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Waltham Forest Oral History Workshop 1
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Formation and First Project Formed in 1983 out of an adult
education class in 1982. Around 8 people signed up. First project
was childhood illnesses Touch Yer Collar Never Swaller Recordings
on dentistry, killer viruses and bacterial infections Fever and
isolation hospitals 15 interviews undertaken Book printed by
members of the Workshop 2
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Water House Walthamstow for tooth pulling 3
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Butchers Next project was on the meat trade locally Pigs Head
& Pease Pudding in 1985. 18 people interviewed. 12 members of
the Workshop The book described local slaughter- ing, meat
auctions, poverty. Again printed by members of the Workshop 4
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Bakers Next title in 1986 was about bakers - Cottage Loaves
& Plain Bricks. 7 main and 11 other interviewees. 10 members in
the Workshop Change from local corner shop bakers to Wonderloaf
production baking. Next book was on sweet making a spin off from
some of the breadmaking interviews 5
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Example of early recording: Ivy Williams VHMOH 103 6 Born
Stratford 1909. Her father was shot through the head and bayonetted
in no mans land in WW1. Never worked again. Talks about the
inadequacies of his war pension (27/6 per week for the whole
family). Mother took in washing describes what she did. Kept
chickens. Ivy left school at 13 worked in various jobs, making
ties, Clarnicos, as a maid, describes them in some detail. Aged 19
she learnt shorthand typing. Worked for a steamship company and
various factories became a book keeper. Describes working
conditions. During WW2 she worked as a cashier in a department
store in Leytonstone poor conditions. Wartime events and life
locally. Talks about husband and ways of making do his mum also
took in washing. He was a butcher (we used a couple of paragraphs
in the Pigs Head book). Born Stratford 1909. Her father was shot
through the head and bayonetted in no mans land in WW1. Never
worked again. Talks about the inadequacies of his war pension (27/6
per week for the whole family). Mother took in washing describes
what she did. Kept chickens. Ivy left school at 13 worked in
various jobs, making ties, Clarnicos, as a maid, describes them in
some detail. Aged 19 she learnt shorthand typing. Worked for a
steamship company and various factories became a book keeper.
Describes working conditions. During WW2 she worked as a cashier in
a department store in Leytonstone poor conditions. Wartime events
and life locally. Talks about husband and ways of making do his mum
also took in washing. He was a butcher (we used a couple of
paragraphs in the Pigs Head book). Ivy Williams interviewed
1984
Slide 8
We Want Winns working with interviewees In 1991 we started a
project on education too big a subject we soon realised. We were
rescued by a woman who said she had been involved in a school
strike which we knew nothing about. We worked with a group of four
former pupils to produce the book about the closure of their
elementary school in 1945 and the strike school their parents set
up. 7
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Developments 8 Fairly soon there was recognition that we needed
to undertake generic, open interviews. Up to then interviews
largely thematic. Beginning of a more life story approach although
often with a theme as the reason to interview. Interviews tended to
be between one to three hours long often tied to the length of the
cassette tape. Although we did advertise in the local paper many
interviewees came through Home Help staff in Social Services or the
museum.
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Individuals Two publications on individuals Jenny Hammond, a
Labour Party councillor, We used her autobiographical notes as well
as two interviews for the book. The book about Tom Atkins, who had
caught polio at the age of 3, was the result of over seven hours of
re recording. Both books relied extensively on archival material as
well as the interviews. Tom Atkins on work 9
Slide 11
Electronic Publications 10 The Road to Jeremys Ferry a
neighbourhood study done on a 200 regeneration grant. Coronation
Gardens Stud y of a park in Leyton part of a successful HLF bid to
refurbish the park.
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More Electronic Books 11 Boats Billets and Letters Home A story
of wartime evacuation from Dagenham to Norfolk by paddle steamer
undertaken by a member of the Workshop (+hard) Boats Billets and
Letters Home A story of wartime evacuation from Dagenham to Norfolk
by paddle steamer undertaken by a member of the Workshop (+hard)
Brandon Road Leading to Stocksfield Road Another neighbourhood
study this time of a small council estate in Walthamstow won a LWT
TV award Behind the Bar A study of the licensed trade in the
borough. Interviews plus massive amount of archival material Behind
the Bar A study of the licensed trade in the borough. Interviews
plus massive amount of archival material
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13 Transformer Lives The story of the former Hawker Siddeley
Power Transformers factory over seventy years (closed 2004) as told
by around 10 former staff. Transformer Lives The story of the
former Hawker Siddeley Power Transformers factory over seventy
years (closed 2004) as told by around 10 former staff. Walthamstow
High Street E17 The longest street market in Europe. Old and new
recordings (thematic and life story) of the recent history of this
historic street for an exhibition in 2012. Walthamstow High Street
E17 The longest street market in Europe. Old and new recordings
(thematic and life story) of the recent history of this historic
street for an exhibition in 2012.
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More Exhibitions 14 Behind the Bar Toys, A Serious Business
Bill Regan, formerly Company Secretary Britains
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Strengths and Weaknesses 15 Rich collection of recordings
dating back to 1972 including Gas Works interviews Two
neighbourhood studies Many memories of working in shops
Institutions and hospitals Horses as main means of transport
Municipal and political life 1990s African Caribbean recordings
1948/2012 Olympics memories Rich collection of recordings dating
back to 1972 including Gas Works interviews Two neighbourhood
studies Many memories of working in shops Institutions and
hospitals Horses as main means of transport Municipal and political
life 1990s African Caribbean recordings 1948/2012 Olympics memories
Issues for reuse Early recordings are generally poor sound quality
Need to digitise at least half of the collection A member of the
Workshop needs to proactively support research Summaries not always
available Early paperwork not digitised Search facility quite basic
Some communities not represented Issues for reuse Early recordings
are generally poor sound quality Need to digitise at least half of
the collection A member of the Workshop needs to proactively
support research Summaries not always available Early paperwork not
digitised Search facility quite basic Some communities not
represented
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16 Waltham Forest Oral History Workshop
www.wforalhistory.org.uk Waltham Forest Oral History Workshop
www.wforalhistory.org.uk