Recognise our young Masters too

There is such a variety of talents across the names that have been listed and those already given a more in-depth coverage.

Many I have worked with and know of. We have either performed together, worked on projects, I have included them in events I have organised or they have been on the ‘Omma’ radio show I host for Black Country Radio.

Can I offer my warmest congrats to three who I have probably worked with more than any other. Emma Purshouse – for me the leading performance poet of the region, Brendan Jackson, never ceases to amaze me with his knowledge of the region and its people, and my old ‘Boonyed’ Bren Hawthorne who has for as long as I can remember fought not only for the arts in the community but for the community itself. Well done everyone, awards well deserved.

The progressive idea is maybe the organisers could do a similar project for those under the age of 18. In my work I meet and work with incredibly talented youngsters across all forms of performing arts.

Only recently I attended an event where a young girl of 14 had been accepted to a high-profile ballet school. We have acknowledged our mature Masters why not the young and very young? In the Charlie Grigg project Rood End School now have a Creative Arts Award in his name that they award yearly. That template could work on a wider Black Country scale. Something to think about.

Dr Brian Dakin (AKA Billy Spake Mon)

Tividale