Forgotten Yorkshire Book Launch goes off without disruption

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle has welcomed the news that yesterday's public launch in Ossett by TMB Books of Forgotten Yorkshire and Parts of North Derbyshire and Humberside went ahead without disruption.

Pic courtesy of @OssettObserver

"I was delighted to learn that the event went off without any of the demonstrations that had been threatened by militant vegans," Sir Norman said, adding "I am only sorry that I was unable to attend myself, as planned."

Brisk sales of the book yesterday mean that the lead researcher is now able to fulfill his pledge of donating the first £100 of his share of royalties from the book to the TMB's #MSisOffal campaign.

"This is a fantastic gesture by Adrian Littlejohn, for which the TMB is hugely grateful. We did ask the author Dr Eric K Shipley if he was interested in doing the same, but he declined, as he is saving his own share towards the cost of a camping holiday in 2018," Sir Norman said.

Militant vegans attempt to disrupt book launch

Militant members of the Lancashire-based Vegans Against Tripe group have been blamed for graffiti which appeared overnight on the wall outside a venue where the Tripe Marketing Board is due to host a book launch tomorrow.

Graffiti

The event, which takes place at 3pm on Sunday 3rd December at Ossett War Memorial Community Centre, is expected to draw a mix of tripe lovers, people interested in the history of Yorkshire and anyone generally at a loose end in Ossett on a Sunday afternoon.

TMB chairman Sir Norman Wrassle said he wanted to reassure anyone planning to attend that there would be added security to prevent any unpleasant incidents, and that plans were in hand to ensure the offending graffiti was removed.

"We have a team of retired tripe dressers on hand for occasions like this, and they are well-used to working with bleach," Sir Norman said. 

  

Destination Ossett!

Final preparations were made today for what is only the Tripe Marketing Board's second ever public event in Yorkshire.*

Ossett Community Centre

The event - the launch of TMB Books' Forgotten Yorkshire and Parts of North Derbyshire and Humberside - is to be opened by the Lady Mayoress of Ossett and will see TMB chairman Sir Norman Wrassle introduce author Dr Eric K Shipley, who will give brief readings from his work.  There will also be an opportunity to hear a short presentation on the work of the TMB and to purchase a copy of Dr Shipley's book as well as tripe-based gifts and mementos and other books by the TMB.

Speaking of the event (which takes place at 3pm on 3 December at Ossett War Memorial Community Centre) Sir Norman said "I can't tell you how much I am looking forward to visiting Ossett," adding "I've read a lot about it and the surrounding area in Dr Shipley's book, so it will be interesting to see if it lives up to its reputation."

Representatives of the local tourist agency Visit Wakefield will also be on hand to promote the delights of Ossett's near neighbour. "They do sterling work highlighting the attractions of Wakefield, so it's good to have them on board," Sir Norman said.

Interested tripe lovers who are unable to attend the event on Sunday can purchase the book either from Amazon or direct from the TMB, along with a free TMB Pen, by visiting this page. 


* Full details of the first visit, in 2013, can be found here.

Tripe and Blancmange: A Marriage Made in Hebden

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle has expressed his sadness on hearing the news yesterday of the closure of Yorkshire Blancmange, the country's foremost blancmange marketing agency.

Collaboration

The closure comes after the death of Mr Josiah Bickerstaffe, the Honorary President of the League of Blancmangiers, based in Hebden.

Speaking late last night, Sir Norman said "It is always sad when a fellow food marketing agency has to close its doors, particularly one which is promoting a product - like ours - that divides the nation."

Sir Norman said that the TMB had previously collaborated with Yorkshire Blancmange by providing copywriting expertise for its popular 'Blancmange is a dish best served cold' slogan.

"On a more positive note, we have agreed to help sell a number of redundant promotional t-shirts that Yorkshire Blancmange had left when they closed, and these are available on our website now," he added.

£1 from the sale of each t-shirt will go towards the TMB's #MSisOffal campaign for the UK Multiple Sclerosis Society.

World Tripe Day 2018

The Tripe Marketing Board is pleased to confirm that the focus for its World Tripe Day celebrations in 2018 will be Sofia in Bulgaria.

Shkembe Chorba

The city fought off stiff competition from Porto, Kingstown and Wakefield to receive the accolade.

Sofia is famed for its Shkembe Chorba, a traditional Bulgarian soup made with beef tripe, paprika and milk usually served with a garlic sauce.  Per capita consumption of tripe there is one of the highest of any European conurbation, apart from Florence and Wigan.

Speaking after the city was named, TMB chairman Sir Norman Wrassle said: "We'll be delighted to join our colleagues from offal marketing agencies all across Europe next October to celebrate what is only the 5th ever World Tripe Day."

Sir Norman said he looked forward to the day being marked all across the globe.  The announcement came as the TMB confirmed its programme of fact finding visits for the next 12 months. 

"After the launch of Forgotten Yorkshire in Ossett on Sunday 3 December, we'll be making preparations for a hectic schedule that takes in Lisbon, Valencia and Sardinia. Tripe is truly going global, and 2018 looks set to be the Year of Tripe," Sir Norman said. 

A New Dawn For Tripe - Hello, Yorkshire!

The Tripe Marketing Board is delighted to announce that its new offices in Barnsley have been formally opened this morning.

Barnsley - a new home for tripe

TMB chairman Sir Norman Wrassle said: "Monday 27 November 2017 marks a new stage in the resurgence of interest in tripe that has intrigued the nation ever since the launch of World Tripe Day in 2013.  Now, from our base in West Yorkshire, we can develop new markets for tripe."

Sir Norman, who was unable to be present for the official opening due to a prior engagement with the TMB's accountants, said he was looking forward to the post-Brexit challenges of marketing tripe. 

