In between games of bingo and cups of tea, a group of 30 people brought their stories to life.
Homestead memories
Behind each face there is a story
Homestead memories
Come and stay awhile
Washing day lasted all day long
Winding the mangle and singing a song
Ponching the clothes in the tub
While waiting for dad to come home from t' pub
darts artist Janet Wood handed out questions on folded pieces of paper to stimulate people's memories.
No hot water in our house. First job copper on. Fill with cold water and light fire below. Out came 2 tubs washboard and scrubbing brush, and the ponch, a wooden object which thumped the clothes around. Then if it was raining the lines went up, tied to the picture rails, and woe betide anyone who caught em. It was like being in a sauna. Steam rose merrily and dinner every wash day was the same - cold meat and fry-up.
(Bill)
This was week one of a six-week project that ended in a film capturing the stories of this lovely group of people who meet weekly at The Homestead Communual Hall in Bentley. The project was the brainchild of Julie Atkins of the Performing Arts College at Don Valley School, who also provided the funding.
Week two was close to Remembrance Sunday. Participants jotted down their wartime memories on red paper poppies.
First memory waiting for evacuees on the village green.
Iron gates removed for war effort.
Blackout curtains at windows.
Criss cross brown paper on school windows in case of bomb damage.
Carrying gas masks.
Sleeping under the stairs – no air raid shelter.
Knitting gloves and socks for the forces.
(Sheila)
Some stories made us realise how much life has changed...
I left school at 14 years old and started work at Radiance Toffee works till I was 23 years old. I made some very good friends while I was there. The job I was on was on a machine that wrapped the sweets, it was a very tiring job. But one day I was put with another girl sorting hazelnuts. She asked me if I liked the job and I said any silly bugger could do that and the forewoman was going past and heard me, so I was suspended for two weeks. They were very strict.
(Iris)
Some made us smile...
Coming home from school, standing in the tin bath in front of the fire, because mam had found nits in my hair.
(Maxine)
And some were very sad...
I remember the news when my brother had been killed. We had not seen him for three years.
(Rhoda)
In Week 4 Jim Lockey arrived to start filming. The theme song was filmed, to great amusement. Over the following two weeks, a few individuals told their stories to camera. Peter brought in a collection of objects including a gas mask and a ration card. Kate brought photos and documents from when she was in the WRAF.
The resulting film is an affectionate portrayal of some of the stories behind the faces, and the artists took away their own warm memories of their visits to The Homestead.
"Is that it, then? Is it a wrap, is that what you say?"