Bulwell Scrapbook Stories
For six weeks in January and February 2019, residents of Mariner Court and Duchess Gardens worked with Artist Hannah Sawtell and Poet Leanne Moden to share their stories. Below you will see a range of activities including drawing, calligraphy, paper-cut making, design, and creative writing, using memories on themes of home, work, place, fashion and entertainment in order to create some wonderful artworks, poetry and prose.
This work produced is a fascinating glimpse into the social history of Bulwell, as well as a timely reminder that all stories are valid and meaningful. The Bulwell Scrapbook Stories project was a joint project by Nottingham City Homes, Creative Nottingham North, Rebalancing the Outer Estates Foundations and the Bulwell Arts Festival.
Cathy Mahmood, Nicola Curzon and Goran Selby organised the project but the biggest thank you's go to Artist Hannah Sawtell and Poet Leanne Moden for pulling all these wonderful pieces together and of course to the residents of Duchess Gardens and Mariner Court for sharing their stories, memories and creativity.
Persistence of Memory
Tell me your story
Let words catch in our hair
Like cigarette smoke
Machinery music on factory floors
Past leaking into now
Pretend I haven't heard this one
Because I haven't this one
Tell me your story
Conjure memories from coat pockets
Taste them on your tongue
Like bread and butter pudding
Like kindness
We didn't have much back then
But we had each other
Tell me your story
Dress it up in glad rags
And take it out dancing again
Pay in old money and keep it safe
Like an heirloom
Like it is the most important secret
You have ever told
Tell me your story
Let the words spring from your throat
Like a song sung across decades
Hopscotch chalked on pavements
Like wisdom
You have so much to shar
And we all are listening now
Tell us your story
Let us learn your history
It may not feel like much
But it is part of this place
You are part of this place
You are everything you've ever known
And that is beautiful
Leanne Moden
A Recipe for a Good Home
Take a cupful of love
And mix in patience and hospitality.
Add in a gallon of warmth
And stir in some understanding
Fold in 125g of sharing
And stir in a big spoonful of trust.
And a big, big spoonful of give and take.
Mix in plenty of friendship and make sure your husband does his bit!
Put some oil into a heart-shaped tin
Pour in the mixture
And bake for the rest of your life.
Duchess Gardens Group Bulwell
Lies about Bulwell
There are 4500 Tigers
There 200 Fairies
Cliff Richard lives there
Dinosaurs were found there
Peter Rabbits
Thomas the tank engine trains
Every house is painted yellow
Kittie Kat chocolate was made in Bulwell.
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My Favourite Outfit
Getting Ready to go Out
Put on pants [briefs]
Get cossolette on with suspenders
Put stockings on
Get underskirt on-flared
Put on favourite dress
With your make-up on
Put on high heels
Wear your clip-on earrings- sparkly
Make sure your appearance is nice
Put you coat on
Get your hand bag
And off you go.
My Favourite Room
My bedroom in the meadows was my favourite, It was so nice , It was a special bedwroom. The walls were cream fro the window. I could see a pub across the road and I could see all the cars coming and going in the car parl. It felt nice and comfortable in my bedroom. Dorothy.
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My Favourite Room
Thank you to all involved at Duchess gardens and Mariner Court:
Hillarie Dobbine, Barbara Bentonite, Sadie Bennett, Carole Exard, James Johnstone, Christine Anne Millar, Pam Hicklines, Gillian Simon, Mary Appleby and Kath Viggers.
Dorothy Richardson, Doreen Campbell, Tony Radford and Evelyn Radford.