"Our long-standing commitment to Yorkshire, which has often been described as the Capital County of Tripe, dates back over many decades. Here, we'll be facing the continent head-on - in fact, it's just to the right of us now - ready to take tripe to our European neighbours," he said, adding "We may be going through a divorce, but that doesn't mean we won't talking!" 

It's Lancashire Day!

The Tripe Marketing Board would like to take this opportunity to wish all our customers in Lancashire the happiest of Lancashire Days.

Our long-standing commitment to Lancashire, which has often been described as the Capital County of Tripe, dates back over many decades.  Our predecessor organisations chose to make their base in Preston precisely because Lancashire was the historical home of tripe - from Wigan to Chorley and Bury to Bolton, tripe was always readily available for local consumers to enjoy.

We are proud of our Lancashire roots - and we are proud of tripe!

Whatever you are doing today, we hope you have a grand time of it.

TMB Chairman issues clarification after radio interview

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle has today clarified remarks made by BBC Cumbria presenter Gordon Swindlehurst following an interview with Sir Norman on his 20 November lunchtime show.

Sir Norman

In a wide-ranging chat, Sir Norman discussed World Tripe Day, the publication by TMB Books of Forgotten Yorkshire and Parts of North Derbyshire and Humberside and his favourite recipe for cooking tripe, which he had been served whilst visiting Rome for the 2017 World Tripe Day celebrations.

After Sir Norman had left the studio, Mr Swindlehurst made reference on air to "something Sir Norman had picked up in the back streets of Rome".

Speaking earlier today, Sir Norman said: "Unfortunately, my wife did not hear my interview as she was having her hair done at Simons Hair Shop in Carlisle when it was broadcast, but she did hear Gordon's subsequent comments, which made for rather a frosty journey back to Lytham.  I am happy to make it clear that these comments referred to a recipe, and not to either a sexually transmitted disease or a prostitute."
 

'Tripe Friday' set to break all records

Tripe retailers across the country have been preparing for their first ever 'Tripe Friday' tomorrow - the annual day of the year when most tripe is sold.

First initiated by the Tripe Marketing Board in 1979 as 'Tripe Thursday', the idea was quickly dropped when it failed to stimulate sales.  However, the success for many retailers of 'Black Friday' later convinced the TMB that the time was ripe to re-launch the initiative and 'Tripe Tuesday' was born.  After two years of mediocre results, the board has agreed to link the marketing push with other retailers, starting tomorrow.

TMB chairman Sir Norman Wrassle said that Tripe Friday was just what the industry needed in the run-up to Christmas.  Speaking at a media conference at Leeds earlier today, Sir Norman said: "We've taken the precaution of asking tripe retailers to stock up to avoid disappointed customers - these prices can't last forever!" 

New Face at the Tripe Marketing Board

The Tripe Marketing Board is pleased to announce the appointment of a new board member.

Michael Hargreave Mawson, who was born in the North Riding of Yorkshire, brings to the board a wide experience of marketing in many other areas of economic activity which are unpopular with the general public, including the nuclear industry, the defence industry, the tobacco industry, and, of course, biological research and development.  

Michael Hargreave Mawson

More recently, he has devoted his considerable talents to history, particularly that of the Victorian era, which led to a passionate interest in tripe.  As a vegetarian for over thirty years, Mr Hargreave Mawson freely admits that he has never tasted tripe.  Speaking after his appointment, he said: “You don't have to be drunk to flog Scotch, and, in fact, I am told it can often be a hindrance. It's the same with tripe.” 

In filling the role of Director of Customer Experience and Global Head of Aftersales, Mr Hargreave Mawson is responsible for ensuring that each and every one of our customers is completely delighted with our product. 

TMB chairman Sir Norman Wrassle said he was delighted to welcome Mr Hargreave Mawson to the board, adding:  "Michael is just the sort of fresh, young face we need to stir up our work - I'm looking forward to seeing the contribution he will make to the work of the TMB in the months and years ahead."

Board members are hand-selected for their skills, knowledge and family connections, as well as for their love of tripe.

Lancastrians accused of 'fixing' tripe poll

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle has accused a shadowy group of Lancastrian vegans of exerting undue influence on an online poll organised by the TMB.

The poll, which has been running for six days over three rounds, was aimed at finding the most popular venue to host the TMB's public launch of its new book, Forgotten Yorkshire and Parts of North Derbyshire and Humberside.

Suspicious voting patterns

After the first rounds saw the shock elimination of Mexborough and Barnsley, Sir Norman asked for a behind-the-scenes investigation into voting irregularities which revealed suspicious voting patterns that favoured Todmorden, the former Lancashire town that was moved to Yorkshire after local government reorganisation.

Sir Norman said it was clear from the detailed analysis conducted by the TMB that the heavy vote for Todmorden had what he termed "a sinister political undertone" designed to destabilise both the TMB and the fragile peace between Lancashire and Yorkshire.

"For this reason, all votes for Todmorden have been annulled," he said, adding that he had asked the TMB's PR department to make all necessary arrangements to host the book launch at 3pm on Sunday 3 December in Ossett, West Yorkshire.

OffOffal Rules Against TMB in Landmark Decision

The offal processing industry regulator OffOffal has today issued a ruling that will strictly limit the publicity that the Tripe Marketing Board is able to give the books published by its publishing arm, TMB Books.

The decision, which was made after complaints had been lodged by British Spleen and the UK Federation of Lung Processors, means that the TMB will be able to mention its books in the social media no more than 40 times a day.

File under 'Humour'

Head of TMB Books Sheena Eastham said she was disappointed by the ruling, coming as it did in the crucial run-up to Christmas. "We had just spent a small fortune having a whole suite of  adverts designed and produced ready to launch our full catalogue under the 'A Tripe Book is For Christmas' banner," she said.

TMB chairman Sir Norman Wrassle said he would be lodging an immediate challenge to the ruling and that he had arranged a breakfast meeting with the TMB's legal advisors Young, Gifford & Black. "Now that we are more dependent than ever on our publishing arm to finance our vital work promoting tripe to the nation, this restriction could be a fatal blow to our plans," he said.

