Wednesday 18th April 2012
picture courtesy of First Garden City, Heritage Museum and the NEN
Love, Life and Liberty: A celebration of Chesterfield's unique role in inspiring better places for people, plays Monday 7th May 2012 at 7.30pm at the Winding Wheel, Chesterfield.
A little over a hundred years ago a meeting took place in the Derbyshire coalfield which was to change the face of Britain.
 A young mining engineer working for the Staveley Iron and Coal company, called Raymond Unwin, (left), walked from Chesterfield to the small village of Millthorpe to meet a libertarian socialist called Edward Carpenter.
Inspired by the ideals of those he met there, such as William Morris and the trade unionist Ben Tillet, Unwin went on to realise the ideals of the Arts and Crafts and Garden City movements by building outstanding new communities for working people.
At the core of the visionary ideals Unwin pursued was a belief that everyone had a right to a decent home with access to gardens, green space, libraries and schools at standards previously only available to the rich.
The Town and Country Planning Association (TCPA) - originally the Garden Cities Association - and the Chesterfield Cooperative Party are hosting this event to repay the debt we owe to those early pioneers from the coalfields and to celebrate their inspiration to build a better future.
Through a combination of musical performances and readings, it explores the connections between key figures in the town planning movement, such as Ebenezer Howard and Raymond Unwin, and radical thinkers such as Edward Carpenter, William Morris and Prince Kropotkin.
The narration draws out a long lineage of cutting-edge thinking about freedom and land, running through John Clare and the Romantics back to Gerrard Winstanley and forward through the music of Woody Guthrie, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.
It celebrates, as the early pioneers did, the power of art and music in communicating political ideas, and reminds us that the imagination, radicalism and personal bravery of these fascinating figures of the past still have relevance for the present.
Please join the TCPA and the Chesterfield Cooperative Party to celebrate the extraordinary history of one of Derbyshire's local heroes and Britain's wider history of visionary planning for a more beautiful and socially just world.
'Love, Life and Liberty' is a relaxed and informal event performed by actors, friends of the TCPA and musicians.
In advance of this event, the TCPA will be re-publishing, 'Nothing Gained from Overcrowding!' by Raymond Unwin on 24th April in the House of Commons. The TCPA hopes to generate debate and interest in the important principles Unwin set out a century ago as part of the solution to chronic housing crisis facing the nation today.
Unwin's work was second only to Ebenezer Howard's 'Garden Cities of Tomorrow' in its influence over housing design layout, making both the social and financial case for well planned, high quality housing for ordinary people.
The Midlands Cooperative Society is supporting the event as part of the celebrations for the UN International Year of Cooperatives.
|
RELATED STORIES
DALEDIVA TAKE CENTRE STAGE FOR CHARITY CONCERT -
People are being invited to enjoy an evening of entertainment when the stars of local chorus, DaleDiva, take to the stage for a charity concert in Ashover. More...
WALTON & WEST COMMUNITY FORUM HOPE YOU'LL 'STAND IN LINE' -
One local Community Forum has decided to try and bring live, top class entertainment to the local area - at an affordable price. More...
LOCAL MUSICIANS TAKE TO THE BANDSTAND -
Local musicians will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to take part in the largest closing cultural event of London 2012 on 9th September, thanks to Chesterfield Borough Council. More...
TAKE THE 7 PLAY THE WELLINGTON, NEW WHITTINGTON -
Take The Seven play at the Wellington, High Street, New Whittington, Chesterfield on Saturday 16th from 9pm More...
I'M STILL STANDING AFTER SIR ELTON ROCKS 'CHEZ VEGAS' -
It was THE event of the year in Chesterfield, over 12 months in the making and the result of much planning, preparation and purpose. More...
THE 'ROCKET MAN' PREPARES TO LAND -
The stage is set and, in less than 48 hours, Chesterfield will witness the biggest show to come to the town in years. More...
FINAL TICKETS RELEASED FOR ELTON JOHN AT THE B2NET -
With just over two weeks until the first ever show at the B2net Stadium, the final few tickets for Elton John have been released for sale to the general public. More...
COULD ELTON BE A SECRET SPIREITE -
Well-known football fan Sir Elton John will be taking two pieces of Chesterfield back with him when he performs at the b2net shortly. More...
2CELLOS TO SUPPORT ELTON JOHN AT THE B2NET -
Sir Elton John has announced that very special guests 2CELLOS will join him for his forthcoming live show this summer. More...
SUCH SWEET THUNDER -
Steve Steinhaus, the charismatic singer with the big personality who fronts both his Swing Band and the Dr Teeth Big Band, returns to Whitwell with his brand new show More...
MAGNETS ATTRACTED TO CHESTERFIELD -
They've performed with Blondie and at private parties for the likes of Hugh Grant and Elle McPherson - and now The Magnets are coming to Chesterfield. More...
ELTON JOHN PLAYS CHESTERFIELD FC'S B2NET! -
Superstar Elton John will be the first ever artist to perform at the B2net when he plays there in Summer 2012. More...
600 FOLLOW FEROCIOUS DOG AT MUSIC FESTIVAL! -
Whitwell Forward Community Group and 4Ward Promotions have extended Whitwell Festival Of Music 2011 and attracted 23 top quality bands More...
DO YOU HAVE TALENT? -
For the third year running, the Mayor of Chesterfield will once again be hosting 'Chesterfield's Got Talent' and is looking for talented acts from across the Borough. More...
ON SONG FOR TOWN, CARL NEWTON -
A day of firsts at the B2net on Saturday - first home game of the season and the first unfurling of the Champions Flag - also the first time the new 'Town song' rang out across the terraces More...
A STAR IS BORN... AND SHE'S FROM CHESTERFIELD -
One young girl from Chesterfield says she has to pinch herself every single day after hitting the big time and with her band preparing to launch its first single, next month. More...
HARLEY HANSON PLAYS HARLEY'S BAR-
Harley Hanson, International Singer and Songwriter returns to his home town of Chesterfield to launch his music video's and CD "When My Guitar Crys" and to film for his new video. More...
Music Event Diary -
Here is the place to find the latest Live Music Gigs from around Chesterfield. More... |
