and daughter in law of the
current Duchess of Sutherland, who I believe has just celebrated her
89th birthday. Morag accepted a china vase and framed
certificate on behalf of the society as one of the nominees for
Citizen of the Century. The winner was Sir Stanley Matthews.
A few weeks before, the Lord Mayor visited the
Burslem School of Art to view the clay model of Arnold Bennett.
And more recently our President,
Denis Eldin.
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 The present
Arnold Bennett Society was re-formed in 1954 and has members throughout
the United Kingdom as well as abroad. It is based in the City of
Stoke on Trent, the "Five Towns" of Arnold Bennett's novels.
The Society's aim is to
promote the study and appreciation of the life, works and times, not only
of Arnold Bennett himself, but also of other provincial writers, with
particular relationship to North Staffordshire.
An annual dinner
is held in Stoke on Trent with a guest speaker of distinction. Past
speakers have included John Wain, Michael Foot, Margaret Drabble, John
Suchet, Priscilla Masters, A N Wilson and Deborah Moggach. Our speaker on
27th March 2010 was Ms Gaye Blake-Roberts, Curator of the new Wedgwood
Museum in Barlaston. We also have other events, including talks in
February, a
Christmas Show, a yearly conference. In 2010 we are celebration the
100th anniversary of Clayhanger trilogy and on 12th June our 7th conference
is being held at the Potteries Museum & Art Gallery, and is entitled
"Clayhanger" trilogy. We also have a Study Weekend at Wedgwood Memorial
College on 10th October 2010 and other social occasions. The Society is
promoting the republication of a series of Bennett's novels. The Diary
Date button will give you details. The Past Events button will give you a
report on the visit to Fontainebleau where
we
unveiled a plaque on 11th October 2008at Arnold Bennett's former home. Members also receive 3 newsletters
each year which include original works, notices, articles and mentions of
Bennett in other publications.
We are members of
Alliance of
Literary Societies and Staffordshire
Heritage Group and have links to other societies, such as
Ford Madox Ford Society
and Staffordshire History
You can contact the
Chairman of the Arnold Bennett Society,
Morag Jones at
moragjjones@gmail.com
The Secretary Carol Gorton at
arnoldbennettscty@btinternet.com
Editor of Churnet Valley Books,
Bennett Editions
John Shapcott at
john.shapcott@btinternet.com
"The B.B.C. claim to have
discovered a new type, the
middlebrow It consists of people who are hoping that some day they
will get used to the stuff they ought to like."
Punch, 23 December 1925.
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