ACM Retro, Sheffield (2024)

21/08/2024

🎵🛑 "The Unwelcome Sound: Punk’s Rocky Start in Sheffield

I spent a lot of time researching how West Street's Limit actually came about when I was writing my 'Take It To The Limit' book, and one area that always intrigued me was the city's reaction to punk.
It wasn't particularly good - although Ecclesall Road did open the first clothing shop in the north of England, apparently.
The lack of welcoming venues actually created the reason for the Limit.
Anthony Cronshaw told me, 'There was a lot of hostility towards punk in the city right from the day it arrived. Before the Limit, there was really only the Wapentake to go to. Often, you’d be best advised to leave Sheffield altogether if you were a punk and travel to the likes of Retford Porterhouse, the Windmill in Rotherham, or, probably the best club for miles, the Doncaster Outlook. Sheffield was very set in its ways.'
Limit co-owner George Webster summed up the city's reaction for me when he told me a council official told them they'd only get a licence if they promised to never, ever book the S*x Pistols in their lifetime!
You can check out the book here: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/take-it-to-the-limit-10th-anniversary-edition

21/08/2024

Honouring Dial House: Book Pays Tribute To Clubland Giant 📖✨
It would be hard to write a book featuring the golden years of Sheffield’s Working Men’s Club scene without mentioning the legendary Dial House Sports & Social Club. 🏆
Celebrated photographer Bill Stephenson gave me access to his archive and let me use some of his stunning shots from the early 1980s in the book (you see three pictured here). 📸✨
The brand new ‘Dirty Stop Out’s Guide to Working Men’s Clubs’ truly captures Dial House in its prime. 🌟🏠
The project itself is raising money for Dementia UK – all profits are going to the charity. 💙 You can check out the book here: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/dirty-stop-outs-guide-to-working-mens-clubs📚
The title celebrates the city’s thriving Working Men’s Club scene of the 1970s and early 1980s when there was a staggering 150 venues across Sheffield. 🎶🎤
The venue was originally founded by 25 men who pooled their resources to buy the old Dial House, a property that once belonged to a wealthy local family. Affiliated with the CIU in 1939, the club's popularity soared, boasting 2,400 members by 1946. 🎉👥
Famous local names to appear down the years include Tony Christie, Dave Berry, Joe Cocker, and Marti Caine. 🎤🎸
You can check out the book here: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/dirty-stop-outs-guide-to-working-mens-clubs 📖

18/08/2024

🎵🌟 Pioneering Hitmaker of Sheffield: Celebrating Jimmy Crawford

They might have had more hits than him, but in my experience, he had more flamboyance than the rest of Sheffield's chart toppers put together. I'm talking about the one and only Jimmy Crawford, who passed recently.
Jimmy Crawford, you might ask? This man was a true pioneer — one of his many claims to fame was being Sheffield's very first (and second) pop chart entry as early as 1961.

I was organising an exhibition to celebrate Sheffield's pop music success down the decades way back in 1999, and it seemed only natural to involve three of the region's earliest hitmakers: Dave Berry, Tony Christie, and Jimmy Crawford. Jimmy was a true larger-than-life character. Entertainment was in his blood.

I'd already written about him in my 'Dirty Stop Out's Guide to 1960s Sheffield' (https://dirtystopouts.com/products/dirty-stop-outs-guide-to-1960s-sheffield-10th-anniversary-collectors-edition) as he was an early performer at Club 60 on Shalesmoor.

His first top twenty hit, 'I Love How You Love Me', was in 1961. In 1962, Jimmy featured in the film ‘Play it Cool’ alongside rock and roll star Billy Fury. He then went on to tour New Zealand, Australia, and South Africa with some of the top entertainers of the day, including Des O’Connor and Vera Lynn. He also performed in a cabaret spot in Las Vegas and did the UK cabaret circuit, including shows at Sheffield's own Fiesta.

