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28 very public people interviewed by 16 artists
Very Public People
Mr Osman / Rev. Bob Ralphs & Carine Ralphs
Contributors Jo Hallington / Lyn Jenkins
Rev Bob Ralphs & Carine Ralphs Interviewed by Lyn Jenkins
I was less of a Parish priest, I was more involved in industry, so while being a priest I was also a shop steward , I worked with the mentally ill and I I was involved with the church worked in the steel industry. I was more of the outreach priest. when I was fairly young, 6 or I wanted to say through this 7. And I was only 10 when I knew I wanted to serve God. It that being a priest is more to took people a while to realise I do with being a servant rather was serious about it and see me than a boss, but it didn’t catch as the proper material. I was on. I am a non-stipend minister, I am not paid by the church. the only one who could hear the calling. I was born and raised in the area and my family has always lived here, my father and my grandfather.
Rev Bob Ralphs & Carine Ralphs Continued from the previous page...
“I was more of the outreach priest. I wanted to say through this that being a priest is more to
I was never there to convert people but to help people, working with people with no faith and people with faith. I feel church is for the vulnerable; people need it for carrying them through their lives. When we got married we were walking up to the town at night, looking at all the shops, the golden mile as it was called. There were no shutters, no fear. Those were golden times.
You cannot do that anymore, the shops are gone, and the atmosphere has changed. This place could do with a spiritual revolution. I am slowing down a bit now. I usually work on a Sunday but other than that I am not involved much any more. I am concentrating on playing the keyboard; I haven’t improved much since my teens! And the garden - we got ourselves into the Express and the Star with it.
do with being a servant rather than a boss, but it didn’t catch on.”
Mr Osman
“West Bromwich gets visitors not just from the area. Australia, New
The owner of the newsagent Alosmic News
Zealand, Los Angeles – people come
on West Bromwich High Street
and visit. They like the intimacy and
Interviewed by Jo Halington
closeness of the place. They know it is not a well off place, they know it straight away. But they like it.”
I have been here for the last 16 years. And I keep observing young people here who are frustrated with the lack of entertainment in the area. No cinemas, no places for them to go, so they destroy the bins in the street out of sheer frustration. This is worrying. I feel for the youth here.
visit. They like the intimacy and closeness of the place. They know it is not a well off place, they know it straight away. But they like it. It is a poor town really, no Marks and Spencers here, no big high street shops. This is a clearance town with the big shops selling their last 3 seasons clothes.
West Bromwich gets visitors not just from the surrounding area. Australia, New Zealand, Los Angeles – people come and
There are nice tourist places nearby, but they are not publicised well to the outside world so people do not know
about them! You have to put energy into promoting Sandwell, but it is hard. You have Worcester or Stourbridge just down the road. And Birmingham!!!! But West Bromwich is trying to modernise itself. This is a good thing, but it is a long and painful transition process. When we come out of the recession, when it is back to normal, when employment
increases and the social status of people increases we are going to have a better life here. But I am urging the local council to give this town a focal point. As soon as possible.
Very Public People
Design Alice Ralph www.aliceralph.com