Telford Our New Town

Saturday, 22 August 2015

Dawley Day

This is Dawley’s Day and one of the highlights in the community calendar. This year it’s scheduled a little later than usual to coincide with the Captain Webb celebrations. It is 140 years on Monday 24th August since Matthew Webb became the first man to swim the English Channel from Dover to Calais. We’ve been helping to celebrate this achievement as part of the Summer Reading Challenge with displays by Dawley Heritage lovers at the main libraries and sessions for the children – ‘Action and Adventure’.

So more recent heritage on show today from us with a display showing various photos that we have in the collection. Met some folks with great memories … 'worked at Carrefour … laid concrete on the first phase of the Town Centre' … 'My Mum and Dad were original residents on Sutton Hill and still live there'… 'I’ve got some photos in the loft – I’ll get them down.'

So thanks to all and despite thinking we’d be swimming home as the forecast was abysmal – we ended up being fried!

One young man said this is great what you’re doing… ‘It’s bringing old heritage into the new generation’ which we thought was a wonderful way of summing up the project.

Another great Dawley Day! entering into the spirit!

Friday, 14 August 2015

Once Upon a Telford App - launching soon...

The new app created by young people is being launched on 20 AUG to help people uncover the recent history of Telford Town Park and the surrounding area.

Created as part of the project it is an interactive way for people to discover more about the local area, whether resident or visitor.

Led by the Reading Hack, a group of inspiring young people aged from 11-16, and in conjunction with Telford & Wrekin Library Service, a number of elements bring together the whole Once Upon a Telford project, which has five main themes:

Telford Town Centre, Telford Town Park,

Chelsea Gardens, Wonderland and Transport

One of the most exciting elements being launched is an app which enables the user to follow the interactive map on a trail through the town park and gardens and experience the area first hand, with additional content becoming available the more the area is explored.

The app also explores each of the five main themes, and features photos and information about the development and history of each area.

To complement the app, the group also created a giant pop-up book with the help of artist Katy Alston, as well as other related items that were created with Fablab at Enginuity using methods such as 3d and laser printing.

Once Upon a Telford launches on Thursday (20 AUG) at Southwater Library from 11am until 3pm. Everyone is invited along to the launch where it will be possible to see the giant pop-up book, the additional items created by the group, as well as downloading and exploring the app and completing the trail.

Councillor Angela McClements, cabinet member for Communities, Regeneration and Transport, said: “So much hard work and dedication has gone into this project by the Reading Hack group, supported by library staff.

“It’s fantastic that Once Upon a Telford is now being officially launched and everyone will be able to see the culmination of all that hard work, as well as take part and enjoy all the elements of the project.

“I am proud of what the group has achieved and hope residents and visitors alike download the app which will bring to life the centre of Telford in a way it never has been before.”

The app has been developed by local software company Brozelabs and is available to download now on iOS and android phones and devices.

Monday, 27 July 2015

Letts Get Talking....

We were so pleased to host our first Developing memories - Oral History training session with Julia Letts today. Julia is passionate ‘about the power of memory and conversation, and the impact it can have on people’s lives! We certainly enjoyed a day of thinking about collecting and using memories and how to engage people in the community.We learnt how to use a digital recorder, shared tips and hints on how to set up a session, and get the best out of it.

We were joined by some new community history volunteers and a couple of the fab Reading Hack team who have been busy creating the Once Upon a Telford pop up book based on some of the Telford New Town digital images.

Oral History Society

Friday, 24 July 2015

20 years of Shropshire Archives at Castle Gates

It was great to celebrate with our colleagues at Shropshire Archives this afternoon. 20 years in their present home. Thank you for all your help with this project – we couldn’t have done it without you. Happy Birthday to you!

Thursday, 23 July 2015

Smashing Summer Fun at Sutton Hill

Nothing could dampen Sutton Hill spirits this afternoon! Once the showers had blown away, there was a real buzz around the community centre for the Fun Afternoon. We really enjoyed introducing people to the TONT project, sharing some photographs and handing out postcards. Thanks for organising it Steve from the Community Learning team and providing the screen to project onto.

Monday, 20 July 2015

Sporting Memories

Thanks to the Telford Tigers for bringing some of their archive photos along and their wonderful shiny trophies that they’ve won this year. Well done guys!

Telford Tigers

Thanks to Pete for bringing memorabilia from Telford AFC and Building the Tribe – Fans history of Telford United. Come along and enjoy the photos that this project has contributed to the digital table.

Fans history of Telford United

T-Party this year had a sporty theme so provided us with a great “excuse” to enjoy some of sporting photos to jog a few memories.

T-Party 2015

Saturday, 18 July 2015

Once Upon a Telford Pop Up Book launched

The fabulous Reading hacks team:

The fabulous Reading hack group who have created a giant pop-up book with the help of artist Katy Alston. It’s based on the Telford Our New Town digital images and they have made other related items that were created with Fablab at Enginuity using methods such as 3d and laser printing.