Growing up, Jimmy lived with his parents and sister on the now-demolished Aberdeen Street in the Broomhall area, and he attended Sheffield Central Technical School where he studied engineering.

You can read more about the one and only Jimmy Crawford in the 'Dirty Stop Out's Guide to 1960s Sheffield': https://dirtystopouts.com/products/dirty-stop-outs-guide-to-1960s-sheffield-10th-anniversary-collectors-edition

17/08/2024

Sheffield's Limit crammed in some pretty interesting claims to fame during its 13-year history, and my new 'Take It To The Limit' book covers scores of them over its 160 pages.

Here are 8 things you might not know about the West Street club:

🎸 American new wave giants the B-52's made their UK live debut at the venue.
🎤 U2 performed one of their earliest UK shows at The Limit. And just to prove how early it was... only 14 people turned up.
🤘 Sheffield rockers Def Leppard performed at a free festival for local bands—they supported some other new outfit called the Human League...
🎵 The Bay City Rollers wandered in one night after a show at Sheffield City Hall. They were expecting adulation—but they were totally ignored.
🏛️ The Limit was so successful it bankrolled the transformation of the nearby Sheffield Lyceum into a concert venue—some say it was its undoing.
🎶 An unknown Wham! once performed on a Saturday dinnertime. They weren't invited back.
🎤 Saturday afternoon matinee performances for the under-18s were a regular thing back in the club's early days—everyone from the Undertones to the Cockney Rejects performed.
🚫 The Limit was only given a licence on the condition that they agreed to never book the S*x Pistols in their lifetime. They honoured the condition—probably helped by the fact the band split up within months of them opening.
You can check out the book here: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/take-it-to-the-limit-10th-anniversary-edition

10/08/2024

📖🌟 Exclusive Peek: The Finest Punk and New Wave Moments Captured At The Limit! 🎸

It took 10 years to gather them, but the new 'Take It To The Limit' has arguably some of the finest punk and new wave live shots of the era.

Siouxsie and the Banshees, The Cramps, Generation X, The Lurkers, The Specials, Punilux — the list goes on.

The amazing images are courtesy of renowned photographers Pete Hill and James Melik who regularly captured gigs at the venue.

The book is now back in print for the first time in three years. You can see it here: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/take-it-to-the-limit-10th-anniversary-edition

09/08/2024

🌟 'Take It To The Limit' Back in Print for a Limited Period 🌟

A lot of people have been asking if they can get copies of my Limit book, which has been out of print for the last couple of years. 📣 Next week, I’m releasing 250 copies of a special edition of 'Take It To The Limit'. 🎉

This book dives into the whole story of the venue across 166 pages and 14 chapters. 📚 It was a massive undertaking, but I always felt it needed doing. I interviewed scores of bands, clubbers, DJs, managers, and co-owners George and Kevan, along with many others. 🎸🎤

I’m totally indebted to the scores of people that gave me access to personal archives, photos, and more. 📸🎶

You can get it here: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/take-it-to-the-limit-10th-anniversary-edition

07/08/2024

Sheffield’s Social Spotlight: The Glory Days of Working Men’s Clubs 🎬🎰

It's hard to comprehend the dominance of Sheffield's Working Men's Club scene in its 1970s heyday unless you were part of it. Over 150 thriving social clubs existed, many with waiting lists to join. They were the central hub for entire communities, with generations of the same family all in attendance.

Rotherham's Greasborough Social Club was one of the first to lead the way in terms of what was possible. Investment in the 1960s turned it into a northern entertainment powerhouse, attracting some of the biggest names in show business to the region. Dusty Springfield, Matt Monro, Bob Monkhouse, and scores of others began making the previously unlikely journey to South Yorkshire.

Their success helped spark massive growth in concert rooms, and by the 1970s, Working Men's Clubs held a formidable stranglehold over the British light entertainment scene. It's estimated that they attracted visitor numbers across the country of over four million people.

