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Vulcan’s Temple – The Story of Soho Foundry

The names of Matthew Boulton and James Watt are synonymous with the development of the Steam Engine. In 1795 they commissioned the construction of Soho Foundry in order to build all the components of steam engines. The Soho Foundry became one of the great establishments of the industrial age building pumping engines, power engines and marine engines including the screw engine for Brunel’s ‘Great Eastern’. Over the decades the Foundry has evolved with the James Watt & Company maintaining a presence into the 20th century. In 1895 W & T Avery the great weighing machine company bought the site and transformed it. Since then, the foundry has grown coping with two wars, shipping disasters and changing technology. This presentation traces a remarkable and unique history of a legendary establishment. With stunning period images and evocative music Andrew resplendent in 18th century costume relives the history of Vulcan’s Temple.

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Space Commentator for TalkTV
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You may use as little or much of the following in any publicity material and introduction: Andrew has been presenting public lectures and staging exhibitions for nearly 50 years and has participated in thousands of events. He regularly tours the UK with his Trademark Odyssey Dramatic Presentations® and Lectures® and is invited back time and again due to popular demand. He has supported astronomy and space science public awareness in the United Kingdom since the late 1970s having organized and funded many public activities in support of Birmingham Museum of Science & Industry. He was also co-organizer of the National Astronomy & Spaceflight Shows—shows of a style that changed the public view of astronomy events. He conceived and managed a large number of public science projects using developing technologies including telerobotics.

He has worked in USA, Europe, Australia, Russia, Middle East and North Africa. In 2005 he became the first western science speaker to tour Libya following the removal of sanctions. Due to the success of this work he was asked to return to Libya in 2006 to project manage a science and public awareness team to observe the total eclipse of the Sun, promote safe observation and stage a lecture tour.

Andrew is a man of many interests who specializes in space science and astronomy from both a current and historical perspective. In these fields he is renowned for his extensive knowledge which is always up to date. His research into the 18th century Lunar Society revealed many new and exciting discoveries about their activities including the discovery that Matthew Boulton, a man ahead of his time, had built an astronomical observatory in the grounds of Soho House, Birmingham.

Another main area of interest of his is the Titanic. After many years of dedicated research, he is now recognized as one of the world’s leading authorities on the subject. His research into the Birmingham and Midlands’ connections of the Titanic has been extensive and led him to writing; directing and producing a stage show ‘1912: A Titanic Odyssey.’ He has also written and performs a 10- and 12-part series about all aspects of the Titanic from its conception to its re-discovery. For the Titanic Centenary Commemoration, he staged a large multi-media exhibition tracing the history of the ship with emphasis on its Midlands’ connections.

He worked in cooperation with The Planetary Society, which is the world’s largest space interest group, for over thirty-years. He is a graduate of the London Academy of Radio Film and Television where he studied presentation techniques and television production. He can be heard regularly on BBC Radio WM where he is known as “The Urban Spaceman” and WM’s “Titanic Expert.”

He has a master’s degree in Astronomy with particular emphasis on Planetary Science. His current projects include working with the California Institute of Technology JPL on promoting the Cassini Mission to Saturn; Acting as project manager of The Antoniadi Project – a British concept of a space-probe to the Hellas Region on Mars; Developing new presentation techniques involving augmented reality to promote space science to the general public.

He also has a BA in Media Studies which he uses in conjunction with his knowledge of space science to promote astronomy and space exploration to the general public. He has acted as advisor on a number of television and film productions as well as appearing in many of them.

Having studied performing art and acting at a number of theatres and stage schools, he combines the skills acquired into the trade-marked Odyssey Dramatic Presentations and Lectures® that combine scientific knowledge, journalistic research with drama to present a unique performance. The presentations have now been taken to a new level with the ‘Odyssey Duo’ series. From 2010-2014 he was Curator of the Avery Historical Museum located at the famous Soho Foundry in Smethwick. The museum was formed in 1927 where he developed the world-renowned collection to encompass a history of the famous Soho Foundry. He has four books published ‘Lunatick Astronomy’, ‘Life in the Balance’, ‘RMS Titanic Made In The Midlands’; ‘The Power of Balance: W&T Avery Ltd in the First World War’ with a number of books in preparation covering the history of Avery’s, and Soho Foundry. He has collaborated on a book ‘Hystory the Story of Hydrogen’ published in 2021.

He has been awarded several times for his contributions to space science public awareness and is in constant demand on the lecture circuit for his unique and entertaining style.

Andrew is currently working with Made In Birmingham TV writing and presenting history programmes including the highly acclaimed ‘Streets of Birmingham’; Talk Radio providing space science commentary. He staged a highly acclaimed Exhibition and programme of presentations in commemoration of the Apollo 11 Moon landing in 2019. He is a regular space commentator on TalkTV working on regular slots, GBNews BBC Radio, Talk Radio, TalkSport and BBC News24.

Presentation durations are adjustable. In general 1hr, 1hr 15 mins, 1hr 30 mins and 2hrs. Reductions to 45 mins and 40 mins are possible on some of the presentations. Emergency cover available

Vulcan's Temple the Story of Soho Foundry

Andrew Lound

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