3 / 4 / ( 0 9 , ) &! $ % + 2 / 7 % 2 %XHIBITION CATALOGUE INCLUDES AN INTERVIEW WITH THE PHOTOGRAPHERS
IMAGES FROM THE EXHIBITION AND POEMS
*OHN ,EVETT !NNE -ARIE 'LASHEEN
0HOTOGRAPHS BY
3UPPORTED BY
*OHN ,EVETT JOHN LEVETT
!LEC +AYE 0ETTIFER !NONYMOUS X 3USAN 3ILVINO &ERREIRADA 3ILVA WWW CANALLONDRES TV
3UZANNE 2EED *OYCE 0ETTIFER
+ATE 'LASHEEN 'LADYS 0ONCELET WWW PONCELET ME UK (ELEN 'OULDING *ACQUI 0ONCELET
$ANIEL 'LASHEEN WWW AMBERBOW COM ,UCY 7ILLIAMS WWW üTZROVIANOIR WORDPRESS COM *AMES (ANNA 'LASHEEN
!NNABEL -C,AREN AND "ARRY -ILTON WWW MYRIADBOOKS COM
( 'LASHEEN $ITA )SERLES
GOOGLEMAIL COM
!NNE -ARIE 'LASHEEN MIMI GLASHEEN GMAIL COM )NTERVIEW BY %LOISE $ONNELLY ELOISEDONNELLY GMAIL COM #URATED BY ,OUISE &ORRESTER LOUISE VIEWüNDER ORG UK
0UBLISHED BY %DITED BY ,ISA 2OBERTSON EDITOR VIEWüNDER ORG UK
6IEWüNDER 0HOTOGRAPHY 'ALLERY ,INEAR (OUSE
0EYTON 0LACE OFF 2OYAL (ILL
'REENWICH ,ONDON 3% 23
$ESIGN BY WWW VIEWüNDER ORG UK -ANDANA !HMADVAZIR DESIGNER VIEWüNDER ORG UK !LSO AVAILABLE AS A COLOUR
E PUBLICATION WWW VIEWüNDER ORG UK SHOP
&IRST PUBLISHED !PRIL 4HE ARTISTS AND AUTHORS 4HE VIEWS EXPRESSED IN THIS PUBLICATION ARE NOT NECESSARILY THE VIEWS OF THE PUBLISHER OR THE EDITORS
*OHN ,EVETT JOHN LEVETT GOOGLEMAIL COM
.EVER READ MORE INTO AN IMAGE THAN IS THERE 4RY NOT TO AND FAIL 4HE TRULY INTERESTING FEATURE OF THE FAMILY ALBUM IS WHAT THE FAMILY HIDESqTHE ABUSE THE IGNORING THE LIES THE VIOLENCE THE GATHERING DISAPPOINTMENTS THE SLOW DEATH OF AMBITION )N ) MOVED OUT OF THE HOUSE IN WHICH MY MOTHER HAD DIED EIGHT YEARS BEFORE !MONGST THE CLUTTER THAT WENT TO THE TIP WAS MOST OF THE FAMILY PHOTO COLLECTIONqTHE REPOSITORY OF ALL THE MYTHS ASSUMPTIONS CREATIONS DECEITS OMISSIONS AVOIDANCES AND ELEPHANTS IN THE ROOM ) RETAINED A HANDFUL OF SNAPS WHY THESE AND NOT OTHERS ) CANlT RECALL 3OME WERE TAKEN BY MY FATHER SOME BY ME SOME BY kAN OTHERl !LL ARE CERTAINLY MIRRORED IN THE CONVENTIONS OF THE FAMILY ALBUM .ONE CARRY THE WEIGHT OF SIGNIüCANCE -Y MOTHER AND ) NEVER TALKED OF THE kSIGNIüCANTlqWHO MY FATHER WAS HER LIFE BEFORE THEY MET WHAT JOBS SHE HAD DONE WHAT LARKS SHElD BEEN UP TO 3HE HANDED DOWN A LOVE OF "ACH AND THE SINGING OF +ATHLEEN &ERRIER üLM NOIR AND *OHN &ORD HISTORY AND POLITICS GARDENING AND 'ERMANYqWITHOUT EVER CONüDING HOW THEY ALL CAME COMFORTABLY TOGETHER