Today, there are just a handful left in the city. You can read their story in my new 'Dirty Stop Out's Guide to Working Men's Clubs': https://dirtystopouts.com/products/dirty-stop-outs-guide-to-working-mens-clubs

05/08/2024

A Night of Bingo and Broken Arms: The High Stakes of Working Men's Clubs 🎱🚨

I met and interviewed some amazing people on my journey putting together the new 'Dirty Stop Out's Guide to Working Men's Clubs' 📚. One of my favourite stories involved bingo night at the Upper Heeley Club and it truly confirmed the sacramental position of the game 🎱.

Terry Cocker remembered: "After the fifth number was called, a ping pong ball merrily bounced along the stage, followed by a second and third, to the horror of the group of old regulars mortified at the shock of possibly missing a number. A hue and cry rose from the deadly silent room, and one of the committee men on the stage raced to retrieve the offending balls with such earnest that, whilst stooping, he lost his balance and plummeted from the stage onto the table below. The table collapsed on impact, with the ladies — and more importantly, their bingo cards — left saturated from flying drinks.
"As running repairs were undertaken to the machine, fresh drinks and tickets were issued to the now calmed ladies sat at a new table. The poor enthusiastic committee man suffered a broken arm, cuts, and bruises, but the biggest talking point thereafter was 'a delay in the bingo.' Heaven forbid...'"

You can read that and more in the new 'Dirty Stop Out's Guide to Working Men's Clubs': https://dirtystopouts.com/products/dirty-stop-outs-guide-to-working-mens-clubs

04/08/2024

🏆 Celebrating Sheffield’s Clubland Legends 🌟

There's no doubt that Sheffield was a true epicentre of clubland, and it was wonderful to receive the interest in the new book following yesterday's post. Here are a few more homegrown acts that feature in the new 'Dirty Stop Out's Guide to Working Men's Clubs'.
Do you remember the Discoes, Tony Whyte, Ted Beyer, and many others? Who remembers the massive Clubland Awards?
You can check out the book here: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/dirty-stop-outs-guide-to-working-mens-clubs

02/08/2024

On the day we finally said goodbye to George Webster, co-owner of the Limit, I realised the deep debt of gratitude I owe to him and his former business partner Kevan Johnson. It was their venue that inspired me to write my first book 15 years ago, and the amazing reaction to that book eventually led to the creation of www.dirtystopouts.com. It was a privilege to design the T-shirt in memory of George Webster and the Limit, and I've decided to keep it on sale for a limited period, with a donation to the RAF Benevolent Fund made in his honour for each one sold. If you fancy taking it to the Limit one more time you can check it out here: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/take-me-to-the-limit-one-more-time-unisex-fit-t-shirt-various-colours

30/07/2024

A Final Tribute: Celebrating George Webster and the Legendary Legacy of The Limit

The funeral procession of one of the city’s most prolific music promoters/venue owners will make one last visit to the site of the venue that immortalised him.

The final journey of George Webster — co-owner of West Street’s legendary Limit venue — will pass the venue that helped make stars of local acts like Pulp, the Human League, Def Leppard, Vice Versa (later to become ABC), and many others.

We've worked with his family to come up with a brand-new Limit T-shirt design to celebrate his life and the 13 years of The Limit.

This is a very limited run, and a donation is being made to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund for every T-shirt sold in George Webster’s honour. You can view them here: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/take-me-to-the-limit-one-more-time-unisex-fit-t-shirt-various-colours

George Webster's funeral is set to take place next Friday, August 2, at 2:45 PM at Hutcliffe Wood Crematorium, Sheffield S8, followed by a gathering at Meersbrook Bowling Club, Shirebrook Rd, Heeley, Sheffield S8.

With co-owner Kevan Johnson passing just a few months ago, George's death truly seals the end of an era but is also a chance to reflect on the amazing achievements accomplished on Sheffield's West Street in that amazing period.

