Badge fans set out stall for their hobby
Years of devotion to collecting all kinds of rare and unusual badges brings together a group of collectors who meet up regularly at a Black Country venue to discuss their passion.
Some members of the British Badge Collectors Association have collected over 1,000 badges with some rare examples able to command up to £600 each.
The group meet three times a month in Bloxwich, Lichfield and Ketley in Shropshire. This week they met at Blakenall Sporting Club in Somerfield Road, Leamore, to show off new badges and discuss rare ones they are trying to trace.
Joe Heeson, aged 68 and secretary of the club, has been collecting for over 30 years.
His 800 badge hoard concentrates on the infantry. Mr Heeson, from Hazelslade, near Cannock, said: "I do have some rare ones. I have a badge from the Royal Dublin Fusiliers which I think would fetch quite a lot of money. I also have a badge from the Walsall Militia of the 19th century. I really find badge collecting fascinating and enjoy meeting up with people who share a similar interest as me. We come along and have a chat and a drink. It's great." Mike Howarth, aged 62, a retired mechanic from Allport Street, Cannock and chairman of the association, was inspired to collect badges of the Royal Engineers after both his uncle and grandfather served in the corps.
His collection, which was started 30 years ago now totals around 600. He said: "I really like the history behind the badges." Vic Cox, aged 82, from Penn, Wolverhampton, has also amassed a badge collection running into hundreds and enjoys collecting lifeboat and transport badges.
An exhibition will be at Wolverhampton Civic Centre on April 27 and 28.
