PRESS RELEASE 31st January 2006
WIRKSWORTH ORAL HISTORY PROJECT DVD's Now For Sale
The Wirksworth Homefront Memories Project is proud to report that it has successfully achieved its aims; it has recorded the memories from over 50 people. The project used the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War to collect reminiscences from current residents of Wirksworth about life on the Home Front during the war. Wirksworth Heritage Centre now has a valuable oral history archive of a dramatic period of history to hand over to future generations. Memories include stories of Air Raids, Rationing, POW’s, Evacuees, Bombings, a Childs Eye View and many more.
Christine Thornhill, Project Manager said “ this project not only created this wonderful material but also provided new skills and knowledge for its participants, gave a section of the community a sense of value and created links to and understanding of different generations , formed friendships and the possibility of future community based projects.”
The production of the DVD provides a valuable learning resource and the interview recordings will establish an audio visual archive to further enrich the local history of Wirksworth. This will be displayed in Wirksworth Heritage Centre from Easter onwards. For further details on the project please see the web site www.wirksworth.net/homefront
The DVD is now available for sale from Wirksworth Heritage Centre at a cost of £6.00 and all enquiries should be made to email:heritage@crownyard.fsnet.co.uk or telephone messages should be left on 01629 825225.
PRESS RELEASE 19th Dec 2005
WIRKSWORTH STEPS BACK IN TIME
Walking into Wirksworth’s Town Hall last Sunday was like stepping back in time with War Time music playing, union jack bunting, balloons and tables laid up like a VE Day street Party. This was the Homefront Memories celebration for the end of their project in Wirksworth Town Hall on Sunday 18th December. The project has successfully collected nearly 50 memories from its local inhabitants about their wartime homefront memories. This oral history project was undertaken by Wirksworth Heritage Centre as part of the nationwide 60th anniversary celebrations for the end of World War Two.
A show case of memories were presented and guests were able to view the recordings which had been made. A buffet was served whilst guests mingled to see other wartime memorabilia and the sounds of Vera Lynn and Glen Miller played to entertain all.
Supported by the Big Lottery Fund, Derbyshire Adult Community Learning Service and Wirksworth Connnect, a team of professionals and volunteers have worked together since last September to record memories in video and audio format. The ultimate archive will be accessible at the Heritage Centre and on the town’s website www.wirksworth.net/homefront an edited version is now also available on DVD price £6.
Memories recorded include stories of air raids, flying bombs, food shortages, prisoners of war, evacuations, a child’s eye view, loss of loved ones. Sundays gathering saw over 60 people attend the celebration including Town Council Mayor Mr. Gladwyn Gratton, who in his opening speech said “It is a marvelous undertaking to have recorded all these memories because this documents an important time in history and shows the how much the people of Wirksworth do value their heritage. ”
Other guests included Mr. Patrick McLoughlin M.P., the volunteers who made the recordings, the ladies and gentlemen who generously donated either their memories on the recordings or memorabilia for the DVD, local societies and others interested in the project.
Marian Vaughan, Heritage Centre Chairperson said, “The results of this project have been outstanding and the town now has a very useful historical collection to pass on to future generations. I would like to thank everyone who took part in the success of this project especially Christine Thornhill the Project Manager for her outstanding work and support. ”
PRESS RELEASE - 7th October 2005
WIRKSWORTH NEEDS YOUR “HOME FRONT WAR TIME MEMORIES”
Wirksworth Heritage Centre has recently set up a new project team to collect “Home Front Memories” during 1939 to 1945, from its older citizens. The project aims to use the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, to collect 60 reminiscences and record these on video as part of the town’s oral history. Memories may be of anywhere not just of Wirksworth.
The project, which has received funding from the Big Lottery and is supported by Derbyshire Adult Community Education Service and Wirksworth Connnect aims to collect short but distinctive contributions from 60 individuals and record these in video or audio format. The ultimate archive will be accessible at the Heritage Centre and on the town’s website www.wirksworth.net An edited version will also be available on DVD.
Volunteers are working alongside professionals to assure the quality of the finished product. Training workshops have taken place for volunteers to undertake the interviews. Consultants from Field of Vision (specialists in Oral History) have given invaluable help and assistance in the start up of this project. Katya Coupland, Field of Vision’s Interpretation Consultant said “I was very impressed by the volunteers who gathered for the first workshop. Their enthusiasm and energy got them off to a flying start. Some great ideas have come out of the group who bring diverse skills and experience”.
The interviews will take place between October and December and a launch date of 18th December has been set to celebrate the finished documentation.
Christine Thornhil, Project Manager who was most recently involved with the East Midlands oral history archive based at University of Leicester said “it is very important to record this history for the future and I am delighted to be involved with the Wirksworth team”. Anyone who has Home Front memories and would like to take part in this project should contact Christine on 01629 825225 or 07968091277 as soon as possible.
PRESS RELEASE ENDS
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Pat Bate, Promotions Officer
On 01629 823107 or email patbate@gmail.com