It was a privilege to write 'Take It To Limit' and chronicle the life of the venue that ran from 1978 to 1991.

Long live The Limit!

28/07/2024

2-Tone Era was the best - and that's official! 🎉🕺💫

We're thrilled to say our new 'Dirty Stop Out's Guide to 1970s Coventry' has just received a 9 out of 10 review in British music glossy Vive Le Rock!
They said "if you like nostalgia beautifully presented, well-written, and with a heap of memory-teasing photos, then this is the book for you".
It's one of the very best reviews one of our books as ever had. It goes onto say "Ruth Cherrington and Dirty Stop Outs present another precious time capsule that touches on the very fabric of the city's beating heart".
If you've not seen the book you can check it out here: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/copy-of-dirty-stop-outs-guide-to-1970s-coventry-collectors-edition-pre-order

22/07/2024

🎶✨ Celebrating 60 Years of King Mojo: Sheffield's Musical Legacy 🎉

🎸🎶 2024 marks the 60th anniversary of the opening of one of Sheffield’s true pop music pioneers. Based in suburban Pitsmoor, the King Mojo teenage club became a cornerstone of music and popular culture in the three short years of its existence and provided a stage to up-and-coming stars that went on to conquer the world. 🌍 Stevie Wonder, Ike & Tina Turner, The Who, Jimi Hendrix, The Small Faces, and many more all made the seemingly unlikely journey into the heart of working-class Sheffield to perform. 🎤
King Mojo became an incubator for many black/Motown hit artists of the era. The venue, run by the Stringfellow brothers, attracted crowds from right across northern England. Sixty years on, the former owners are dead, and the venue has long since been replaced by flats.
Few of the present-day Pitsmoor generation would ever know they are sitting on such incredible history. 🏢
We’re presently looking to get funding/support for a project to celebrate the three-year life of King Mojo - it would culminate in the 60th anniversary of its closure in 2027.
What do you think? Would it get your support? What do you think it should include?
The majority of former club-goers are now in their 70s/80s, so this is likely to be the last time we could record their memories. 📚🕰️
"
Richard GodleyMichael Bell

21/07/2024

Paid Off! Artists That Felt The Wrath Of The Club Committee in Sheffield 🎭⚖️

One thing that always struck me when I was researching my new 'Dirty Stop Out's Guide to Working Men’s Clubs' was the total disdain the club committee could have for the entertainment.
In the case of the Small Faces, who had their marching orders from one Sheffield Working Men’s Club within a couple of numbers, it was a blessing — they ended up finding a certain King Mojo club in nearby Pitsmoor with a rather more appreciative audience and it helped point them in the direction of future stardom.
Other famous names that came off worse in Sheffield included Engelbert Humperdinck, who was unceremoniously given his marching orders. And John Parr — then topping the charts with 'St Elmo's Fire' — who was given short shrift in Tinsley.
Def Leppard faired a bit better – they got their own plaque on the side of Crookes WMC.
If you want to read more you can check out the book here: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/dirty-stop-outs-guide-to-working-mens-clubs

21/07/2024

'I Swear I Was There' – A Fitting Epitaph for George Webster?

