HOW THE PROJECT BEGAN

Around the time of the Golden Jubilee celebrations in June 2002, Yasmin Ali, Community Education Development Co-ordinator for Buckinghamshire Adult Learning and I were talking with residents at Perry House sheltered housing scheme. Hearing them reminisce about the last fifty years led us to start thinking of ways in which they may be able to share their memories with a wider audience and particularly with children. We knew that Mrs King, the recently appointed Headteacher at St Peter’s C of E Primary School in Burnham, was keen to develop the school’s links with the wider community and so the idea to link the school with Perry House was born.

Children from St Peter’s School started visiting the residents of Perry House in the Autumn of 2002 and the project has been running every term since then. So far about 70 children aged between 9 and 11 have been involved. Some of the Perry House residents have been involved with the Project since it began, others have joined more recently. In total about 20 older people have been involved so far.  The Project continues to be supported by Buckinghamshire Adult Learning who provide a tutor for each session and by Burnham Health Promotion Trust.

Together the children and older people have enjoyed a wide variety of discussions on many themes including memories of the Second World War; school days, leisure and work; how our village has changed and memories of Christmas. They have also worked together on an art project entitled “I remember when” and, in 2004, with the help of our local “Sound Studio” they wrote and recorded a song. We hope that you will enjoy looking at our website and that it will give you a flavour of the variety of topics we have discussed, the memories rekindled and at times the emotions stirred.

Shirley Shaw, Community Project Worker, Burnham Health Promotion Trust, February 2006

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