Recording Reminiscences

Woodham Recollects

Recording Reminiscences

Woodham Recollects

In 2014, the Local History Society of South Woodham Ferrers began recording reminiscences of local people who had lived most of their lives in the local communities of Woodham Ferrers and South Woodham Ferrers.

Jump to the Memorial

The aim was to provide a permanent and easily accessible record of precious personal memories for those in the area, and those beyond. Work continued on capturing these fascinating oral histories during the St Mary's Heritage Hub project - including a wonderful intergenerational project with Year 4 at Priory Primary School in Bicknacre (see below).

Now, for the first time, these interviews are available to listen to online.

The sound clips below provide a flavour of the ongoing project, with the option to listen to either a short taster or a longer edited recording.

If you have memories and stories of your own to contribute to the project, you wish to ask a question about the recordings you have heard, or you are interested in getting involved with recording, editing and transcribing, please contact project lead Roy Bradnam via email.

The Interviews so far…

Bill Adams

Bill Adams’s account of South Woodham Ferrers Station in the early days.

Vernon Yarker

Vernon Yarker

Vernon Yarker’s vivid memories of life in SWF during World War Two.

Roger Copeman

Roger Copeman

Roger Copeman’s memories of market gardening in South Woodham Ferrers before the town’s expansion.

Ruth Rolston

Ruth Rolston

Ruth Rolston’s memories of SWF shops in days gone by.

Betty Stevens

Betty Stevens

The extraordinary recollections of Betty Stevens, a 97-year-old, who attended St Mary’s School in Woodham Ferrers.

The Hill Family

The Hill Family

The fun and games the young Hill family had during the 1940s in their SWF family home.

Barbara Worricker

Barbara Worricker

Barbara Worricker’s memories of raising a family in Woodham Ferrers during the 1970s.

Geffery Worricker

Geffery Worricker

Geffery Worricker’s early memories of his family home catching alight from a WW2 incendiary bomb.

Intergenerational Oral History

On 15th July 2024, Year 4 pupils from Priory Primary School in Bicknacre put local Woodham residents Colin Wilson and Wally Whitworth in the hotseat!

Working with lead recorder Roy and St Mary’s Heritage Hub consultant Nia, they learnt all about the oral history project before settling down to work on a series of thought-provoking open-ended questions for Colin and Wally.

The resulting interviews saw every child ask their own personal question to each of our interviewees, with topics ranging from early memories and ways of life, to stories of WW2 and family tragedy. No subject was out of bounds and the pupils relished the opportunity to delve into the past with our willing interviewees.

The interviews were followed by an object handling session featuring items from Wally’s family – including a 1924 British Exhibition tea caddy, pieces of coal, his grandfather’s beer tankard and an intriguing collection of old coins – and a lively discussion about the traditions and experience of Christmas in the 1940s in comparison with today.