The last time I spoke to the former Limit co-owner, we were chatting about some of the most pivotal gigs hosted in his venue's 13-year history. He talked about local artists who performed very early in their careers — acts like Pulp, Human League, Def Leppard, Vice Versa (later to become ABC); the list went on and on!
But then, we moved on to the national and international acts that really put the Limit on the map.
The conversation became the inspiration behind 'I Swear I Was There'—a range of T-shirt designs that celebrated three of the most iconic shows ever held at the West Street rock'n'roll epicentre. Siouxsie & The Banshees, the B-52’s, and the Cramps were the three gigs immortalised on the shirts. One journalist famously cited the B-52’s gig as one of the best in history.
In the week George Webster sadly passed away, the significance of the phrase appears more poignant than ever. The gig roster that he presided over reads like a who's who of ‘70s/‘80s rock'n'roll. Who wouldn't have wanted to have been there at one of those groundbreaking shows?
One of his proudest gigs wasn’t actually at the Limit—but it was made possible by the success of the venue. The West Street club bankrolled the restoration of the then-derelict Sheffield Lyceum into a music venue in the early '80s. Joe Cocker’s appearance was something George Webster truly cherished.
Music flowed through his veins. He traced his inspiration for The Limit back a decade to the King Mojo club — the Sheffield venue started by the Stringfellow Brothers. The venue brought everyone from Jimi Hendrix to Stevie Wonder to Pitsmoor.
Gigs George Webster promoted at The Limit, which he co-owned with Kevan Johnson, along with additional shows they promoted at the Top Rank, truly put the city on the map: The Clash, The Police, U2, Ramones, Specials — the list goes on and on.
And that’s not forgetting their pivotal role in the development of Sheffield’s electro-pop sound and the acts they managed.
George Webster started life as a DJ. He made a name for himself at the Buccaneer on Leopold Street before moving to the Wapentake. He amassed a fanatical following. They followed him to the Limit, which opened in the spring of 1978.
• George Webster's funeral is set to take place on Friday, 2nd August at 2:45 PM at Hutcliffewood, Sheffield, followed by a gathering at Meersbrook Bowling Club, Shirebrook Rd, Heeley, Sheffield S8.
Attire: Clubbing wear, 'Take it to the Limit' T-shirt and jeans, or whatever you think appropriate.
Please, no flowers. All donations should be made to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund.
Limit T-shirts are available here—a donation to the Royal Air Force Benevolent Fund will be made for every shirt sold: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/limit-unisex-fit-t-shirt-various-colours

14/07/2024

A Tribute to George Webster: The DJ Who Defined Sheffield's Sound 🎶🎧

George Webster was the man with a passion for music who formed one half of the successful Limit partnership, remaining there for the duration of the venue's life. He initially owned a record shop and became the popular resident DJ at the Buccaneer Bar under the management of future Wapentake manager, Olga Marshall.

His magic followed him as he started DJing at the Wapentake. As punk emerged, he decided, alongside future Limit co-owner Kevan Johnson, that the city deserved a venue dedicated to the scene.

The Limit was born in the spring of 1978 and was a hit from day one. Years of memorable live gigs and club nights followed, and it's regularly cited as the venue that helped spawn the city's electro movement, with local bands from the Human League to Vice Versa (later to become ABC) all playing early gigs there.

George Webster was the hardest to track down when I was doing my 'Take It To The Limit' book 15 years ago - I got a call out of the blue 48 hours before we were due to go to print and I had to drive a hundred or so miles to meet him. It was more than worth it.

George Webster never lost his passion for music after he left venue management. His death this weekend is a sad day for Sheffield music.

01/07/2024

🛏️ From 10,000 Beds to 50,000 Homeless: Sheffield's Blitz Story! 📖

Elaborate planning had been made to prepare for a German attack following the outbreak of hostilities in 1939. 10,000 beds had been made available to accommodate bombed-out Sheffielders. 🏠
Over the two nights of the blitz, nearly 50,000 were made homeless - the figure is quite staggering.
I researched ARP newsletter 'All Clear' for my book 'Forgotten Memories From A Forgotten Blitz'. 📖
It's hard to imagine how the city got through those two nights. It said, 'Many members of the staff and of the voluntary personnel, who were themselves homeless, carried on. At one point, 23,000 were present at the temporary rest centres.'
If you want to read more you can check out my book at: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/forgotten-memories-from-a-forgotten-blitz

29/06/2024

🚶‍♂️🚶‍♀️ From The Terminus To Ziggi's: An '80s Stagger Down Brampton

There's no doubt the Brampton Mile was an essential rite of passage in the '80s 🕺💃. I devote an entire chapter to this pastime in the 'Dirty Stop Out's Guide to 1980s Chesterfield', which is just back in print 📚.

