Richard Bifield talks Shropshire

Richard Bifield Dip TP; MRTPI (Rtd) PPTMI; FTS (Rtd)

Tel: 01952 614319
Mob: 07976 100087

Email: richard.bifield@blueyonder.co.uk


Currently I can offer the following illustrated talks and more are in the course of preparation.

Each would normally last for about an hour, but I can tailor each one to a shorter period if required and I have produced cut-down versions of most of them for schools.

. The Life and Shropshire works of Thomas Telford

. A Brief History of Telford

. Telford & Wrekin: Then and Now

. Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site: Then and Now

. A Visitor's Guide to Telford & Wrekin

. Best of Shropshire's Heritage and Landscapes

. 1709-2009: celebratinge 300th anniversary of the Birth of the Industrial Revolution at Coalbrookdale

. The British on Holiday: from the Grand Tour to mass tourism

. Shropshire's finest and most interesting churches

FORTHCOMING BOOKINGS

Tuesday 13th March Albrighton W.I. "Thomas Telford"

Wednesday 28th March Wellington Probus Club " Shropshire's Finest Churches"

Saturday March 30th St Mary's Church, Ketley " A Brief History of Telford"

Tuesday 3rd April Burntwood Family History Society " The British on Holiday"

Wednesday 4th April Stafford U3A " The Best of Shropshire"

Wednesday 11th April Friends of Telford Town Park "Thomas Telford"

Wednesday 18th April Landor Society Rugeley "Thomas Telford"

Tuesday 24th April Much Wenlock Civic Society " Shropshire's Finest Churches"

Friday 27th April Loppington w.I. General Knowledge Quiz

My usual fee for a one hour talk is between £50 and £95 , including expenses, depending on client organisation, venue and specific requirements

All power point equipment necessary is provided, including large projection screen and P.A. if required.

For bookings please call me on 01952 614319 or 07976 100087 or email me on: richard.bifield@blueyonder.co.uk

Brief History of Telford – or 2000 years in less than 60 minutes

A Brief History of Telford- with a few literary associations thrown in

Telford & Wrekin: Then and Now (showing the physical changes to the district over the last 100 or so years)

Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site: Then and Now

The Life and Shropshire Works of Thomas Telford

Visitor’s Guide to Telford & Wrekin

The Best of Shropshire – a personal choice of her heritage and landscapes

1709-2009: A celebration of the 300th anniversary of the Birth of the Industrial Revolution at Coalbrookdale

• NEW FOR 2011 AND AVAILABLE NOW

THE BRITISH ON HOLIDAY- FROM THE GRAND TOUR TO MASS TOURISM"

SHROPSHIRE'S FINEST AND MOST INTERESTING CHURCHES" - this talk is presented on behalf of the Shropshire Historic Churches Trust

TELFORD & WREKIN'S MOST INTERESTING CHURCHES AND CHAPELS

RECENT AND FUTURE BOOKINGS

2nd-8th JANUARY

Wednesday evening: Craven Arms History Group "The Life and Shropshire Times of Thomas Telford"

9th-15th JANUARY

Tuesday evening: Criftins W.I. "The British on Holday"

Friday evening: Civil Service retired club "The British on Holiday"

16th-21st JANUARY

Tuesday evening: Loppington W.I. "The British on Holiday"

22nd-29th JANUARY

Wednesday morning: Donnington Nifty 50s " Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site: Then and Now"

30th JANUARY- 5th FEBRUARY

Wednesday morning: Stafford Phoenix Club "The British on Holiday"

Wednesday evening: Broseley Local History Society "Shropshire's Finest Churches"

6th - 12th FEBRUARY

Monday morning: Hadlley 5-0 Club, "Shropshire's Finest Churches"

13th- 19th FEBRUARY

Tuesday evening: Moreton W.I. "The British on Holiday"

Wednesday evening: Shropshire NT Centre "The British on Holiday"

Thursday evening: Hartlebury, Worcs "The Life and Shropshire Times of Thomas Telford"

5th - 11th MARCH

Tuesday morning: Baggeridge Active Retirement Group, "The British on Holiday"

12th-18th MARCH

Tuesday evening: Albrighton W.I. "The Life and Shropshire Works of Thomas Telford"

26th - 30th MARCH

Friday evening: St Marys church, Ketley. talk title t.b.c.

