Colchester Recalled have been recording memories of Colchester & District for almost 40 years. With 3,500 hours of recording of over 1,500 elderly people, many with the rich old Colchester accent, now gone, it is now one of the largest oral history archives in Britain. We even go back to before the soldiers returning to Colchester at the end of the Boer War. Listen to Reg Sillito (born 1896)
We hold Meetings at the Roman Circus Centre to listen to those recordings and have a speaker on a topic of local history.
Following on from our Christmas Quiz, our next meeting is on
Monday 20th January 2025 11.00 am
(coffee available from 10.45 am)
John Worland will talk on
‘Colchester and the great Essex witch trial of 1645.’
‘Colchester and the great Essex witch trial of 1645.’
Colchester Recalled magazine No. 38 is now published, and available from our sponsor Gunton's in Crouch Street. As usual it is packed with interesting articles, including working memories of a funeral attendant and grave digger, some recollections of working in domestic service, and how the pupils and teachers at St John's Green school have been helping to celebrate the school's 125th anniversary - and much more.
Available at the bargain price of just £2 (click the magazine image to see larger)
Available at the bargain price of just £2 (click the magazine image to see larger)
Latest News
One Square Mile: Heritage on our Doorstep
by Laura Davison
Over the last 18 months, Colchester Recalled has been supporting St John's Green Primary School's National Lottery Heritage Funded project One Square Mile: Heritage on our Doorstep. Patrick has been working in the school with 8 pupils and their parents, training them in recording oral history interviews, transcribing them verbatim, and even editing excerpts and illustrating them with photographs.
They have interviewed friends, relatives, staff, and alumni. Ivy interviewed her 91 year old Great Grandfather Michael Beattie who attended St John's Green School during WWII. He described the air raid sirens and shelters in the playground (listen to this interview).
Jasmine interviewed Marion Murray and learnt all about the different types of lessons including handwriting and arithmetic (listen to this interview). Awana and Maria got the honour of interviewing their headteacher Simon Billings and finding out all about his job.
They have also been listening to Colchester Recalled's oral history recordings of people who attended St John's Green School. The recordings have helped to make history more meaningful. Using logbooks from the school's archive and illustrating these records with oral histories, the pupils have learnt what life has been like at school right from its opening in 125 years ago in 1898 through to today. They have thoroughly enjoyed learning about their historic school building, and everyday life in the school, such as lessons, plays, assemblies, playground games, lunch times, and about the different headteachers and teachers.
They have been an incredibly dedicated and enthusiastic team. All this learning came to fruition when the pupils delivered a talk at our Monday morning meeting, showcasing a selection of the oral histories they have recorded, transcribed and edited. The work these 9 and 10 year olds have achieved, is truly impressive. This approach to training young people in oral history is extremely rare and we are proud to have been a part in the project.
Headteacher Simon Billings congratulated the pupils:
A huge well done to the girls, who not only presented in front of members of the public, but have worked extremely hard, putting a lot of time and effort into interviewing past and present members of the St John's Green community.
Jasmine with Marion Murray
Ivy with her great-grandfather Michael Beattie
the two images above are courtesy of One Square Mile: Heritage on our Doorstep project.
Harwich Road Primary School 1940 - Girls sitting in air raid shelter, with their gas masks.