Digital storytelling project: collaboration between Eastside Community Heritage & Greenwich Association of Disabled People (G.A.D.)
Are you intrigued by local lore & inside information about Greenwich? Do you want to discover the history of the disability rights movement in southeast London? Then watch this space for our digital story map of the borough, which journeys through mysterious magnetic fields, explosive public transport, political activism & much more.
The story map is a culmination of a series of workshops exploring memories of place & aspirations for the future. The participants are G.A.D service users & volunteers of all ages and backgrounds. Using reminiscence games, archive materials & day trips for inspiration, they are scripting & recording autobiographical tales set in various locations throughout the borough. Digital voice recording & video plus old-fashioned drawing & writing are being employed to express a unique angle on Greenwich.
Here you can view work-in-progress from one of the workshops: participants discussing their early memories of Greenwich.
'The Thames Gateway: Aspirations Materialised?'
Monday 29th June. 1.30-5.30pm
As part of Working Lives of the Thames Gateway, Eastside held a witness seminar on the subject of the London Docklands Development Corporation and its programme of regeneration from 1981 to 1998. The seminar took place at Queen Mary, University of London and brought together a panel of ‘experts’ and decision makers who were involved at the time, to discuss the concept of the LDDC and its results.
The regeneration of Docklands forms an important part of the background to the Working Lives project. The decline of traditional industries like the docks, and the ways in which both workers and local communities have adapted to it, is a theme that often comes up in our interviews with former industrial workers.
Dr. Janet Foster, author of 'Docklands:Cultures in Conflict, Worlds in Collision' opened the seminar with an introductory talk about regeneration in Docklands. The panel discussion was chaired by Dr. Jon Davis of Queen Mary, University of London and the panel members were: Stuart Innes, David Donoghue, Eric Sorensen, George Pye, Cllr. Conor Mc Auley, Peter Dunn, Lord Howe of Aberavon, Piers Gough, Lawrence Pontin and Howard Sheppard.
It was a very interesting afternoon during which the work of the LDDC was debated from a variety of perspectives. The discussion was recorded, and the material is currently being processed in order to make it available to researchers and the local community.
A booklet was produced to accompany the seminar, which provided an historical overview of the regeneration of Docklands and incorporated extracts from interviews carried for Eastside’s ‘North Woolwich’ project, as well as photographs from Eastside’s archive. If you would like a copy of this pamphlet please contact office@ech.org.uk or 0208 553 4343.
"A penny a Dozen" Video
Working Lives Local History Talks have been confirmed for 2009.
1st June – Barking and District Historical Society
8th June – Riverside Club (Havering)
15th June – South Elm Women’s Club (Havering)
17th June – Chadwell Heath Historical Society
*10th February: a talk to the Greenwich Industrial History Society on working lives in Greenwich.
*17th February: a talk to the Collier Row Townswomen's Guild on women in the workplace in East London industries.
*8th June 2009: a talk to the National Association of Women's Clubs Riverside Club.
May 2009
Working Lives is inviting all former workers from Murex in Havering to a reminiscence session on 28th May, for further informatiom contact anna@ech.org.uk 0208 553 4343.
10th October 2008
Working Lives is inviting all former workers from Fraser & Chalmers in Erith to a reminiscence session on 3rd November.
The session will start at 2pm in Erith Library and all are very welcome. For more information please contact Rosa Vilbr: 0208 553 4343 or rosa@ech.org.uk.
Project Update - 9th October 2008
Working Lives is going from strength to strength.
We have now conducted 11 reminiscence sessions and 45 individual interviews. Our first mini exhibition was launched at the Working Lives Conference and is currently touring the Thames Gateway. Our first community project is starting in the Autumn Half Term and we are currently meeting with schools to plan our programme of education workshops.
We are always keen to hear from former workers, community groups or anyone else interested in getting involved - please get in touch.
1st October 2008
Working Lives is holding a reminiscence session for former East London printers. All are very welcome, but especially former employees of the Curwen Press, Lamson Paragon, Dane & Co and Waterlow's.
Date: 10am, 27th October 2008. Venue: Stratford Library.
For more information please contact Eleanor Packham: 0208 5534343 or eleanor@ech.org.uk.
20th September 2008
Billy Bragg and Jerry White herald Working Lives of the Thames Gateway.
Musical legend Billy Bragg and eminent London historian were the guest speakers at the first Working Lives conference on the 20th September. Both gave fascinating speeches and praised the aims of the Working Lives project. For more information about this successful event see the front page of this website.
19th June 2008
Working lives of the Thames Gateway is holding the following reminiscence sessions for former workers: Matchless / AMC Motorcycle works, Plumstead. 3pm, July 1 2008. Venue: Greenwich Heritage Center, Woolwich Arsenal.
Venesta / Aluminium Foils / British Alcan works, Silvertown. 11am, July 4 2008. Venue: St Lukes Community Centre, Canning Town.
All are welcome. For more information please call 0208 553 4343 or email anna@ech.org.uk
14th May 2008
The Working Lives of the Thames Gateway team is now complete and is actively seeking participants for oral history interviews. Please contact us if you used to work in the east London industries, particularly manufacturing, transport, communications or the food & drink industry. All our interviewers are fully trained and CRB checked. Interviews are relaxed and can take in your own home, or wherever you feel most comfortable. Please call 0208 553 4343 or email anna@ech.org.uk for more information.
On the 4th April 2008 Working Lives of the Thames Gateway recorded its first oral history interview. A former employee of the British Ropes works in Charlton told his story as a boy from Deptford who went on to become Production Manager. Over the course of a fascinating hour and a half the interview covered a wide range of subjects including working practices, changes to the local area and management-shopfloor relations. We are very grateful to the participant for sharing his fascinating memories and look forward to recording many more.
2nd April 2008
Working Lives of the Thames Gateway has recruited four Project Officers and is now looking for specialist volunteers. See 'Get Involved' for more information.
