Memories from my town

HOW IT ALL STARTED

There have been recorded histories of the little town where I live. However, they all seemed to concentrate on buildings; which is of course very important. Being a subtly inquisitive soul I have always been interested in the nuts and bolts of ordinary, everyday folk. How sad that our knowledge of them is lost upon death unless of course they are famous or infamous.

I knew nothing about the man who designed and built my house or my children’s school or the undertaker, doctor now buried in our churchyard along with their hopes and dreams. I couldn't hold the past but could work with the present.

It began as a small project with a handful of volunteers who, I hoped, would share their stories. I coaxed my bored son into designing a poster on my computer; including a map of our village and what my aims were. This artwork was distributed around my town and I waited for the response. Did I have people battering at my front door, blocking my driveway, annoying my neighbours? If only. I had not yet left the starting post. Perhaps I was ambitious or lacked the trust needed to allow others to share their life stories with me.

My new opening came naturally and unexpectedly whilst visiting a dear friend who was aware of my intentions. I could scarcely believe my luck when Jean offered to be my guinea pig. I was, at last, away from a note-book of blank pages to mixed memories, spanning seventy years. Jean was never one to share her emotions, as she took out her child-hood memories I was there, in her past, with her. I didn't know where my journey would take me or indeed who I might meet on my journey. Some of their stories I will. share with you.