Rich Chilver and I have spent the last couple of months visiting local residents, businesses and those with memories of the St Botolph's Quarter and audio recording their responses. Soon, these recordings (or excerpts from them) will be available for you to listen to on the St Botolph's web site. We've heard a wide range of fascinating stories and recollections, including: milkmen arresting 'beatniks' on suspicion of stealing milk in St Botolph's Street in the late 1960s; sheep being herded to and from St Botolph's [sic.] station; secret underground tunnels connecting a former police station to the town's magistrate's court; a traditional 'rag & bone' family funeral setting off down Priory Street complete with horses dressed in traditional funereal black plumes.
There are so many stories still to be told and recorded and this is where you we need you...
On Thursday 22 August, from 6pm until 8pm at The Waiting Room (what used to be part of the Bus Station, opposite First Site), Rich, myself and the St Botolph's History Archive team will be holding an informal Drop In session during which we will be sharing some of the reminiscences we have unearthed so far and asking you, the community of people living in and around St Botolph's, how you would like to take ownership of the project from now on. We are looking for people who are interested in local history and feel they have something to contribute to the long term life of the project. The History Archive will eventually become a rich audio and visual archive which celebrates the area's unique characteristics. It's part of the wider St Botolph's project which includes a Maker Library, Studios/Workshops, a Cafe Bar and lots more besides.
Please come along and join us to find out more from 6pm on Thursday 22 August and bring along a friend - the more the merrier. We look forward to welcoming you soon.
Andrew Burton