A TWO day festival is being held in Cradley Heath this weekend to mark the heroism of the 800 women chainmakers who went on strike in 1910.

On Saturday night there will be concert at the Hollybush, Newtown Lane, then on Sunday there will be a parade and festivities on High Street between 11am and 6pm.

The event is organised by the TUC which is determined to keep the memory alive of Mary Macarthur's historic fight for a minimum wage.

A TUC spokesman said: "The Chainmakers festival will be held on Cradley Heath High Street - the iconic heart of the famous struggle where the Chainmakers worked and lived - and fought their successful ten week dispute to secure a minimum wage for their sector.

"A family friendly street festival involving market stalls, fun fair rides, speeches, street theatre, music and debate, the 2015 festival promises to be a hugely successful and enjoyable day."

Black Country entertainer Bev Pegg appeared at the first Women Chainmaker’s Festival in 2005 which was originally held at The Black Country Living Museum, alongside the award winning folk group Bellowhead.

Since then, the festival has moved to Cradley Heath and Bev is performing on the 1910 stage on Sunday around 3.00pm.

Bev was born in Belle Vale, then lived in Cradley, and worked for 45 years at Cradley Chain and Manufacturing Company, which evolved into Cradley Castings Limited during the 1950s following the decline in local chainmaking.

He said: “Both my grandfather and grandmother were chainmakers, and they used to let me help working the treadle and ‘ommerin’ the iron before it was made into chain when I was a young boy of about 10 years old.

"I’m really looking forward to appearing in my home town. Cradley and Cradley Heath folks have a great sense of humour, I can’t wait.”

There will be a host of stars performing including Brendan Hawthorne, Ron Popple, Heather Wastie, John Langford, The Blackhounds, Flat Stanley

and Empty Can.

Lynn Morris will be reprising her role as Mary Macarthur alongside The Black Country Players, Uniquely Simple and the Fizzogs.