Blog: Celebrate the bostin' Black Country

Let's agree on a location first.

The Black Country isn't exactly a county or district - it's a number of different boroughs. Nowadays the Black Country is made up of four Metropolitan District Council areas: Dudley, Sandwell, Walsall and Wolverhampton. However, parts of Wolverhampton, Stourbridge and Smethwick or what used to be known as Warley are not classed as part of the Black Country.

Therefore, and there may be arguments over this, but Dudley or Walsall seem to be best contenders for hosting Black Country Day. Dudley has the Black Country Living Museum and Dudley Castle and Zoo, while Walsall has the leather and lock legacy it was built on. I'll leave you to decide or differ.

There's a lot of history in the Black Country – We had the first car (Sunbeam) to go faster than 200mph, we made the world's finest saddles in Walsall, built the first successful steam engine in the world built (the Newcomen), oh and the anchor for the Titantic was made in Netherton, to name but a few achievements. But other than our heritage, what else can we celebrate?

Our dialect, for one thing. People often mix up the Birmingham and Black Country accents but the two are actually very different – especially if you ask a 'Yam Yam' or a 'Brummie'.

So, we have our own language – bostin' ay we? – but how could we incorporate this into Black Country Day? Famous 'yam yams' would have to be on board surely. Funnyman Lenny Henry and the music legend Noddy Holder are two of the big names in the Black Country and known by their accents.

Oh and don't forget the food.

When you think of Black Country food, faggots and pays may be one of the first, but there is more to us than pork offal covered in gravy served with orange (battered) chips – they're not for everyone.

Most of the country's' pork scratchings (not that puffed up rubbish) are still produced in the Black Country, where you are bound to find a bag in every traditional pub you step foot in. Obviously you will need something to wash that salty snack down with, so it's lucky that the Black Country is home to a few renowned beers.

Bonks's (or Banks's to the posh outsiders) is fresher than a bottle of milk and their brewery owned by the Marston's group is only in Wolverhampton. Bathams is also a strong Black Country brewer and their tap houses still have sawdust on the floor - talk about authentic!

So, ar, we do have a lot to be proud of in the Black Country and being a 'yam yam' is definitely bostin. I think a massive parade showcasing the chuffed people of the region, maybe teaching a few visitors what's what when it comes to our dialect is on the cards. You cor resist. Bring on the fust Black Country day it will be the gab of the region you wo resist having a good loff.

By Jody Ball