International Brigade Memorial Trust
Here’s our 3 January 2018 eNewsletter to IBMT members. Download this PDF – eNL34.pdf – to see the version with images.
Better still, become a member of the IBMT (www.international-brigades.org.uk/membership) and you’ll receive this fortnightly update of news and events direct to your inbox on the day it’s published.
3 January 2018 / No. 34
Young’uns tour inspired by International Brigades
One of Britain’s most popular folk music acts, The Young’uns (pictured above), are dedicating their spring 2018 tour to a suite of songs inspired by the International Brigades, in particular Johnny Longstaff, a fellow Teessider who as an 18-year-old travelled from Stockton-on-Tees to fight fascism in Spain.
The ‘The Ballad of Johnny Longstaff’ tour opens at Leicester Guildhall on 20 March and ends at The Forum, Barrow, on 12 April. A highlight will be the home-town gig on 7 April at the ARC arts centre in Stockton.
Other dates for The Young’uns are at venues in Bath (21 March), Hastings (22 March), Maldon (23 March), Reading (24 March), Exeter (25 March), Cardiff (26 March), Birmingham (27 March), Halesworth (28 March), Wem (30 March), New Galloway (31 March), Manchester (3 April), London (5 April), Barton upon Humber (6 April), Clitheroe (8 April), Pocklington (10 April) and Carlisle (11 April).
For more information and bookings go to:
www.theyounguns.co.uk/live
See also:
www.international-brigades.org.uk/content/younguns-dedicate-their-next-tour-international-brigades
Key dates for your 2018 diary
Make sure the IBMT’s three major events in 2018 are in your new diary:
Saturday 24 March in Bristol: Len Crome Memorial Conference; see:
www.international-brigades.org.uk/content/2018-len-crome-memorial-conference
Saturday 7 July in London; national commemoration of the International Brigades, with music, poetry, speeches and remembrance at the International Brigade memorial in Jubilee Gardens, London Southbank;
Saturday 13 October in Hull: the IBMT Annual General Meeting, part of a weekend of activities to celebrate the volunteers from Humberside and beyond.
New year greetings from Spain
This 2018 greetings card produced by AABI, the Madrid-based International Brigades friendship group, reproduces a solemn declaration made by International Brigaders in Albacete in 1936:
I am a volunteer in the International Brigades because I have have deep admiration for the bravery and heroism of the Spanish people in their fight against international fascism, and because my enemies have always been those same enemies of the Spanish people. Because, if fascism triumphs in Spain, tomorrow it will triumph in my country, and my home will be destroyed. Because I am a worker, labourer, farmworker who prefers to die standing up than on my knees. I am here as a volunteer and, if required, I will my last drop of blood to save the freedom of Spain and the world.
The greetings card also features the new memorial to the International Brigades unveiled on 5 November 2017 in Vicálvaro, Madrid.
Forthcoming events
12 January-17 February OXFORD - ‘¡Buenos Días Dictador!’, a new exhibition of works by artist Sonia Boué about the Spanish Civil War, in particular a response to the years of exile suffered by many Spanish Republicans and their families; at the Old Fire Station, 40 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AQ; opening hours: Tuesday-Saturday, 11am-6pm. See:
https://oldfirestation.org.uk/exhibitions/buenos-dias-dictador and www.soniaboue.co.uk/section791050_348089.html
26 January DUMFRIES - The Battle of the Ebro remembered; speaker: Rab O'Donnell, with contributions from Iain and Sandra Trotter and a film screening; 7pm at the Tam O'Shanter Inn, 113-117 Queensberry Street, Dumfries DG1 1BH. More information:
stuart.hyslop1@hotmail.co.uk
7-10 February PRESTONPANS - ‘549: Scots of the Spanish Civil War’, a new play by Wonder Fools, with stories and songs about the 549 Scots who volunteered to fight fascism in Spain; 7.30pm at Prestonpans Town Hall, High Street, Prestonpans EH32 9JW; tickets £11/£8.25 from:
9 February OXFORD - Artist Sonia Boué in converstaion about her exhibition ‘¡Buenos DíaDictador!’ on exile and the Spanish Civil War (see listing above); 3pm at the Old Fire Station, 40 George Street, Oxford OX1 2AQ
13-17 February GLASGOW - ‘549: Scots of the Spanish Civil War’, a new play by Wonder Fools, with stories and songs about the 549 Scots who volunteered to fight fascism in Spain; 7.30pm at Citizens Theatre, 119 Gorbals Street, Glasgow G5 9DS; tickets £12 from:
17 February MADRID - The annual international Battle of Jarama commemoration. The IBMT contingent will be organised by Trustees Pauline Fraser and Manuel Moreno. The commemoration is hosted by the AABI Spanish International Brigades friendship group and attracts visitors from International Brigade associations from around the world as well as many Spanish supporters. Details of the 2018 event have yet to be announced, but there is usually a themed hike across the battlefield, followed by a late lunch in a nearby restaurant. See:
www.international-brigades.org.uk/content/17-february-madrid
18 February MANCHESTER - Annual re-dedication of the Manchester International Brigade memorial and commemoration of the Battle of Jarama, commencing at 11am and lasting about an hour inside Manchester Town Hall, Albert Square, Manchester M2 5DB. All IBMT members, trade unionists and labour movement activists are invited to attend.
For all events, visit our website.
Posted on 13 January 2018.