He blamed jealousy and envy on the part of other offal promotion organisations, adding: "Everyone knows that the lung people haven't produced a decent book since the 1960s."

Meanwhile, sales of TMB Books' latest publication, Forgotten Yorkshire and Parts of North Derbyshire and Humberside are said to be going well, boosted by the offer of a free TMB pen with every copy purchased direct from the publisher.

The book is due to be publicly launched in Yorkshire on Sunday 3 December 2017, at an event that has yet to be formally announced. "We tend to have to keep these things under wraps until the last minute, because of possible demonstrations by militant vegan groups, but I can promise you we're planning an event people won't easily forget," Sir Norman said.

TMB grant cut will not impede our work says chairman

A decision by East Lancashire District Council to axe its annual development grant to the Tripe Marketing Board will not be allowed to stand in the way of the urgent need to promote tripe in the months and years ahead, chairman Sir Norman Wrassle has pledged.

Cllr Nigel Farnworth

The decision, which brings to an end a period of support stretching back over three decades, was announced this afternoon by Cllr Nigel Farnworth, leader of the ELDC, who told reporters from the Burnley Argus that the council would not support an organisation that was turning its back on Lancashire and moving to Yorkshire. 

Sir Norman said he was disappointed by the decision, as the £500 received each year from the ELDC had helped put the Lancashire tripe industry 'back on the map'. "Our beating heart will always be in Lancashire, even if our brains and guts are soon to be relocated across the border in Barnsley," he said. "The £500 makes all the difference to our ability to go out and about promoting tripe to our partners across Britain and around the globe," he added.

Sir Norman said that the TMB would have to redouble its efforts to promote the work of its publishing division, TMB Books, as this would now be the sole source of income for the organisation.  "I won't deny that we are batting on a sticky wicket, but with Christmas fast approaching we can only hope that tripe lovers - apart from buying tripe - also decide to stock up on tripe books as gifts for their friends, family, work colleagues, neighbours and close acquaintences," he said, adding "We may otherwise have to cancel one or two of our fact finding trips in 2018, which would be a great shame, obviously."

TMB chairman 'relaxed' about son's future career choice

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle has defended comments made in an article written for the popular Yorkshire style magazine Wakefield Tommorrow!, where he said that he doesn’t care what profession his son chooses "as long as he likes tripe."

Sir Norman Wrassle

Sir Norman had said that he is "worried as heck" that his son, Stuart, will turn his back on tripe as he grows older,  “Not only because of how it will ruin his life but because of how it will reflect on me,” he said.

There has been previous speculation that Stuart, who is 48, was being 'groomed' to become the next chairman of the Tripe Marketing Board but, apart from a few occasions when he acted as returning officer for the TMB's popular Tripe Dog competitions, he has shown little inclination to follow in his father's footsteps.

Sir Norman said that he was aware that his son, who currently works as a stock controller for a wholefood retail chain, did not relish the prospect of taking on the mantle of chairman, but he hoped that he would at least demonstrate a liking for tripe. "This isn't a case of 'tripe-shaming'," he said.

He insisted that he will continue to love his son "no matter what," and optimistically concludes that having a son who turns out not to like tripe might ultimately help him overcome some of his own vegan-related prejudices.

TMB to retain Lancashire base after move to Barnsley

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle today confirmed that the TMB would retain a presence in Lancashire following the opening of its new operational base in Barnsley, South Yorkshire, later this month.

Speaking from his Lytham home earlier today, Sir Norman said: "We will keep a skeleton staff in Preston for the forseeable future to deal with enquiries, diary engagements and press and media relations".

Innovative advertising

The announcement followed a series of demonstrations outside the TMB's Preston office as locals complained that the TMB was deserting the county.

Sir Norman dismissed a series of parallel demonstrations in Barnsley against the move as the work of militant vegans, who he accused of "whipping up a frenzy of anti-tripe opposition".

Sir Norman said that, by having a presence in both counties, tripe could be "truly TransPennine", comparing it to the railway system that linked Yorkshire and Lancashire.

As evidence of the growth of UK tripe's reach, Sir Norman said that sales of TMB Books' two flagship publications, Forgotten Lancashire and Forgotten Yorkshire, were both on the up as Christmas approached, prompted by innovative advertising in the social media. "Whatever side of the border they come from, a lot of people will be unwrapping a tripe book at the end of December!" he declared.

Chairman's statement on 'Paradise Papers'

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle has issued the following statement in response to accusations made in the East Lancashire Cable TV programme Lancashire's Missing Millions which was broadcast last night:

Chairman apologises to TMB Board members

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle has apologised to board members who have not yet received a complimentary copy of TMB Books' latest publication, Forgotten Yorkshire and Parts of North Derbyshire and Humberside.

Sir Norman said he was disappointed that the late arrival of stock at the TMB's new offices in Barnsley had prevented the books being distributed to board members in a timely manner. "I know this means that ordinary, common-or-garden tripe lovers who have purchased a copy will have had sight of it before those at the top of the industry - this is quite unacceptable and I'm sorry," he said.

It is understood that a large package of books went missing en route from the printers and the Preston distribution hub used by TMB Books to the TMB's offices in South Yorkshire. "We're not sure who to blame on this one, and current suspects include Lancastrians, vegans and people who don't like tripe," Sir Norman said, adding "but as a purely precautionary measure we have had to let one of our interns go."  

He said that the TMB had placed a new order which meant that the books would be sent to board members and a selected group of minor celebrities "hopefully, before the week is out."
 

New Fact-Lite history book launched by TMB Books

TMB Books (the publishing division of the Tripe Marketing Board) has today announced the publication of its latest book, Forgotten Yorkshire and Parts of North Derbyshire and Humberside.