It was a very different-looking bunch of hostelries way back then, as the pictures show 📸. The 'fun pub' was just arriving—remember the short-lived Ziggi's? 🎉 The long-gone Terminus was normally the start, and many referred to the Square & Compass as the end 🏁 (for many, the end came a lot earlier, and it wasn't a pretty sight!) 🍻.

You can check out the book here: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/dirty-stop-outs-guide-to-1980s-chesterfield

29/06/2024

Chesterfield After Dark: The 1980s Available Again!" 🌜🎸

I think the book I probably had the most apprehension about writing was the 'Dirty Stop Out's Guide to 1980s Chesterfield' 📚. And that was because it was my era, and my peers were going to be watching my every move 👀.
But one thing quickly became apparent as I started researching - my knowledge stopped and started at about three venues! My world generally revolved around the Anchor, the Adam & Eve, and the Hare & Greyhound. I was all big hair and motorbike jackets - a typical '80s alternative/rocker-type! 🎸🏍️
I was grateful for so many people - people who would have probably given me a wide berth back in the day - for sharing their memories. 🙏
And I actually became quite jealous, as I'd missed out on so many other venues and scenes. 😅
But hey, it's wonderful to don the rose-tinted glasses! 🕶️
The book is just back in print, and you can check it out here:
https://dirtystopouts.com/products/dirty-stop-outs-guide-to-1980s-chesterfield

Enjoy the pictures! 📸

28/06/2024

A Family Waiting To Die: Survival Stories from the Blitz 🕰️💣📖

I had the privilege of interviewing many survivors for my book 'Forgotten Memories From A Forgotten Blitz,' but these two gentlemen were the most inspirational. Their memories were pin-sharp despite them both being in their 90s.

Maurice Wilkinson (left) was the last ever customer in the Kings Head Hotel on Change Alley. He somehow dodged incendiaries raining down on Abbeydale Road to get home. He recounted, 'My mother, father, and I sat on a bed and waited to be bombed. I was very devoted to my parents, I loved them dearly, and would have much preferred for us all to have been killed rather than just one of us.' 🏠💣. Their house was hit but they survived.

Doug Lightning was part of the fire service. 'I don’t believe we even had time to be scared. We ran on pure adrenaline. My hands were lacerated to ribbons due to the broken glass.' 🚒🔥

📚✨Both of their incredible stories feature in my book 'Forgotten Memories From A Forgotten Blitz'. There are now just a handful of copies left. You can see it here: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/forgotten-memories-from-a-forgotten-blitz

26/06/2024

📸 From Miners' Strike to Music: An Event That Defined A Generation

We couldn't have done a book about the 1980s without mentioning the Miners' Strike — it was so pivotal to the era in Sheffield 🏭. These pictures are a reminder of those dark days 40 years ago. Massive thanks to everyone who has bought the 'Dirty Stop Out's Guide to 1980s Sheffield'—we've nearly sold out! If you're interested, you can see it here: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/dirty-stop-outs-guide-to-1980s-sheffield

23/06/2024

⚒️ 'Black' Sheffield: We Even Had An Image Problem IN 1879 🏭

Bizarrely, a Sunday afternoon jaunt to Chatsworth, Haddon Hall, or Hathersage was also a popular pastime in the Victorian era. 🏰 The '1879 Guide to Sheffield' - which I've just republished - talks about such a trip being very much in vogue.
📖 And while we've got our very own Walk of Fame outside Sheffield Town Hall in the 21st century, the book devoted a whole chapter to 'Sheffield Celebrities'. In those days, it was poets, newspaper proprietors, and various ministers whose names were up in lights. 🌟 Even back then, Sheffield had an image problem - "the town has a reputation of being specially 'black'" due to its heavy industry," it declares. ⚒️ Uncover the layers of Sheffield that your great-great-grandparents once raved about. It's quirky, enlightening, and filled with tales waiting to be rediscovered. You can check it out here: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/sheffield-gift-1879-guide-to-sheffield-abridged-foreword-by-neil-anderson

