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Blue plaque row after 'copycat' design revealed outside Arena Theatre

The group behind a long-running blue plaque scheme fear a “rogue” design installed without its knowledge could open the floodgates for more copycats.

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The blue plaque, inset, outside the Arena Theatre which has drawn criticism from The Wolverhampton Society

Wolverhampton Civic and Historical Society has been commemorating people, places and events of importance with blue plaques in the city since 1983 with more than 100 now dotted around the city.

But members of the group, now part of The Wolverhampton Society, have expressed concerns after an almost identical blue plaque, with the same design and made by the same craftsman, was installed without its approval

It has been endorsed by Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Claire Darke and placed outside The Arena Theatre.

It honours former Wolves striker Thomas Phillipson who was also the city’s mayor in 1944/45 and his grandson Andrew Jemmett, who was the theatre’s equality and diversity officer.

The Wolverhampton Society says it has no issue with the pair’s contributions to the city being recognised but is unhappy that the same style of plaque has been used.

A blue plaque for former Wolverhampton Rotary Club president Tom Warren CBE outside the Britannia Hotel in Wolverhampton

Chairman Suhail Rana said: “The committee of the Wolverhampton Society unanimously agreed a robust course of action to prevent what it sees as the dilution of the integrity of the existing blue plaque scheme.

"This scheme was originally pioneered by the Wolverhampton Civic Society in 1983 and has since handed out over 100 plaques.

"A formal complaint is being lodged with City of Wolverhampton Council as this situation has the potential to open the floodgates for rogue blue plaques to be handed out on a whim throughout the city.

“Furthermore, the society intends to write to organisations and individuals we believe are intended targets for rogue plaques and warn them of the dangers of this new scheme.

“With the city having arguably the most successful scheme for blue plaques outside of London, this has the potential to make the city of Wolverhampton a laughing stock.”

“With regards to the issue of the specific plaque in question, it should be clarified that the Wolverhampton Society has absolutely no issue with the Arena Theatre choosing to commemorate a sadly-missed former colleague via some form of plaque.

"We do not, however, feel that is appropriate to do this via an identical design of blue plaque to the ones we have issued since 1983.”

A slightly different blue plaque outside the home of former cricketer and Wolves vice-president Rachael Heyhoe Flint in Wergs Road, Tettenhall

But Mayor of Wolverhampton Councillor Claire Darke, a former committee member of The Wolverhampton Society, has defended the installation of the blue plaque, saying she believes no organisation should have “sole control” of the scheme.

She said: “My husband Paul and I worked with Andrew Jemmett and the University of Wolverhampton’s Arena Theatre for decades.

"Andrew was our friend. His work is of national significance and deserves due recognition.

“No single organisation has sole control - nor should it - over plaques in Wolverhampton.

“I hope The Wolverhampton Society and others put up some plaques celebrating our great city and I look forward to endorsing more plaques celebrating Wolverhampton Mayors and others.”

Earlier this year a blue plaque was revealed in honour of Baroness Rachael Heyhoe Flint - the pioneering sportswoman and businesswoman, best known for her time playing cricket for England, and as the vice-president of Wolves.