Forgotten Yorkshire (RRP £9.99)

The book, by celebrated Ossett librarian Dr. Eric K. Shipley, shines a light on some hitherto unknown aspects of a county which - though the largest in Britain - is a mystery to many.  With chapters on the Yorkshire music scene, profiles of towns and cities such as Ilkley, Scarborough, Hull (and many more), as well as a detailed examination of the age old question 'Was God a Yorkshireman?', this book will appeal to anyone who thinks history shouldn't be dry and dusty.

Commenting on the book, TMB chairman Sir Norman Wrassle said: "We hear a lot in the news these days about ‘fake news’, but rather less about ‘fake history’.  Under my guidance, I'm proud to have steered our publishing division firmly in the direction of what might be termed ‘Fact-Free’ or ‘Fact Lite’ history books".   

The book is currently available to tripe lovers for just £7.99 as part of a launch offer that extends until 7 November 2017.  It will also be available via selected bookshops and tripe retailers, where it will be offered free with every purchase of 50lb of honeycomb tripe.

"Let’s face it, most people are too busy these days to clutter their minds with useless facts, and I feel very strongly that a new approach to history is needed to awaken people’s interest," Sir Norman said.

Russian vegans suspected of 'fixing' offal poll

Moscow-based members of Мясо - убийство - a shadowy network of Russian vegans that has been targeting meat-based food promoters since 2014 -  has been accused by the Tripe Marketing Board of attempting to undermine the integrity of an online poll to find britain's favourite offal.

The results as they stood at 8pm on 2 November 2017

TMB chairman Sir Norman Wrassle said that the poll, which still has one day left to run, showed all the signs of having been tampered with. In the face of stiff competition from brains, tongue, kidney and spleen, both tripe and liver made it through to the 2017 Grand Final. "Whatever inherent popularity liver may have, there's no doubt that when it comes to personality and looks, tripe trumps it," Sir Norman said.

He was speaking at a meeting of the Westhaughton Ladies' League, where he was guest of honour at their annual AGM and Festival of Flower Arranging, Cooking and Butchery. "We have strong reason to suspect there has been a flood of votes from Moscow with the sole aim of taking the shine off tripe's successful World Tripe Day celebrations last week," he said.

Sir Norman pledged that the vote would be declared null and void if this proved to be the case, adding "At the end of the day, we know liver just isn't that popular."




 

Tripe Marketing Board to move to Barnsley

The Tripe Marketing Board has revealed that it is to move its operational base to Barnsley, South Yorkshire.

Barnsley - unrivalled access to the A628

Announcing the move last night, TMB chairman Sir Norman Wrassle said, "Barnsley is strategically located between Leeds and Sheffield and offers the TMB the perfect opportunity to expand its influence in the north of England."

The TMB has been based in Preston for many years, but Sir Norman said it was time to show goodwill by reaching across the Pennines to develop new markets.  

"Barnsley will be a fantastic base for our work, offering as it does unrivalled access to the A628, a long history of appreciating tripe and - most importantly - affordable office rents," he said, adding that the news had been kept under wraps "for months" while the TMB installed key security measures to ensure the promotion of tripe could continue free from the fear of attacks from militant vegans, which had been a problem at the Preston HQ. 

The move coincides with the imminent launch of TMB Books' latest publication Forgotten Yorkshire and Parts of North Derbyshire and Humberside, which continues the pioneering 'Fact Free' and 'Fact Lite' approach to charting the history of Britain.  Sir Norman said he had been surprised to learn that some people had bought the book even before it is officially launched.  "I can only think they aren't from Yorkshire, as they clearly haven't  waited until the weekend when we will be offering the book at a special, discounted price," he said.

TMB chairman apologises for Yorkshire tofu purchase

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle has apologised after reports appeared in the Wigan on Sunday newspaper that he had asked his secretary to purchase 2lbs of tofu from a wholefood delicatessan in Leeds earlier this week. 

Sir Norman Wrassle

The newspaper reported that Sir Norman had admitted the claims, saying: "I'm not going to deny it. I’m going to have to take it on the chin. I hung around outside and she went into this shop. That was it."

Speaking at a hastily-convened press conference at his Lytham home earlier today, Sir Norman apologised for the incident. "The tofu was bought as a gift for my wife, and I asked my secretary to make the purchase because it would obviously have been deeply embarrassing for me as a leading light in the offal promotion world to have been seen in such an establishment," he said, adding "I am deeply sorry for any offence this incident may have caused to tripe lovers."

Sir Norman said he had chosen to make the purchase in Yorkshire because he felt it would attract less attention there. "I am happy to acknowledge that there are many outlets available for the purchase of tofu in Lancashire and, in the unlikely event that I ever have to buy it again, I will certainly consider using these," he added. 

The Mail reported that Mr Garnier had admitted the claims, saying: “I’m not going to deny it, because I’m not going to be dishonest. I’m going to have to take it on the chin.” According to the paper, he said the “sugar tits” comment was part of an “amusing conversation” about the TV comedy Gavin and Stacey, while the sex toys were bought after a Christmas lunch. “We bought some soap sets, that sort of stuff, scented candles. The vibrator shop was high jinks,” he is quoted as saying. “I hung around outside and she went into this shop. That was it.”

Read more at: https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/uk/government-minister-mark-garnier-admits-asked-secretary-buy-sex-toys/

The Mail reported that Mr Garnier had admitted the claims, saying: “I’m not going to deny it, because I’m not going to be dishonest. I’m going to have to take it on the chin.” According to the paper, he said the “sugar tits” comment was part of an “amusing conversation” about the TV comedy Gavin and Stacey, while the sex toys were bought after a Christmas lunch. “We bought some soap sets, that sort of stuff, scented candles. The vibrator shop was high jinks,” he is quoted as saying. “I hung around outside and she went into this shop. That was it.”

