The monthly meeting was held on May 19 at 7.30pm in the Amblecote Room, Stourbridge Town Hall.

President Don Cochrane introduced the speaker Charles Hajdamach, retired keeper of Glass and Fine Art at Broadfield Museum and principal museum officer for Dudley Borough with his talk, Crystal Palace Exhibition 1851.

The first international Great Exhibition of 1851, the brainchild of Prince Albert 1819-61 and Henry Cole 1808-82, a civil servant, known as Old King Cole, designer of the first Christmas card, a man who got things done, included exhibits demonstratng widely diverse industries and arts including lighthouses, steam engines, furniture, fabrics, crystal, porcelain and paintings, even an 85 bladed army knife.

Joseph Paxton 1801-65, a horticultural landscape architect drew the building plan on a piece of paper on June 11 1850 and work was completed quickly due to its innovatove prefabricated glass and ironwork design, supplied respectively by Chance Brothers, Smethwick and Fox and henderson, London Works, Smethwick, the building subsequently becoming known as the Crystal Palace.

May 1 1851 was a grey day, but magically, a ray of sunshine lit up Queen Victoria as she officially opened the great building which attracted thousands of visitors of all nationalities.

Day trips organised by Thomas Cook enabled poorer folk to experience an ‘incredible attack on the senses’, their entrance dee allowing them to view the world for a shilling, indoor flushing toilets enabling visitors to ‘spend a penny’.

The exhibition made a huge profit, spent on public amenities like the Victoria and Albert Museum and the Royal Albert Hall and also various scholarships.

The building was moved to Sydenham in 1854 and became a major centre for English life.

It eventually became dilapidated but was bought for the nation and restored in 1911, subsequently used for all kinds of exhibitions through to the 1930s.

Sadly a disaterous fire on November 30 1936 roared through the building totally destroying it.

Charles had included many illustrations, paintings and later photos which ahd brought the Crystal Palace to life.

Don gave the vote of thanks for a most interesting talk about an exhibition which had contributed to making ‘Great Britain, great’.

The secretary David Hickman welcomed three new members Brian Edwards, Ken Higgins and David Millas and advised the meeting of two planned guided walks, Lye cemetary on July 30 and Stourbridge canal on August 20.

The next meeting is on September 15, time and venue the same. The speaker will be Gillian White with, Bess of Hardwick Hall. Visitors and new members welcome.A honeymoon in Woolacombe, Devon followed the wedding