2nd-8th APRIL

Tuesday evening: Chasetown, Staffs Burtwood family History Society " The British on Holiday"

Wednesday afternoon: Stafford U3A "The Best of Shropshire"

16th-22nd APRIL

Wednesday evening: Landor Society, Rugeley "The Life and Shropshire Times of Thomas Telford"

Saturday evening: St John's PCC Ryton XI Towns "Shropshire's Finest Churches"

23rd - 29th APRIL

Tuesay evening: Much Wenlock Civic Society "Shropshire's Finest Churches"

7th-13th MAY

Thursday afternoon: Sunnycroft NT group "Shropshire's Finest Churches"

14th-20th MAY

Tuesday evening: Bishop's Castle W.I. "Shropshire's Finest Churches"

18th-24th JUNE

Mondat afternoon: Much Wenlock TWG "Ironbridge Gorge World Heritage Site: Then and Now"

25thJUNE - 1st JULY

Saturday evening: Shropshire Historic Churches Trust "Shropshire's Finest Churches"

2nd- 8th JULY

Wednesday evening: Bridgnorth "The British on Holiday"

20th-26th AUGUST

Tuesday afternoon: Wrekin U3A subject t.b.c.

3rd-9th SEPTEMBER

Tuesday midday: Much Wenlock Ladies' Club "The British on Holiday"

17th-23rd SEPTEMBER

Thursday evening: Nesscliffe W.I. "Shropshire's Finest Churches"

24th -30th SEPTEMBER

Wednesday evening: Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum "Shropshire's Finest Churches"

OCTOBER

15th - 21st OCTOBER

Thursday evening: Wolverhampton Nat. Trust Centre "Best of Shropshire"

NOVEMBER

2nd - 8th NOVEMBER

Monday evening: Albrighton History Society "World Heritage Site: Then and Now"

SEPTEMBER 2013

16th-22nd SEPTEMBER

Monday afternoon: Wyre Forest U3A - "The British on Holiday"

An introduction to Richard Bifield

Richard Bifield Dip TP; MRTPI (Rtd); PPTMI; FTS (Rtd)

Tel: 01952 614319

Mob: 07976 100087

Email: richard.bifield@blueyonder.co.uk

Born Harrow, Middlesex 1946, raised on the Isle of Wight 1953-1964, qualified as a Town Planner (Nottingham School of Town and Country Planning) 1968.

Practised as a Town Planner with Newcastle upon Tyne City Council 1968-1970; and Berkshire County Council 1970-1977.

Joined Wrekin District Council in December 1977 as Conservation Officer and in late 1984 was appointed the Council’s first Tourism Manager.

Between 1984 and 2006 I was a tourism advisor to the Association of District Councils (ADC) and latterly the Local Government Association (LGA).

I served on the Executive Committee of the Tourism Management Institute and was elected National President for the year 1998-99.

I also was a Board member of the European Union of Tourist Officers and served as its Hon. Treasurer from 2000- 2005.

I retired from Telford & Wrekin Council at the end of September 2009

Currently I am:

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  Publicity Officer and Trustee of the Shropshire Historic Churches Trust





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  Vice Chair of the Friends of the Ironbridge Gorge Museum





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  Committee member of the Wellington Literary Festival, with special responsibility for publicity





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  Committee member of the Art Fund Shropshire
  
  Presenting illustrated talks to local clubs, societies and schools has been part of my work for 40 years, but latterly it increased in importance with my role as coordinator of Telford & Wrekin Council’s celebrations of three major anniversaries:

• 2007: 250^th anniversary of Thomas Telford’s birth





• 2008: 40^th anniversary of Telford New Town





• 2009: 300^th anniversary of the Birth of the Industrial Revolution

Over the last three years alone I have given nearly 200 talks to local organisations including: Rotary; Round Table; 41 Club; Probus; Tangent; Women’s Institute; Town Women’s Guild; U3A; neighbourhood and community groups and special interest groups.