Comments

What people are saying about our Bath Arts Workshop book

‘Thank you so much for the book, it is a great addition to our collection. Our staff and students have already been showing an interest, a well put together history of a very relevant company.’

James Thornton, Library Manager, RADA

‘The book arrived here yesterday, thank you so much! I’m the only team member who was around (and enjoying youth theatre) in the 70s, and everyone was really interested to take a look. What a fantastic record of your work! One of our student assistants was present and she has asked to borrow it immediately!’

Kate Eaton, Head of Library & Learning Resources,
Guildhall School of Music & Drama

‘Just got my copy of the BAW book. You and the team have done a fine job. A rush of pure nostalgia for me – I vividly remember Phil Grimm's Progress and I played in bands at the festival with Micky Godwin aka Brian Damage. I was brought up near Frome which was stuck in the 50s back then so Bath seemed like an exotic new bohemian world of possibilities.’

Edward Taylor, the Whalley Range Allstars

‘Just got the book this morning and devoured it! I think it is great – Well done! It has struck the right tone between being informal and serious. All the excerpts are just right and it never gets boring. The front cover is brilliant.’

Georgina Carless

‘Such a wonderful document of those times. It is hugely entertaining and informative and remarkably well put together...a visual treat which sources must have involved a considerable amount of work tracking down.


It got me thinking about my life and activities at that time as they touched on BAW...sadly I missed most of the heyday of BAW. (I went to the wrong city!) I do remember wild evenings in Walcot Village Hall, Walcot Beanos, Johnny G, and London to Brighton bike ride. I did some roadside theatre for you on the L to B which was so knackering I couldn’t stay awake to see the Balham Alligators, one of my favourite bands of all time!


And so it is wonderful to piece in those missing years, albeit second hand so thanks for that.
 And now I remember Rocky Ricketts and the Jet Pilots of Jive at Bristol Arts School at Bower Ashton when I fell in love with a Rockette, can’t remember which one, Yvonne probably. Hey ho, happy days!’
Bill C

‘I like the book, bigly, but in the middle of the night when it slipped it was a real nose banger, but you get that with big books.’
John (the Lens) Austen, photographer

‘Just to say that I am really enjoying the book. Congratulations to you all!’
Vic King, Isle of Wight

‘Congratulations to the book group for your resolve, commitment and art. Great to have those days chronicled and curated in book form.’
Peter (Mitch) Mitchelson

‘Book is brilliant. Hooray to us all. Actually it's probably hurrah.’
John Potter

Brilliant – great memories

‘I was only there for a short time (74-77) but the experience will stay with me forever and everyone I met certainly influenced what I did next in my life. Thanks to BAW and everyone who was involved.’
Paul (Spider) Lawrence

‘You and your friends made history and like countless others we were glad to be part of the story. And it’s not over. How we need that vision now!’
Mike Westbrook, Jazz musician

Inspirational!

‘Beautifully produced book which captures the extraordinary creativity that flourished in the seventies. The Bath Arts Workshop did so many things to enliven people’s lives, from music festivals to bizarre ‘happenings’, practical recycling projects and renewable energy – years ahead of their time. While challenging the dominant ideology they brought humour, parody and wit to challenge conventional attitudes and deliver practical help to the community.’
Amazon reader

Feedback from Luke’s English podcast

Good night Luke! I’ve just listened the interview, so interesting, I didn’t know about Bath and this counterculture, but I enjoy learning very much, and love these stories of art workshop in the community, I agree with Penny, we should get back to these routes. Thanks for your upload!!! Greetings from Argentina
Patricia Gladys

Thank you Luke for introducing us to this unique art movement called Bath Arts Workshop. As far as my understanding goes, these guys tried to make life easier in general. It kind of was an experiment to see life through this amazing venture.
Hilal

I didn’t hear anything about band Hawkwind. And now I watched them on YouTube and I found out that Lemmy played with them about that time. Fantastic! Penny saw Lemmy with Hawkwind in Bath in early seventies! Kind of weird and Fantastic!!
Yury V

This woman is amazing! Big love for her.
Laila

That initiative bears some similarity to programs aiming at teenagers from dysfunctional families that I know from my country. Sometimes psychologists and volunteers are involved to make teens engaged in arts, in helping others, in creating a community...It helps them get socialised, find some sense in their life, discover passion, learn new skills that may come in useful in their adult life. Inclusive communities like that in Bath may be therapeutic. Congratulations on that.
Iwona O

Young people are so talented and all you need to do is just give them a bit money and freedom and all the rest they will do themselves. Leave them in poverty and they will waste their energy and passion.
Vera B

Feedback from Richard Wyatt’s interview with Phil

Fascinating! Thanks Richard and Phil. Do you have feeling that Bath is again at risk of forgetting that there’s more to the city than its Roman and Georgian heritage? Will definitely visit the exhib at the Museum.
Anna B

This is a great interview Richard. I was in the audience of Phil Grimm’s Progress at the Walcot Beano in 1979. What a time that was, so much creativity I clearly remember walking through somebody’s house as the ‘Progress’ continued. Probably the best street performance I have seen. I must go to the Bath at Work Museum and watch a bit more of those halcyon days.
Richard F