the well
the yew treeOff to Doveridge today. I met staff at a residential home for 4 people with learning disabilities. And yes! I am going to work with residents there who at the moment have little contact with the village.
Next I visited the village shop and bought a "village trail" printed by the Village Preservation Society - very usefiul and informative it was too. I tried it out which was a great way of getting to know the patch. And everyone I passed said hello. Felt a bit conspicuous with my camera and wondered how much curiosity I was arousing in such a small village where most people must know their neighbours.
Next - off to the Senior Citizens Club where I was met by organisers Pam and Frank and realised that the hall was set out with chairs in rows, 40 or 50 people wating expectantly - they were expecting a talk from me! And here was me thinking this would be an informal visit. However, we got going - I got to grips with their microphone and I sang them a song made up with older people in Sheffield by way of an introduction. Explained the project and we all thought about the personal "maps" in our heads. Then I handed out envelopes, one by one, each with a different topic on eg "favourite walk", "first love" etc and we all got chatting while I noted it all down on flip chart paper. And I found yet again that no matter where you go, there are interesting and unique things to be discovered - I learned that Robin Hood is supposed to have proposed to Maid Marion under the Yew Tree in the churchyard, there was a local ghost called Molly Morton who frightened people on their bicycles and that people snogged under the well roof in the days before streetlights! In no time it was time for a cuppa and I met several more individuals keen to talk. One man, a local poet has been commissioned by me to write a poem about Doveridge by next time. Everyone seemed to have got the bit between their teeth to continue next time. Hopefully their homework to think of more anecdotes will help. In the meantime, I'll try to make what they have given me into a starting point. They were great. And the choccy biscuits were very welcome.
Next - off to the Senior Citizens Club where I was met by organisers Pam and Frank and realised that the hall was set out with chairs in rows, 40 or 50 people wating expectantly - they were expecting a talk from me! And here was me thinking this would be an informal visit. However, we got going - I got to grips with their microphone and I sang them a song made up with older people in Sheffield by way of an introduction. Explained the project and we all thought about the personal "maps" in our heads. Then I handed out envelopes, one by one, each with a different topic on eg "favourite walk", "first love" etc and we all got chatting while I noted it all down on flip chart paper. And I found yet again that no matter where you go, there are interesting and unique things to be discovered - I learned that Robin Hood is supposed to have proposed to Maid Marion under the Yew Tree in the churchyard, there was a local ghost called Molly Morton who frightened people on their bicycles and that people snogged under the well roof in the days before streetlights! In no time it was time for a cuppa and I met several more individuals keen to talk. One man, a local poet has been commissioned by me to write a poem about Doveridge by next time. Everyone seemed to have got the bit between their teeth to continue next time. Hopefully their homework to think of more anecdotes will help. In the meantime, I'll try to make what they have given me into a starting point. They were great. And the choccy biscuits were very welcome.