Read more at: https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/uk/government-minister-mark-garnier-admits-asked-secretary-buy-sex-toys/

The Mail reported that Mr Garnier had admitted the claims, saying: “I’m not going to deny it, because I’m not going to be dishonest. I’m going to have to take it on the chin.” According to the paper, he said the “sugar tits” comment was part of an “amusing conversation” about the TV comedy Gavin and Stacey, while the sex toys were bought after a Christmas lunch. “We bought some soap sets, that sort of stuff, scented candles. The vibrator shop was high jinks,” he is quoted as saying. “I hung around outside and she went into this shop. That was it.”

Read more at: https://inews.co.uk/essentials/news/uk/government-minister-mark-garnier-admits-asked-secretary-buy-sex-toys/

TMB chairman apologises after World Tripe Day 2017 leads to product shortage

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle has apologised after the inadvertant success of World Tripe Day 2017 led to shortages of tripe in large parts of the UK on Wednesday.

Promoted as the one day of the year when people who love tripe could celebrate without fear of ridicule, the hashtag #WorldTripeDay trended on Twitter for over 9 hours on 24 October, as the interest of social media users across the globe was piqued.

From Accrington to Addis Ababa, from Rotherham to Rome and from Wigan to Warsaw, World Tripe Day struck a chord that resonated at the counters of tripe suppliers all around the world. The day received widespread coverage on the mainstream media, including Newsweek, the BBC and the Daily Express and was even mentioned on the popular BBC Radio 2 show, Steve Wright in the Afternoon, hosted by former DJ Steve Wright.

Sir Norman himself was interviewed by BBC Radio Wales, interrupting a busy schedule of activities in Rome where celebrations were at their peak. 

Speaking on his return to the UK this morning, he issued an apology for the difficulties many regular tripe eaters faced when they attempted to buy tripe yesterday. "Our initial aim was for the #WorldTripeDay hashtag to trend in Yorkshire, Humberside and Parts of North Derbyshire, to coincide with the imminent launch of a new book from TMB Books.  No one was more surprised than me that it escaped these areas and became a big hit across the whole of the UK - tripe hasn't trended since 1953," Sir Norman said, adding "I'm naturally sorry if people were left without tripe because of the increased demand."

Sir Norman, who is currently at a meat processing event in Leeds, will return to the north west tomorrow when he will judge the Top 5 Tweets whose authors are destined to win a coveted TMB pen.  Thanks to an anonymous benefactor, two celebratory lifetime memberships of Tripe Club will also be awarded - the first time in the Club's history.

Tips for celebrating World Tripe Day

With World Tripe Day 2017 fast approaching, the Tripe Marketing Board has issued guidance for those looking to celebrate the day in style.  Make Tuesday 24 October a World Tripe Day to remember!

You can use the hashtag #worldtripeday to let your social media friends know how you're celebrating the day.

Representatives of the Tripe Marketing Board will be in Rome on 24 October, as guests of the  Italian Guild of Offal Processors - the first time a team has travelled to the city on World Tripe Day.

Wherever you are in the world, and however you choose to mark the day, please remember to enjoy tripe responsibly.

TMB "definitely not" moving to Wakefield says chairman

The Tripe Marketing Board will not be moving its operational base to Wakefield, chairman Sir Norman Wrassle told a meeting of senior UK tripe processors earlier today.

Sir Norman Wrassle

Responding to rumours circulating within the industry, Sir Norman said: "I can state categoricaly that we are definitely not moving to Wakefield, despite what people may have heard. We have been based in Preston for decades and, were it not for the quite exhorbitant increase in office rental costs that are proposed for 2018, the subject of relocating would never have even been an issue."

The small team of TMB staff working at Preston had expressed concern when the rumours first began earlier this year. "I have had to deal with people in tears at the prospect," Sir Norman said, adding that it was irresponsible for people to suggest that the TMB would ask its dedicated workforce to undergo such an enforced move.

"People can rest absolutely assured that we aren't going to Wakefield, so I hope that is the end of the matter," he said. 

TMB chairman apologises over "Get my tripe out" statement

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle has issued the following statement in connection with comments he is alleged to have made at a meeting of the Barnoldswick Ladies' League in September:

Sir Norman Wrassle

"I apologise unreservedly for the language I used at an event in Barnoldswick last month. It was offensive and unacceptable."

The comments came to light after the militant  East Lancashire Vegans Against Tripe organisation released covert video footage via the Guided Forks foodie website in which Sir Norman told the audience "I'll get my tripe out for you, ladies."

Sir Norman clarified that the phrase 'get my tripe out' was a Merseyside colloquialism similar to 'pull my finger out', and that he had intended to convey to the audience that he would work hard to promote tripe as a foodstuff for the 21st century.

"The phrase certainly has no sexual connotations, and it is a source of some discomfort to me that the Guided Forks website chose to imply that," Sir Norman said.

Sir Norman said it would be a shame if the incident cast a cloud over the relationships he had built over many years with branches of the Ladies' League all across Lancashire. "I think they know I'm not that kind of man," he added.

World Tripe Day 24 October 2017

The Tripe Marketing Board is making its final preparations for the celebration of World Tripe Day on Tuesday, 24 October 2017. 

This is the fourth World Tripe Day since it was formally inaugurated in 2013 at a celebratory launch at the UK House of Commons.  With less than a week to go before the event, the UK tripe industry is looking forward to what promises to be the biggest celebration yet of nature's wonder food.

Sir Norman Wrassle

Tripe processors, butchers and supermarkets all over the country are stocking up on tripe in readiness for 24 October and Tripe Club members are dusting off their badges to proudly declare their love of tripe.

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle said "This is the one day of the year when no one has to be ashamed to be a tripe lover.  Whether you're in Florence, Caen or Wigan, this is your special day!"

