What is it?
The project was a celebration of stories, memories, and the art of storytelling, with a particular focus on transportation experiences in Newham that spanned the decades. From the rickety charm of London buses to the luxurious allure of aeroplanes, the project encapsulated the evolution of transportation and its profound impact on the lives of the community members.
Heritage Trips were run during the project, where attendees of the Charabancs Project were collected by Community Transport Newham and taken to places of interest to trigger memories and stories. This could have been a day out to Norwich, where a woman spent her early years as a midwife, or a trip to Oxford, where a gentleman worked as a milkman. Attending these trips encouraged the attendees to share their memories and stories.
What else is included?
There was also a series of Heritage Lunches for those taking part in the project. This involved enjoying a meal relating to their memories to encourage conversations. This could have been a traditional meal at a Pie and Mash shop, Seaside Fish and Chips wrapped in newspapers, or any childhood meal of their choice. The purpose of these Heritage Lunches was to entice conversations about their memories using food.
The outcome of this heartwarming project was the “travel trunk,” a specially designed repository for the travel quilt and the oral history and reminiscence. The travel trunk served as a time capsule, preserving the essence of the project for generations to come. Adorned with carefully crafted embellishments and imbued with the spirit of the community, the trunk stood as a testament to the resilience and creativity of Newham’s elderly residents.
The journey didn’t end there. The travel trunk was set to tour across Newham, bringing the stories and memories to various neighbourhoods within the borough. Residents and passersby had the opportunity to witness the living history contained within the trunk, forging connections across generations and fostering a sense of community pride.
Charabancs and Cadillacs was more than just a project; it was a celebration of life, community, and the enduring power of storytelling. As the quilt unfolded and the trunk travelled through Newham, it left in its wake a trail of shared experiences, laughter, and the warmth of communal reminiscence – a true testament to the timeless impact of the National Lottery Heritage Fund on preserving and celebrating our history.
Be apart of the journey
The Travel trunk is at Compressor House this week for the Compressor House Warming Event.
Pop in, have a look through the trunk, and marvel at the extravagant travel quilt, a bespoke piece of art, in collaboration of hundreds of Newham residents across all ages.
📍Compressor House, London E16 2QU
#E15 #community #CTWF #reminiscenceproject #newham #NationalLotteryHeritageFund #charabancsandcadillacs #NationalLotteryPlayers #memorabilia
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