3 May 2013

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Volunteers needed to help with oral history project with children from St Michael’s School, Withyham and The Meads, East Grinstead

Two schools in Sussex are participating in an exciting educational project that will research and record oral history regarding the impact of the 1960s railway closures when the Three Bridges to Tunbridge Wells line was axed in the 1960s. The project has been funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund and is being led by Life Wisdoms, a local charity that support practical and educational projects.

As it is an intergenerational project, the children will engage with older people in the community who lived through the Beeching cuts and are willing to share their memories. By talking to people directly, the children will not only gather real life stories which will contribute to the historical archive of the community, but they will also develop greater confidence and communication skills.

We are looking for volunteers to help with reminiscence:

• Did you live through the 1960s Beeching cuts and have memories you are willing to share with the children?
• Did a family member or friend work or travel on the railway and were they affected by the cuts?
• Did you work in a business that was affected by the cuts?
• Did you lose your job as a result of the cuts?
• Did you or your children rely on the railway to get to work/school or to go on holiday and how did you get there once the railway lines closed?
• Are you interested in railway history and willing to share your knowledge?
• What did you think of the Beeching cuts? Were the plans a necessary evil or could things have been done differently?
• What are the disused lines and railway buildings used for now?

If you can answer yes to any of these questions and can give up just an hour or two to speak to students in small groups, please call Ruth Maddison for an informal chat on 01825 891094.

Alternatively, please e-mail info@lifewisdoms.org for more information or a call back.