22/06/2024

🚂🎩 I've been taking a break from the usual disco lights to bring you something truly special — the '1879 Guide to Sheffield'. I've re-published the city's very first attempt at tourism from over 140 years ago.
🏛️ There's actually quite a few things that have stood the test of time and were a big pull even then:

* Retail Therapy at Cole Bros: the shop really was big news back then (that's it on the front cover)

* A meal at the Cutlers' Hall: The esteemed venue was serving up culinary delights as it is today

A good night's sleep at the Royal Victoria Hotel: it was providing a welcome stay all those decades ago.

Other highlights the earliest Working Mens Clubs which were springing up across the town and cocoa and coffee houses in abundance.

🌿 And for something truly out of the ordinary? Well you couldn't forget to pencil in a visit to the South Yorkshire Lunatic Asylum at Wadsley Park, offering "extensive lawns, flower gardens and shrubberies" and all maintained "by the lunatics".

Whether you're a history buff, a local enthusiast, or looking for the perfect Sheffield souvenir, this guide is the ultimate gift. Uncover the layers of Sheffield that your great-great-grandparents once raved about. It's quirky, enlightening, and filled with tales waiting to be rediscovered.
You can check it out here: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/sheffield-gift-1879-guide-to-sheffield-abridged-foreword-by-neil-anderson

19/06/2024

🌟 Aquarius Nights: A Chesterfield Legacy 🌌

📚 Anyone wanting a trip down memory lane could do worse than go to Chesterfield Library. Our full Aquarius nightclub exhibition is now on display. 🎉 We've also got a new book out celebrating the iconic former cabaret/nightclub: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/remembering-the-aquarius

🎭 Thanks to the support from The National Lottery Heritage Fund and all the National Lottery players, we brought history to life! 🎟️
Richard Godley Catherine Croney

17/06/2024

🖤 From Lockdown to Limelight: The Limit Success Hits The Star! 🌍

🌟 Our journey with The Limit T-shirts has been featured in today's edition of The Star: https://www.thestar.co.uk/community/lockdown-whim-grows-limit-legacy-4667700

As we near the 50th anniversary of The Limit's opening in 2027, it's fitting that our efforts to keep Sheffield's punk/goth heritage alive are gaining recognition. 🎸🖤

Thanks to everyone who has supported us on this incredible journey. Here's to celebrating the past, present, and future of The Limit legacy! 🍻

👕 Check out our celebrated collection here: https://dirtystopouts.com/collections/the-limit

14/06/2024

🕰️🔍 "Revisiting History: The Stark Realities of Sheffield's First Air Raid

When I wrote 'Sheffield's Date With Hi**er' 📖, I was very keen to put the blitz and the wider war into some sort of context, so I took things right back to the origins of the conflict - World War One ⚔️. This, as you probably know, set the scene for the city's first-ever air raid - a visit by a German Zeppelin that reaped death and destruction in the Burngreave area in 1916.

My research quickly brought home the stark difference in reporting style and language from over 100 years ago. This was from The Star 🌟:
“Tragic and pathetic details were related to a Coroner who opened an inquest upon victims of the Zeppelin raid on the night of 26 September. The first case taken was that of a woman aged 36 years, wife of a labourer. Her husband said he hurried to the attic to fetch his children. As he reached the cellar, there was an explosion 💥. His wife exclaimed, 'Oh Bill, my leg’s off.' She died three hours afterwards." 💔
You can check out the book here: https://dirtystopouts.com/products/sheffields-date-with-hitler-blitz-80th-anniversary-edition