FOWP MEMORIES EVENT

Wednesday 29 September, 2-4:30pm, Park Centre

Do you remember: Waterlow Park during the war, music on the bandstand, heavy winter snow in 1947 or 1963, playing in the park as a child, old fashioned picnics and games? The Friends of Waterlow Park (FoWP) would like to hear from you about these or any other memories. You will be contributing to our long term project to gather as much information as possible about the park within ‘living memory’.

Janet Walton contacted FoWP by email with the following gem:
‘’My father and also my grandfather used to work as gardeners in Waterlow park. My grandfather probably worked there in 1895 and my father started work as a young boy in 1920. I remember hearing many tales of ghosts, even one of skeletal remains being found bricked up in one of the walls, whether these tales were true I really don't know’’
We have also heard via U3A from Norman Cude who remembers a Christmas party in the early 1940s spent with his uncle the Keeper in the lodge on Dartmouth Park Hill.

In May, FoWP  organised a successful ‘Memories Event’ at the Park Centre for people to share their stories and pictures over tea and cakes. We heard about three air raid shelters, a putting course, children not being allowed to play on Sundays!, the Refreshment House and deckchairs for 2 pence, staged productions, military bands, scrumping for apples from the small orchard, Polly Parrot in the Aviary who used to swear loudly, peacocks and Park keepers who wore brown suits and hats …..and much more.
Now we are following this up with another session on Wednesday 29 September from 2-5pm. Bring your memories, your photos and any other information to share over tea and home made cakes.

This is a long term project: we hope to make the information available for the wider community on our website and on ‘story’ boards which could be displayed locally in schools, libraries and the park as well as being placed in a local archive for future generations. There is also the possibility of applying for a grant.

We can arrange to visit those people unable to leave their homes, or we can make contact by telephone or email. We are interested in seeing photos, memorabilia and other visual material. For more information or to leave contact details, please telephone Catharine Wells on 0207 485 6965 or contact us onlne.