Sir Norman, who will be celebrating the day in Rome as a guest of the Italian Guild of Offal Processors, said he was looking forward to the occasion immensely: "Many supposedly more popular foodstuffs have long had their own 'world day'.  Now that tripe has one, it is important that we celebrate it in style!" he said. 

The Tripe Marketing Board will be issuing suggestions on how tripe lovers can celebrate World Tripe Day via its social media accounts, using the hashtag #worldtripeday.   Ideas include hosting a tripe party for friends and family, buying some tripe for your dog and lobbying your MP to establish an All-Party Parliamentary Group on Tripe.

"Whatever your plans, enjoy tripe responsibly," Sir Norman said.

Critics of PM's speech were "a tad harsh" says TMB chairman

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle has defended Prime Minister Theresa May after her speech to the 2017 Conservative Party Conference was described as "a car crash" by political commentators.

Sir Norman wrassle

Sir Norman, who has attended fringe meetings at both of the major political party conferences, said he had "every sympathy" with Mrs May and described the criticism as "a tad harsh".  In a candid interview today with Gary Bradlow on the popular Radio Lancashire drive-time show, Gassing with Gaz, Sir Norman said: "As someone who tours the country putting the case for tripe, I know what it's like to have to get up in public and defend something which the majority of people find abhorrent, so I can sympathise with Theresa".

He added that there had been times when he, too, had almost lost his voice, so emotional had be become in putting the case for tripe, and he dismissed those who said that the disintegrating backdrop was evidence of a party in chaos. "There was a time when I was giving a speech when the letters 'T' and 'E' of 'TRIPE' simultaneously fell off the wall behind me but, just like Theresa, I soldiered on to the bitter end," he said.  

Move to Yorkshire is 'pure rumour' says TMB chair

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle has again denied that the TMB has any current plans to move its operations from Preston, Lancashire to Yorkshire.

Speaking at a meeting of the Todmorden Ladies' League last night, Sir Norman described comments in the social media suggesting a move was on the cards as "pure rumour".  The comments followed a leak of Sir Norman's speaking engagements for this week, which included the controversial visit to Todmorden, and which Sir Norman said was probably the work of an intern who had passed the details on to a local branch of the militant Vegans Against Tripe organisation. 

Forgotten Yorkshire - due out soon

Sir Norman took the opportunity to mention to the audience the imminent arrival of TMB Books' latest publication, Forgotten Yorkshire and Parts of North Derbyshire and Humberside, which he thought might appeal to anyone who had forgotten, or merely found it difficult to recall, some of the more obscure aspects of the county's history.  "We think there's an appetite for our brand of Fact-Free and Fact-Lite history books, even amongst people who don't actually like tripe," he said, adding "and we don't believe in letting facts get in the way of a good history book!"

In response to questions from the audience, Sir Norman said that, while he was delighted to be in Todmorden, when he had accepted the invitation he was under the mistaken apprehension that the town was still in Lancashire. "I realise now that it has been adminstered as part of West Yorkshire since 1974 and I would like to apologise for my mistake," he said. "It's perhaps a shame that this fact isn't mentioned a bit more in Forgotten Yorkshire," he added, promising to have a word with the author Dr Eric K Shipley in case the ommission could be remedied.

Sir Norman said that he would not like his appearance in the county - or the book's publication - to fuel the speculation that the TMB was planning to transfer its operations there. "It's certainly true that we have outgrown our premises in Preston and its right that are casting our net widely in a search for a new home, but it would be wrong to imagine that we are moving to Yorkshire next week - or even next month," he said.  

Sir Norman confirmed that an intern at the TMB's office, believed to be a graduate of Leeds University, had been suspended pending a full inquiry into the leak of his diary earlier this week.

Tripe Marketing Board 'Not moving to Yorkshire' says chairman

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle today quashed suggestions that the TMB would be moving its operational base to Yorkshire.

The Twitter Poll which sparked the rumour

The rumours, which arose after a Twitter poll showed a degree of support for a move from Preston to Wakefield, were repeated in an article in Offal Monthly, the trade journal for the offal processing industry.

The article also suggested that the decision by TMB Books, the publishing arm of the TMB, to publish Forgotten Yorkshire and Parts of North Derbyshire and Humberside next month was an indication that the TMB was 'turning its back on Lancashire'.  

Sir Norman confirmed that the TMB "has no plans" to move to Wakefield, although he acknowledged that the town offered unrivalled access to the A638.

Speaking at a meeting of the Barnoldswick Ladies' Circle, Sir Norman said that the Twitter poll had been "just a bit of fun," although almost 1,100 people had taken part in it.

In response to questions, Sir Norman admitted that the lease for the TMB's Preston office expired next month, but said he was confident that a new deal could be struck which was good for tripe and good  for Lancashire. "The TMB and it's predecessor organisations, including the British Tripe Council and the Association for the Legal Disposal of Unwanted Cow Products, have been in Preston for decades.  We're not about to let a 300% increase in rent get in the way of history," he said.

3rd Quarter Tripe Sales "encouraging" says Chairman

Sales of tripe in the period July - September 2017 were "encouraging," Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle said in an interview with the Bury Examiner published today.

Sir Norman Wrassle

Although sales fell for the 240th successive quarter, Sir Norman said there were signs that more and more people were discovering tripe's value as a cheap and nutritious food. "We've lost fewer customers this quarter than ever," Sir Norman said, adding "We have one or two surprises up our sleeve for the autumn that could reverse the trend entirely".

 

He put the per capita decline in sales of just 0.0003 kg in Quarter 3 down to unseasonably warm weather.  "The Bank Holiday weekend was a real surprise, as we can normally count on wind and rain," he said.

 

Sir Norman went on to say "Although sales of tripe continue to fall, I am pleased to say that sales of tripe books have improved. TMB Books will shortly be announcing the publication date for Forgotten Yorkshire and Parts of North Derbyshire and Humberside.  We think that if we can entice people to read books, there's a good chance they'll move on to try tripe".

