Carl Chinn
Encyclopedia
Professor Carl Stephen Alfred Chinn MBE
, Ph.D.
(born 6 September 1956) is an English historian, writer, radio presenter, magazine editor, newspaper columnist, media personality, local celebrity, and famous Brummie
, whose working life has been devoted to the study and popularisation of the city of Birmingham
in England
. Chinn is a supporter of Aston Villa Football Club
and has a season ticket in the Doug Ellis Stand at Villa Park.
to a father, Alfred, (known as "Buck", died 26 April 2010; himself a notable football supporter and local activist) from Sparkbrook
and mother, Sylvia ("Sylvie"), from Aston
, Chinn grew up in Birmingham and was educated at Moseley School
and the University of Birmingham
. He was married in 1978 to Kathleen Doyle: they have a son and three daughters, one of whom, Tara, has sung professionally on stage and video with her father.
before entering academia
, gaining his Ph.D. in 1986.
His work in the community made him a popular figure, and in 1994 he was invited by the Birmingham Evening Mail to write a two-page feature on local history. This proved extremely popular and Chinn has written a weekly column for the paper ever since.
Chinn holds the position of Professor of Community History at the University of Birmingham
and is also director of the Birmingham Lives project. He is the author of over twenty books on the history of Birmingham and the urban working class
in England. He presents a weekly radio programme on BBC WM
, often appears on local television programmes such as Midlands Today and also writes a weekly local history for the Express & Star
. He is Director of the Birmingham Lives multimedia archive at UoB (formerly at South Birmingham College
).
He has also made three videos and provided spoken links on two CDs of songs about Birmingham.
In 2000 Chinn was a leading figure in the temporarily-successful, but eventually doomed, campaign to save the Longbridge car factory
from closure. In 2001 he was awarded the MBE
for services to local history and charity. When the rebuilt Bull Ring was opened in 2003 Chinn criticised it for the lack of concern its developers and planners had shown towards market traders who had been the mainstay of the Bull Ring for the 800 years up to 1964, when the much-criticised previous shopping centre was built on the site. Chinn has also been prominent in the campaigns to save the last back-to-back houses in Birmingham
, now a National Trust
museum in Inge Street; and for a memorial to the victims of the Second World War Blitz on the city, sited in Edgbaston Street in the Bull Ring.
In October 2007 Professor Chinn accepted the post of Patron of the St John's Church Preservation Group, Kates Hill
, Dudley. The church has been closed to the public. The Preservation Group aim to restore and re-open it.
In December 2010 he appeared on Ian Hislop
's BBC television show "Age of the Do-Gooders", in which he championed George Dawson
; a "non-conformist preacher, and a bit of a showman". He has also appeared on the BBC's Question Time
.
as in London
and some other towns in the UK
, Carl Chinn would run as an independent, and he has said in the past that he has considered this possibility.
In the 1980s he was briefly a member of the Social Democratic Party
, which broke from Labour
in protest at its perceived left
ward shift, and later went on to merge with the Liberal Party
to form the Liberal Democrats. He stood in the 1983 general election
as an independent, campaigning for import controls to protect local industry, more investment in council housing and a return of capital punishment for certain offences.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, Ph.D.
Doctor of Philosophy
Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as Ph.D., PhD, D.Phil., or DPhil , in English-speaking countries, is a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities...
(born 6 September 1956) is an English historian, writer, radio presenter, magazine editor, newspaper columnist, media personality, local celebrity, and famous Brummie
Brummie
Brummie is a colloquial term for the inhabitants, accent and dialect of Birmingham, England, as well as being a general adjective used to denote a connection with the city, locally called Brum...
, whose working life has been devoted to the study and popularisation of the city of Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
in England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. Chinn is a supporter of Aston Villa Football Club
Aston Villa F.C.
Aston Villa Football Club is an English professional association football club based in Witton, Birmingham. The club was founded in 1874 and have played at their current home ground, Villa Park, since 1897. Aston Villa were founder members of The Football League in 1888. They were also founder...
and has a season ticket in the Doug Ellis Stand at Villa Park.
