The Secretary Ambleside Oral History Group

c/o Ambleside Library, Kelsick Road, Ambleside, LA22 0BZ
Telno: 01539 432507
Email:

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Emma Chaplin
39 Downham Road South, Wirral, CH60 5SE
Telno: 0151 342 9651/07884254351
Email: emma@emmachaplin.co.uk

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Jason Hurley
Oral History Consultant
262 Eaves Lane, Chorley, PR6 0DZ
Telno: 01257 416596
Email: jason@crumplezone.co.uk

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Stephen Kelly

17 Hartington Road, Chorlton, Manchester, M21 8UZ
Telno: 0161 861 9289
Email: sfkelly@ntlworld.com

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Rosalyn Livshin
48 Park Road, Prestwich, Manchester, M25 0FA
Telno: 0161 740 3941
Email: rosalyn.livshin@googlemail.com

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Andrew Schofield
Sound Archivist
North West Sound Archive, Old Steward's Office, Castle Grounds, Clitheroe Castle, Clitheroe BB7 1AZ
Telno: 01200 427897
Email: nwsa@ed.lancscc.gov.uk

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Greater Manchester

In 2011 I delivered the OHS and the British Library training course on the Introduction to Oral History, which was held in the North West for the first time.  The course was held at the University of Manchester in March and was fully attended by people from all over the North West. It is intended to continue holding this introductory course in the North West.

Over the past year I have been contacted by a number of fledgling projects for advice. I have carried out training with a group in Chester who were focusing on the Chester Mystery Plays in their ‘Sharing the Mystery’ Project. This project aimed to interview people who had been involved in some way with the mystery plays either as participants or as part of the audience and to collate and conserve the scripts of the plays.

I also undertook training for the Cheshire Gardens Trust who wanted to improve the awareness of the Caldwell Nurseries through an Oral History and Archive project. The family run Nursery closed in 1991 after trading for over 200 years and the Cheshire Gardens Trust wanted to capture stories of the nursery as well as working on its Archive dating from 1789.

2011 has seen the culmination of a major project in the Manchester Chinese Community. After receiving funding from HLF in 2009, the Chinese Centre worked in partnership with MOSI (Museum of Science and Industry) and Manchester Library and Information Services.  Through the project a group of 44 volunteers conducted 56 oral history interviews with members of the community. They have undertaken their own research, photographed and filmed community events, and catalogued photographs and documents which have been donated and loaned by the community.  The majority of the interviews were in Chinese and volunteers are still translating them, producing detailed summaries rather than transcripts. This is the first time that stories and archives have been collected about Chinese people in Greater Manchester and they reveal the fascinating and untold story of Manchester’s thriving Chinese community.

As a result of the project an exhibition is currently showing at MOSI from Feb 2011 and Jan 2012, a new archive website has been launched at www.manchesterchinesearchive.org.uk with film clips of the interviews, a publication has been produced  to help tell the story of the Chinese community in Greater Manchester, an archive of documents, photographs, oral histories and digital material has been deposited with the Manchester City Archives and the NW Sound Archive, a digital photographic archive launched, a film produced and a series of learning and outreach events has been delivered. The dedication and hard work of the volunteers in delivering this project was recognized when the project was nominated the Best Volunteer Archives Project Award of the year.
The Irish Heritage World Centre has been conducting an oral history project, originally based around authentic Irish objects deposited at their Centre. The objects were the catalyst to get people talking about their memories and experiences of growing up in Ireland, of migrating to Manchester, and of living and perhaps rearing their families in a different country to their birth. As the project has progressed it has moved away from the objects and has become life story orientated. 12 interviews have been collected to date with more in the pipe line. The project will culminate with an Exhibition at the Irish Heritage World Centre in the winter.

In anticipation of the 250 Anniversary of the Opening of the Bridgewater Canal this year an HLF project ‘The First Cut’ has been undertaken. This incorporates oral history recordings with people who have worked on the canal, live next to the canal or use the canal for work or leisure. This will culminate in a big Exhibition at the Salford Art Gallery from October, showing the history of the Canal, photographs, a film and reminiscences of the Canal, some of which will be heard whilst sitting in a winged armchair upholstered with a map of the canal.

The Ordsall Hall Oral History Work, conducted by the Salford Lifetimes Project, has been incorporated into the new exhibitions at the Hall, which re-opened in Spring 2011 after renovation. The Project wants to continue recording people's stories and memories of the 750 year old Ordsall Hall and is also happy to receive written memories. Another Oral History Project conducted in Salford, and managed by Salford Heritage Services and Salford Arts Development Team, was the recording of memories of Chat Moss. This is a huge area of peat bog that makes up 30% of the City of Salford and which was designated an area of special conservation. The project collected oral histories relating to the social history of Chat Moss, including people who lived on, farmed and spent their leisure time there. These recordings are being added to Salford's archival material about the area, and will also be used to inform and stimulate intergenerational and school-based creative activity to encourage younger generations to understand the importance of Chat Moss in their community.
(Rosalyn Livshin)

Manchester

Oral History work in the North West continues apace. The St Helens Citadel Theatre youth group received a grant from the HLF to produce a performance based on the memories of miners, particularly during the miners’ strike of 1984/85.  Oral history work was carried out through recording memories so that these could be used as the basis for the production. The interviews were all done by young people, some with learning difficulties, and the production was organised and performed by the same group of young people. A number of performances were held last year, some at the Citadel Theatre in St Helens and one on the site of what was the last active coalmine in the area.

Manchester YMCA has received an HLF grant to collect sporting memories of its past and present members. The Manchester YMCA has a long and distinguished history in sporting achievement and has always boasted one of the finest gyms in the area.  A number of members of the Great Britain wrestling team have been members of the YMCA and have trained at its former Whitworth Street site and its later Castlefield site. The Manchester United Busby Babes of the 1950s also used the YMCA facilities for many years and there is a plaque in the building to commemorate this.  Over the years Manchester YMCA members have represent Great Britain in the Olympic and Commonwealth games.  Climber Joe Brown was also a member. A group of YMCA members and students from a local Salford school are being trained to conduct interviews which will be carried out over the next six months. A website, exhibition and booklet are planned to coincide with the start of the 2012 Olympic games.

A project focused around Swinton Rugby League Club in Greater Manchester has received an HLF grant to collect memories of fans. The club is one of the oldest in rugby league and the aim is to produce a website and booklet. The project called Swinton Lions Tales is being run by the Federation of Stadium Communities and will focus on the communities around their past and present grounds. Young students from Swinton High School have been trained in interviewing and have been carrying out interviews with fans and players.

The OHS will be involved in next year’s Manchester Histories festival, a two week event to be held in February/March. The Festival, organised by the universities, is held every two years to encourage interest in history and is particularly aimed at local history groups. A workshop on oral history and a further workshop on interviewing techniques will be part of the festival programme.
(Stephen Kelly)