 

With World Tripe Day just around the corner, the autumn promises to be a bumper time for tripe and Sir Norman said he was confident for the future prospects of the product. "Tripe's been around for centuries. We're not about to throw in the towel now!" he said.  

New hate crime guidance "good news for tripe" says TMB chairman

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle has welcomed the publication of new guidance for prosecutors on online hate crime.

Sir Norman Wrassle

The Crown Prosecution Service has said that online hate crimes should be treated as seriously as abuse committed face-to-face, and that the impact of tweeting abuse can be as "equally devastating" as shouting it.

Sir Norman, who was speaking at the launch of the new home delivery service, Tripe Direct, hailed the announcement by saying: "This is good news for tripe.  Our product is one of the most reviled and destested foodstuffs in the social media. Even a cursory search of Twitter will reveal how much hate is directed our way."  He said he hoped to see a reduction in the abuse aimed at tripe in the months and years ahead. 

Sir Norman pointed to examples of the hate that Twitter users had shown towards tripe. "When you see some of the language used, I think you can see  why this guidance is necessary," he said.

Recent examples from Twitter show the need for new guidance

At the same time, he acknowledged that tripe lovers might have to curb their emotions when responding to insults if they were themselves to avoid prosecution. "They may have to turn down some of their anti-vegan rhetoric, I'm afraid. A staple diet of tofu and chard makes them unduly sensitive, and I can see one or two of them chomping at the bit to get into the courtroom," he said.

Huge boost for tripe as new Manchester restaurant launches

Plans have been unveiled for a huge new all-you-can-eat tripe restaurant in Manchester.  Promising 'three-star dining at a fraction of the price', Restaurante Tripeiro will serve 160 tripe dishes from around the world, including menudo, kutteln, mondongo and a Malaysian and Vietnamese section, as well as more familiar tripe cuisines such as Chinese and Italian.

Restaurante Tripeiro -160 tripe dishes (Pic: Sarah Panzetta)

"I can't tell you how excited we are by this new venture!" Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle exclaimed earlier today, adding "There'll certainly be no excuse for avoiding tripe now."

There'll also be an English section and local specialities including Lancashire tripe and onions on the menu.  Diners will be able to return to the eight live cooking stations to refill their plates as many times as they like for a set price, starting from £14.99 for dinner and £8.50 for lunch.

Opening in September 2017, Restaurante Tripeiro plans to recreate all that was best about British tripe cuisine in the 1960s, with the added 'zing' of world flavours.

Sprawling across three basement floors, the 25,000 sq ft restaurant will seat 350 diners in luxury leather booths in a Wigan-meets-Bolton setting created by Richard Sett-Square, who has previously designed restaurants for The Happy Pygmy chain and for TV chefs Graham Rumsey and Jimmy Fagin.  "The whole ambiance will be one of refined relaxation," Sir Norman said. Modelled on a Lisbon restaurant of the same name, "It's a place I wouldn't be ashamed of being seen in myself," he added.

The lower ground floor will be available to hire out for private parties and groups, with four separate areas including Chinese, Japanese and Wigan-themed rooms.  "With Brexit pretty much a 'done deal' now, we think people are finally ready to turn to tripe as an economical replacement for continental meats," Sir Norman said.

TMB denies wasting money on fact finding trips

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle was today making last-minute preparations for the TMB's fact finding visit to Lanzarote, which commences later this week.

Offal Monthly, July 2017

The trip combines a visit to some of the island's most important meat and offal processors with top-level talks with public representatives and key retailers.


"I know some people prefer to think I spend all my time swanning around the continent and further afield, but there's a serious business to my visits. I'll also be giving a couple of presentations on the subject of British Tripe in Europe, entitled 'We Still Mean Business, Even After Brexit', which will include a Powerpoint presentation I've been working on for some weeks," Sir Norman said.

Sir Norman was responding to criticism in the July 2017 edition of the trade journal Offal Monthly which had suggested, via an editorial, that the TMB's marketing budget should be spent in a more focused manner.

"I'll take no lessons from a periodical that we all know is no friend of tripe. There's never been a more important time to spread the word in Europe about our fine product and I for one will not duck my responsibilities," he said.

TMB chairman apologises for offensive anti-vegan remarks

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle has this evening apologised for anti-vegan remarks he reportedly made during a speech to the annual general meeting of the Lytham St Annes Ladies' League earlier today.

Sir Norman Wrassle

Sir Norman, whose comments were covertly recorded and broadcast on Driving Home with Chris Marrs, the flagship Lancashire Radio news and current affairs show, said he was sorry if his views offended anybody.

"The comments were totally unintentional. I apologise unreservedly for any offence caused," he said, adding that he had merely been responding to a question from the audience.

Sir Norman was happy to acknowledge that his description of vegans as "pasty-faced retards who ponce around wearing tofu-stained jumpers" was potentially offensive to some people - particularly pale-faced, tofu-eating jumper wearers - but he maintained that his comments were taken out of context.  "I hope this does not put people off trying tripe - that was the last thing I intended," he said.

"Time to calm down and buy more tripe" says TMB chairman

Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle today called for calm and asked UK consumers to consider putting tripe higher up on their shopping list.

Sir Norman Wrassle

Speaking at a meeting of the Westhaughton Ladies' Circle, Sir Norman said that the recent general election had created a febrile atmosphere in which community was pitted against community and families were divided over who to vote for.

"In common with previous elections, the TMB did not make any recommendation to tripe lovers on how they should cast their vote," he said, adding "we merely indicated that the industry preferred a strong and stable government that would continue with the austerity programme that has been so successful for tripe".

Sir Norman, who spent the election period on a fact-finding visit to the Cayman Islands, said he was pleased to return on Saturday to find that the industry's preference had been realised, but added that he was alarmed to learn that the government might be abandoning its austerity plan.

