Pen Room founder honored

The pen is mightier than the sword as they say, and it is the pen that ultimately helped one 71-year-old Sutton Coldfield man gain an MBE this week.

Brian Jones, who lives in Walmley, was honoured for his voluntary services to the Pen Room - a museum dedicated to the Birmingham's pen trade. . .

Brian's interest started when he wrote and researched a book on Josiah Mason - who made his own fortune through manufacturing pen nibs.

He became one of the driving forces behind the Birmingham Pen Trade Heritage Association, which was formed in 1996.

The group opened the volunteer-run Pen Room in 2001 and a learning centre was established the following year.

It now attracts up to 10,000 people a year from as far afield as China and the United States.

Posted by David on June 22, 2008 9:32 AM