Overview
Project Title:
Chance Encounters
Project Location:
Smethwick
Black Country Museum Dudley
Date of Project:
June 07 - October 07
Project Participants:
This project would not have been possible without the kind contributions of Arthur East, Ray Drury, Dennis Arnold, Ted and Cyril Caine, Edna Carr, Anne Hardy, Gary Watton, Mac Prinn, Marion Sutton, Mary Taylor, Robert Cooper, John Caroll, Alan and Joyce Taylor and members of Chance Pensioners Club.
Further thanks to David Bryant and Delia Garratt (Smethwick Heritage Centre), Toby Chance, Vanessa Harbar and Mile Freeman (Heritage Lottery Fund), Michael Joseph, Mike Horton and Carol Priest (Pilkington Family Trusts), Gavin Owen (Black Country Bugle) and Thomas Tag.
Associate Artists:
Graham Peet
Geoff Broadway
Mike Higgs (Illustrator)
Project Funders:
Heritage Lottery Fund
Project Overview:
Chance Encounters project is a celebration of the Chance Brothers Glassworks in Smethwick. Supported by Heritage Lottery Fund’s Your Heritage scheme, a team of artists from Multistory worked with former employees of Chance Brothers to capture stories and memories about their working lives. The collated stories encompass the ordinary and the extraordinary, covering topics that are funny, sad, poignant and informative. They form a hugely enjoyable trip down memory lane and show the significant legacy that Chance Brothers Glassworks has made locally, nationally and internationally.
The stories are available to enjoy on www.chancesglass.co.uk or by reading our celebratory limited edition ‘Chance Encounters’ magazines that are designed to the original specification from the 1960s.
Further info.
Since the project’s launch in October 2007, thousands of people have either read the publications or visited the website and below are just two of comments from visitors to the website.
“Great website, full of names from the past. I started work at chances in 1952 and was one of the last to finish on 24 December 1981, having remained at the site to sell off the plant and equipment. I remember, as a young lad, Ray Drury coming to me in the machine shop with drawings of bits and pieces he wanted turning for his canoe.”
Comment by Frank Gould - 9 January, 2008
“Wow! What a wonderful website! My grandparents and my parents worked for Chance Bros. Ernie Barratt (my Grandad) used to be in the lighthouse department travelling all over the world for the install of the optics. Gladys Barratt (my Nana) worked in the glass making shop as an inspector (I think). Barbara Barratt (my Mom) worked as a secretary in the accounts office and she met my Dad, Norman Plant, who was a professional engineer! The terrific stories I heard as a kid…..”
Comment by Stephanie Plant - 12 December, 2008
If you would like a printed copy of the publication please email us at info@mulitistory.org.uk or download the PDF versions below.
Chance Encounters Book 1 (PDF) 1.7MB
Chances Encounters Book 2 (PDF) 1.7MB
As a thank you to everyone involved in the Chance Encounters Project, Multistory put on a celebratory event at the Black Country Museum in October 2007, where over 200 former Chance employees and their relatives reminisced about their time at the factory. The event was a huge success that will live long in the memories of those that attended.
To find out more about the project visit www.chancesglass.co.uk
Gallery
Click on the play button below to listen to Geoff Boardway’s Talking Chances, an audio journey that reflects the thoughts and experiences of former employees and associates of Chances Glass Factory.
Below are some images from the Chances Glass project.
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