Family
Born at at Sorrento hospital in MoseleyMoseley
Moseley is a suburb of Birmingham, England, two miles south of the city centre. The area is a popular cosmopolitan residential location and leisure destination, with a number of bars and restaurants...
to a father, Alfred, (known as "Buck", died 26 April 2010; himself a notable football supporter and local activist) from Sparkbrook
Sparkbrook
Sparkbrook is an inner-city area in south-east Birmingham, England. It is one of the four wards forming the Hall Green formal district within Birmingham City Council.-Etymology:...
and mother, Sylvia ("Sylvie"), from Aston
Aston
Aston is an area of the City of Birmingham, in the West Midlands of England. Lying to the north-east of the Birmingham city centre, Aston constitutes an electoral ward within the council constituency of Ladywood.-History:...
, Chinn grew up in Birmingham and was educated at Moseley School
Moseley School
Moseley School: A Language College is a large comprehensive school in the Moseley area of Birmingham, England. It has a predominantly male, Muslim student population...
and the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
. He was married in 1978 to Kathleen Doyle: they have a son and three daughters, one of whom, Tara, has sung professionally on stage and video with her father.
Career
Chinn initially followed his father and grandfather into bookmakingBookmaker
A bookmaker, or bookie, is an organization or a person that takes bets on sporting and other events at agreed upon odds.- Range of events :...
before entering academia
Academia
Academia is the community of students and scholars engaged in higher education and research.-Etymology:The word comes from the akademeia in ancient Greece. Outside the city walls of Athens, the gymnasium was made famous by Plato as a center of learning...
, gaining his Ph.D. in 1986.
His work in the community made him a popular figure, and in 1994 he was invited by the Birmingham Evening Mail to write a two-page feature on local history. This proved extremely popular and Chinn has written a weekly column for the paper ever since.
Chinn holds the position of Professor of Community History at the University of Birmingham
University of Birmingham
The University of Birmingham is a British Redbrick university located in the city of Birmingham, England. It received its royal charter in 1900 as a successor to Birmingham Medical School and Mason Science College . Birmingham was the first Redbrick university to gain a charter and thus...
and is also director of the Birmingham Lives project. He is the author of over twenty books on the history of Birmingham and the urban working class
Working class
Working class is a term used in the social sciences and in ordinary conversation to describe those employed in lower tier jobs , often extending to those in unemployment or otherwise possessing below-average incomes...
in England. He presents a weekly radio programme on BBC WM
BBC WM
BBC WM is the BBC Local Radio service for the West Midlands, South Staffordshire, north Worcestershire and north Warwickshire, operated by BBC Birmingham. Launched on 9 November 1970 as BBC Radio Birmingham, it broadcasts from central Birmingham on 95.6 FM, DAB and on the internet...
, often appears on local television programmes such as Midlands Today and also writes a weekly local history for the Express & Star
Express & Star
The Express & Star is an evening newspaper based in Wolverhampton, England, published Monday to Saturday in nine different editions covering the Black Country, Birmingham and the wider West Midlands area from Tamworth to Kidderminster. It as widely perceived as being moderately right-wing...
. He is Director of the Birmingham Lives multimedia archive at UoB (formerly at South Birmingham College
South Birmingham College
South Birmingham College is an establishment of further education in Birmingham, England providing full-time and part-time courses for young students following their period of compulsory education and for adults...
).
He has also made three videos and provided spoken links on two CDs of songs about Birmingham.
In 2000 Chinn was a leading figure in the temporarily-successful, but eventually doomed, campaign to save the Longbridge car factory
Longbridge plant
The Longbridge plant is an industrial complex situated in the Longbridge area of Birmingham, United Kingdom. It is currently owned by SAIC Group and is a manufacturing and research and development facility for its MG Motor subsidiary....
from closure. In 2001 he was awarded the MBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
for services to local history and charity. When the rebuilt Bull Ring was opened in 2003 Chinn criticised it for the lack of concern its developers and planners had shown towards market traders who had been the mainstay of the Bull Ring for the 800 years up to 1964, when the much-criticised previous shopping centre was built on the site. Chinn has also been prominent in the campaigns to save the last back-to-back houses in Birmingham
Birmingham Back to Backs
The Birmingham Back to Backs at 50–54 Inge Street and 55–63 Hurst Street are the last surviving court of back-to-back houses in Birmingham, England, now operated as a museum by the National Trust....
