Emma Chaplin

Heritage and Museums Officer, Cheshire County Council, The Salt Museum, 162 London Road, Northwich, Cheshire CW9 8AB
Telno:
Email: emma.chaplin@cheshire.gov.uk

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Andrew Edwards
Co-director of Welsh Institute for Social & Cultural Affairs
School of History, Welsh History & Archaeology, Bangor University, College Road, Bangor, LL57 2DG
Telno: 01248 382839
Email: a.c.edwards@bangor.ac.uk

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Julia Fallon
Head of Centre
Leisure & Events, Cardiff School of Management, UWIC, Colchester Avenue, Cardiff CF23 9XR
Telno: 02920 416322
Email: jfallon@uwic.ac.uk

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Beth Thomas
Keeper
Dept. of Social and Cultural History, St. Fagans National History Museum, Cardiff
Telno: 029 2057 3426
Email: Beth.Thomas@museumwales.ac.uk

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It may seem that things are quiet on the western front, but that is mainly due to distractions on my part rather than a lack of oral history activity in Wales. I have been answering constant enquiries by would-be oral historians – most of them passed on to me for advice by the Heritage Lottery Fund. Many of these do not stay in touch afterwards, but I know of others have gone on to deliver worthwhile projects.

The Sleeping Giant Foundation is a community regeneration charity based in the Upper Swansea Valley, which works to actively promote the area through community-led projects in New Media, Oral History/Heritage and Community Events. The Foundation's Oral History Project, sponsored by the Heritage Lottery Fund, aims to record the memories of the older generation of the community. A group of very dedicated volunteers attended two OHS-accredited training courses, and their well-documented recordings have now been archived at both Powys County Council Archive Department and at St Fagans: National History Museum. The Foundation’s New Media Group have produced a number of DVDs, examples of which can be viewed on their website (http://www.sgfnet.co.uk/media.htm):

• Brecon Beacons National Park 50th Anniversary - commissioned for the National Park's 50th Anniversary, this DVD contains interviews with people of all ages, sharing their memories, stories and hopes for the future of the Park.
• Home Front Recall Evacuees Reunion - produced in partnership with students of the Department of Film and Media at University of Wales Lampeter. This DVD features footage from the Evacuees Reunion Event held at Abercraf on 25 November 2005, with moving interviews from people who were evacuated to the valley.
• Memoirs of Abercraf - an interview with Bella Mills and David Williams on their childhood growing up in Abercraf.

Another community project to undertake the OHS introductory training course was Aberaeron’s Bicentenary Oral History Project, which is part of the Heritage Lottery Fund Celebrating Heritage programme. This is a cross-generational project involving Year 10 pupils from the local comprehensive school, adult volunteers, and nine senior citizens who agreed to be interviewed. Performing and visual arts workshops, based on the recordings, were organised at Aberaeron Primary School and formed the basis of a concert at the local Memorial Hall in July.

As to St Fagans: National History Museum, we have been busy preparing a new gallery, Oriel 1, which is an experimental gallery exploring the theme of Belonging. It includes community-curated exhibits which will change regularly and a strong element of oral testimony. We have also appointed a Curator of Contemporary Life, Owain Rhys, who has already embarked on a community curation project in Johnstown, Wrexham and will be using oral history as an essential tool in recording contemporary life in communities throughout Wales.

Beth Thomas