"There's no doubt it's been good for sales of tripe, which have continued to fall at a much lower rate over the previous seven years," he said. Sir Norman said he was encouraged that inflation now seemed to be rising again. "The less money people have, the more we can tempt them to try cuts of meat - like tripe - that are inexpensive but have perhaps been overlooked in the past".

Sir Norman was challenged by a journalist from the Wigan and Westhaughton Chronicle about the apparent left-leaning tone of many of the tweets issued by the TMB over the past three weeks. He said it was a tactical decision after private polling revealed that many younger people were considering voting Labour. "Our social media department are deliberately targeting the under 70s in an attempt to make our product more appealing, so we followed standard marketing advice by talking to them in their own language," he said. 

 

Exclusive: Britain at risk of rampant veganism if Jeremy Corbyn becomes Prime Minister, TMB chairman warns

Sir Norman Wrassle

Meat eaters would not be safe under Jeremy Corbyn because he cannot take "the difficult decisions" needed when ordering food in a restaurant, the man running Europe's favourite meat-based marketing booard has said.

In an exclusive interview with The Preston Telegraph due for publication tomorrow, Sir Norman claims it is “blindingly obvious” that meat-eaters would be better protected under Theresa May.  In a very personal attack, he questions the Labour leader’s judgment in matters of meat and says he is “not suitable” to take on the responsibilities of being prime minister.

“There are decisions which prime ministers have to take and those people in authority have to take [which] are sometimes very uncomfortable,” Sir Norman says. 

“If they don’t take them, we’re at danger … I know that in a restaurant with Theresa May, she would take them. I’m not sure that Jeremy Corbyn would,” he says. 

The intervention marks a major escalation in the TMB's attempt to paint Mr Corbyn as a vegetarian who would lead Britain down a path of veganism, compared with the “strong and stable” leadership of Mrs May. 

The TMB believe that the Conservatives can make major gains from Labour in northern England as they search for their biggest majority since the days of Margaret Thatcher. "Places like Chorley, Wigan and Preston are natural meat-eating places," Sir Norman said. "We expect they will turn their back on tofu," he added.

Stay Cool As Temperatures Soar!

With most of Lancashire basking in temperatures in the low 20s and expected to soar to as high as 22 degrees by the end of the week, Tripe Marketing Board chairman Sir Norman Wrassle has re-issued the following advice to tripe lovers on how to stay  cool:

1. Let the fire go out or switch off the central heating, if you have it
2. Open all the windows
3. Take off your cardigan or jumper

“This sort of freak heatwave can easily take older people by surprise so it is important that we follow these few simple ground rules in order to keep cool,” said Sir Norman. “I am pleased that so many young men are walking round our towns and cities with their tops off and I suggest older people follow their example. But please do not do this at work as this may cause offence to your colleagues and may be grounds for dismissal".

Sir Norman emphasised that this advice does not apply to women or to people who live in Carlisle, where temperatures are expected to stay close to freezing for a week or two more.

Anyone still struggling with the heat despite following the guidelines should follow this additional advice: simply put a small sheet of tripe in the fridge and allow it to chill overnight. 

Place it on your forehead and secure with blu-tack or sellotape. This will keep you cool for at least 10 minutes. When it is no longer cold, simply pop it back in the fridge and repeat the process.
 

WARNING: Many people are in the habit of keeping small hand towels or flannels in the fridge for the same purpose.  If you do this, it is important that you do not accidentally mistake the towel for the tripe if you are planning to cook a meal.  Even experts can find it difficult to distinguish between the two, so please consult this handy identification chart.

Summer of Tripe and Fun Launch Postponed

The launch of Tripe'17, a three-month long programme of music and arts events sponsored by the Tripe Marketing Board has been postponed following the imminent announcement of a General Election campaign in the UK.

Tripe retailers had been advised to order additional supplies in response to an expected increase in demand following the planned launch on 8 June 2017.  TMB chairman Sir Norman Wrassle said it was now too late to reverse these orders and apologised if this led to a glut of tripe.


With the first performance by the re-united The Incredible G String Band since they broke up in 1978, and the legendary Beat Boys reprising their 2014 Be More Cow campaign appearance, the launch event promised to be a spectacular start to the summer.


The West Coast sound of The Beat Boys, whose slightly off-key harmonies captured perfectly the sounds of a Lancashire summer - burgers sizzling, bingo calling and torrential rain - have not performed together since 2006, when they re-formed as a tribute band to The Pleasure Beach Boys, themselves a Beat Boys tribute band.

Band member Byron Watson, who has not appeared in public since he became addicted to cleaning the house and refused to go on tour, said he was disappointed at the postponement of the launch, adding "I have been in treatment and was now ready to hit the road again." 

As part of the campaign, the TMB planned to re-issue their finest album, Pit Sounds and their compilation album, Endless Winter.

TMB chairman Sir Norman Wrassle said: "This is going to take a bit of rescheduling, but we could well be looking at the UK's first ever Autumn of Tripe and Fun."

TMB denies pandering to Greeks and Christians

The Tripe Marketing Board has reacted angrily to accusations that it is pandering to Christians and Greeks by promoting an Easter Tripe Soup recipe on its website.

Pizza Mageiritsa? No - it's a popular Easter soup!

The claim was made by militant atheist vegans at a meeting in Hebden Bridge earlier today.  Responding to the suggestion, TMB chairman Sir Norman Wrassle told Tim Lovelace of the Lancashire Radio show Tea Time With Tim: "It's preposterous for anyone to think that we only want Greek people and Christians to eat tripe at Easter - we want them to eat tripe all year round."  Sir Norman went on to add that using the term 'Easter Tripe' was merely a 'seasonal marketing ploy' to draw people's attention to what is a popular soup in many parts of Greece at this time of year.

"It's actually called Mageiritsa - so it sounds a bit like a tasty Italian pizza.  Who knows - it might one day be as popular, too!" Sir Norman said.