2024
Remembering Jack - the story of Champion Jack Dupree’s time in Ovenden, Halifax
We invited people to share their memories at Forest Cottage, Ovenden, where Jack had played
Stories of Champion Jack Dupree’s time at Ovenden and the Calderdale music scene were brought to life by actors Torban Healey Hunter and Jess Sweeney as part of Black History Month
Jack and his American station wagon were a familiar sight in Calderdale
Calderdale College students produced artwork inspired by Jack’s life
2023
Fountains of Tales
A last hurrah to this iconic Bradford landmark and the colourful slices of life that passed through its door. The cafe had served St. John’s market traders and customers for over 50 years and the closure of the market was a chance to celebrate their stories.
Drawn from interviews with the proud proprietors, the Georgiou family, the performance took place in Fountains Cafe and brought to life a bustling world of characters and stories, some funny, some sad, all guaranteed to warm the cockles of Bradfordian hearts.
Click on the central image for a glimpse of the performance.
2022
Women’s Work
This oral history project took off just before Covid which made connecting with our contributors challenging! Nonetheless we successfully interviewed over 20 women from Accrington, Lancashire, whose working lives in male dominated environments spanned the 50s, 60s and 70s. From being banned from playing football to taking a pregnancy test as part of a job interview, their stories were funny and moving by turns.
The project culminated in a performance filmed according to Covid protocol and screened at Accrington Market Hall once restrictions were lifted. The women’s stories in their own words have been incorporated into this talking chair at Accrington Library and are also hosted on the Stanhill Village heritage website. Just click on any of the pictures to hear their stories, watch the film in its entirety or listen to proud Accringtonian Julie Hesmondhalgh introduce the project. Top tip - you’ll need to scroll down the page to see everything!
