Oral History
Pendeen Oral History Project was started, with the
aid of a Neighbourhood Regeneration Grant, in July 2002. Its aims
are to maintain the traditions of the area, and to preserve local
memories by involving local people in their recording.
In April 2003 the first exhibition based on the work of the Project
was opened. By that time project workers and volunteers had interviewed
over 30 people and had been given many photographs and family souvenirs.
| The
exhibition was opened by 84 year old Bert Matthews. Bert,
a well known and respected figure in the community, was voted
St Just Citizen of the Year in 1999 in recognition of his
neighbourly work in Pendeen. The opening ceremony was attended
by more than 100 guests, including many of the interviewees. |
|
Recording people's memories of the past is recognised as being
of considerable importance, providing a valuable historical asset
to both current and future generations. Fiona Young is the Oral
History Project Co-ordinator and said, at the time of the Exhibition "Project
workers have visited and interviewed many of the older people
in Pendeen. Their recollections are sometimes of small and seemingly
insignificant events that would otherwise be lost forever. When
pieced together, these fragments of information give a fascinating
insight into life in the community in the past."
Project workers have also assembled an archive of photos from the
interviewees' family albums, hitherto unseen by the public, vividly
illustrating villagers' recollections of the past.
Fiona and other project workers have recorded people recounting
memories of the village school being so crowded that wartime
child evacuees and children of the village attended lessons in
shifts.
Others, including Bert Matthews, have recalled the days when
Pendeen was a thriving place with butchers, bakers and even shoemakers,
shops and businesses now gone forever. Collecting water from
pumps
in the village and carrying it home for cooking, bathing and
laundry is an over riding memory for many - mains water was not
supplied
to Pendeen until the late 1950s. "Many people obviously
have vivid memories of World War II' said Fiona. "Some of
the old men, just boys at the time, recall standing, on the cliff
tops,
watching German fighter planes machine gunning ships out at sea,
and remember D-Day, when the sea was "carpeted with ships."
The Exhibition continues throughout 2003 and 2004. Further material
collected by the Project can be seen, by contacting Fiona at
Geevor and
making an appointment to visit - preferably on a Tuesday or Thursday.
