To celebrate the opening of Yew Tree Court, a new housing development for the over 55’s in Shifnal, Shropshire, I was commissioned to lead a Living History project, which explored and shared the stories and memories of older people living in the village with the younger generation. The project culminated in the installation of permanent artwork and an original book of stories. Material was collected from conversations with the new residents of Yew Tree Court along with sessions with local primary school children at St. Andrews, who also wrote autobiographies and undertook interviews. We’ve learned about how to keep fit in the tropics as well as the day someone met Rudolf Hess in Wales and whose Mom was babysat by The Boomtown Rats. Shifnal Society helped us out with access to their collection of old village photos to kickstart the project.  The children devised questions (our favourite ice-breaker being: ‘Would you ever climb Everest without snow boots and a scarf?)

The project also involved textiles artist Maggie Allmark, running a series of textiles workshops for residents, and  after school drama sessions at Idsall School and Shifnal Primary with Urban Voice, all working with the oral history and photographic material. This was  then performed for the residents of Yew Tree. The additional artworks from the project which were also installed in the complex  for a final event, with live readings and poems alongside tea and cakes – and a small touring exhibition produced. And our art student volunteer – Hazel Cardew – unveiled her drawings made in a local cafe.

Images from the final event. The project was supported by South Staffordshire Housing Association and Shropshire Council, and evaluated by the Creative Development Team at Walsall M.B.C.

Banner image: May Day festival in Shifnal, approximately 1910