, now a National Trust
National Trust
National Trust most commonly refers to an organization dedicated to preserving the cultural or environmental treasures of a particular geographic region. They generally operate as private non-profit organizations, although some receive considerable support from their national government...
museum in Inge Street; and for a memorial to the victims of the Second World War Blitz on the city, sited in Edgbaston Street in the Bull Ring.
In October 2007 Professor Chinn accepted the post of Patron of the St John's Church Preservation Group, Kates Hill
Kates Hill
Kates Hill is a residential area in Dudley, West Midlands, England.-History:Kates Hill was the scene of chaos in 1648 when parliamentarians used it as their base in the Civil War against King Charles I...
, Dudley. The church has been closed to the public. The Preservation Group aim to restore and re-open it.
In December 2010 he appeared on Ian Hislop
Ian Hislop
Ian David Hislop is a British journalist, satirist, comedian, writer, broadcaster and editor of the satirical magazine Private Eye...
's BBC television show "Age of the Do-Gooders", in which he championed George Dawson
George Dawson (preacher)
George Dawson was an English nonconformist minister.-Ministry:He was born in London and educated at Marischal College, Aberdeen, and the University of Glasgow....
; a "non-conformist preacher, and a bit of a showman". He has also appeared on the BBC's Question Time
Question Time (TV series)
Question Time is a topical debate BBC television programme in the United Kingdom, based on Any Questions?. The show typically features politicians from at least the three major political parties as well as other public figures who answer questions put to them by the audience...
.
Politics
It has been widely suggested that if Birmingham were to introduce direct mayoral electionsMayors in the United Kingdom
In England, the office of mayor or lord mayor had long been ceremonial posts, with few or no duties attached to it. A mayor's term of office denotes the municipal year. The most famous example is that of the Lord Mayor of the City of London....
as in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and some other towns in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, Carl Chinn would run as an independent, and he has said in the past that he has considered this possibility.
In the 1980s he was briefly a member of the Social Democratic Party
Social Democratic Party (UK)
The Social Democratic Party was a political party in the United Kingdom that was created on 26 March 1981 and existed until 1988. It was founded by four senior Labour Party 'moderates', dubbed the 'Gang of Four': Roy Jenkins, David Owen, Bill Rodgers and Shirley Williams...
, which broke from Labour
Labour Party (UK)
The Labour Party is a centre-left democratic socialist party in the United Kingdom. It surpassed the Liberal Party in general elections during the early 1920s, forming minority governments under Ramsay MacDonald in 1924 and 1929-1931. The party was in a wartime coalition from 1940 to 1945, after...
in protest at its perceived left
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
ward shift, and later went on to merge with the Liberal Party
Liberal Party (UK)
The Liberal Party was one of the two major political parties of the United Kingdom during the 19th and early 20th centuries. It was a third party of negligible importance throughout the latter half of the 20th Century, before merging with the Social Democratic Party in 1988 to form the present day...
to form the Liberal Democrats. He stood in the 1983 general election
United Kingdom general election, 1983
The 1983 United Kingdom general election was held on 9 June 1983. It gave the Conservative Party under Margaret Thatcher the most decisive election victory since that of Labour in 1945...
as an independent, campaigning for import controls to protect local industry, more investment in council housing and a return of capital punishment for certain offences.
External links
- Carl Chinn's Brum - his own website
- Chinn's University of Birmingham page
- Chinn's BBC WM presenter profile
- Birmingham Lives People's History Archive
- Virtual Brum website about Birmingham with many articles by Carl Chinn