Deptford: Local history

Local history is displayed in local places.

This is Deptford, South-East London,

more precisely Deptford Action Group for the Elderly, 

where an archive of local history is gradually being added to.

I don't think there's a plan, a strategy for this collection,

just a conviction and enthusiasm to make sure people and events are remembered.

Whilst the photos above might tell of childhood memories of life in Deptford,

there is much evidence of more recent history:

Like the Olympics, London, 2012,

friends, locals, who have passed on,

protesting,

trips to the seaside,

 and boxing.

I have had the wonderful opportunity to see all this

whilst hanging out with new friends with a cup of tea and a piece of cake.

Strictly I shouldn't be there at all,

I'm not put off by the no alcohol rule but I've yet to qualify as a pensioner.

I got to know these lovely people through a mutual friend, Rose Bird.

We all worked together.

In 2013 I ran a project called Deptford Decades where older people shared memories of Deptford and the 1940s & 50s, with local school children. The project ran for a few months, ending in a grande finale, a tea-dance in which the children performed dances they had choreographed themselves to tell the older people's stories. Over 120 people turned up. It was such good fun and also very moving at times. I remember that during one dance, the children all ducked down in quick unison, illustrating Barbara's memories of hiding under her kitchen table during an air raid.

We made a film too. It's about ten minutes long, it's beautiful.

You can hear first-hand from Barbara, Rose and others.

'Residents of Deptford tell their Stories'

You can find the link here.

I'm not advocating visiting DAGE, it's a drop-in centre for the local community of a certain age, there must be many places like this all over the country. However Deptford is brimming with history with associations to Peter the Great, Queen Elizabeth 1 and Christopher Marlowe.

There's quite a bit of history to see just walking back to the car park.

  Second World War air-raid shelter sign.

Deptford Docks established by Henry VIII

London Passion Week

London Passion Week is a great community art exhibition in Deptford, South East London put on by the Bear church.

It explores the Easter story, through the stations of the cross.

Instead of a passion play, the story is told through a passion exhibition.

From the last supper...  

...to the resurrection.

Many different people contributed to the telling of the Easter story,

the very young in the creche,

pre-schoolers in the playgroup,

 and children with their parents.

Told by people who like...

recycling...

brazing (a kind of welding)...

sailing...

 photography...

knitting...

and flowers.

Some pieces of work were made by the church community,

contemplating promises,

 and betrayal, by a kiss.

 Visitors also get to take part, take two sticks and some yarn. 

Whatever your take on Easter, this affords an opportunity over the bank holiday weekend to pause and contemplate its meaning.

Chatting to visitors, I got to hear more about Easter, their thoughts and experiences...

...of huge Easter processions in Columbia, South America, and 'fun' Easter activities in a Croydon primary school.

No mention of chocolate by anybody.

There still may be time to see this exhibition. It closes at 4pm Saturday 19th April 2014.

The Shaftesbury Christian Centre, Frankham St, Deptford, SE8 4RN.

More details on the Facebook page here.