IN HER OWN LIFE 3HE WOULD OCCASIONALLY GATHER UP REMEMBRANCES AND ASK IF WE COULD HAVE A DAY OUT AT SOME SPOT BUT NEVER UNCOVER WHY ) DROVE AND COLLUDED IN THE PRIVACY OF HER OWN MOMENTS 2EWORKING THE IMAGES COMPLEMENTED MY REVALUATION OF MY LIFE WITH MY MOTHERqGIVING CERTAIN MOMENTS A FRESH IMMEDIACY ASKING WHO WAS BEHIND THE CAMERA WHO WAS ABSENT WHAT EVENTS WERE NEVER RECORDED WHAT WAS THE PHOTOGRAPH NEVER TAKENq RECREATING THE NARRATIVE REWRITING THE MEMORY &AILING AGAIN &AILING BETTER
!NNE -ARIE 'LASHEEN WWW GLASHEEN CO UK MIMI GLASHEEN GMAIL COM
(OW MUCH DO WE KNOW ABOUT THE HISTORIES OF THE FAMILIES WE ARE BORN INTO 7ITH EACH DEATH SO MUCH IS LOST &AMILY PHOTOS PROVIDE ANSWERS BUT RAISE QUESTIONS 4HEY HOLD KEYS AND THEY HIDE SECRETS 7HAT IS REALITY AND WHAT IS MYTH IN THE VARIOUS TALES THAT CIRCULATE OCCASIONALLY MODIüED TO SUIT THE TELLERlS VIEWPOINT 5SING OLD AND NEW TECHNIQUES k&AMILY 0HOTOS 2EWORKEDl IS A SERIES OF IMAGES THAT COMBINE ORIGINAL FAMILY PRINTS WITH MODERN ONES
REWORKED PINHOLE SHOTS OF k0ETTIFERl ADDRESSES AND POEMS AND TEXTS INSPIRED BY STORIES TOLD AND INFORMATION GLEANED ABOUT THREE GENERATIONS OF MY MOTHERlS FAMILY (ER GRANDFATHER WAS A MASTER BAKER IN ,EE (IGH 2OAD EVENTUALLY BANKRUPTED BY THE SONS WHO WORKED WITH HIM (ER FATHER WAS A BUTCHER ALSO IN ,EE (IGH 2OAD
BEFORE HE ENLISTED !FTER FOUR YEARS IN )NDIA HE WAS SENT TO &RANCE IN AND BADLY WOUNDED A MONTH BEFORE THE END OF THE 'REAT 7AR 3HE WAS BORN IN #ATFORD AND GREW UP IN ONE OF "ELLINGHAMlS k(OMES FOR (EROESl 3HE REMEMBERS THE BOMBING OF ,ONDON IN THE LAST WAR WHEN SHE WORKED AS A TELEPHONIST FOR THE INNER CABINET 4HIS PROJECT IS AS MUCH ABOUT WHAT IS FORGOTTEN AS IT IS ABOUT WHAT IS REMEMBERED ) SHOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING FOR THEIR KIND CONTRIBUTIONS !LEC +AYE 0ETTIFER !NNABEL -CLAREN "ARRY -ILTON WWW MYRIADBOOKS COM $ANIEL 'LASHEEN WWW AMBERBOW COM 'LADYS 0ONCELET
(ELEN 'OULDING *ACQUI 0ONCELET WWW PONCELET ME UK *AMES (ANNAH 'LASHEEN *OYCE 0ETTIFER +ATE 'LASHEEN ,UCY 7ILLIAMS HTTP üTZROVIANOIR WORDPRESS COM 3USAN 3ILVINO &ERREIRA DA 3ILVA WWW CANALLONDRES TV 3UZANNE 2EED 2EED #O AND #OLIN AND 3HEILA -ARTIN OF THE "AKERS !LMSHOUSES IN ,EYTON FOR THEIR HELP kIN KINDl -ANY THANKS ALSO TO 'LADYS 0ONCELET AND *OYCE 0ETTIFER FOR THE LOAN OF PHOTOGRAPHS AND FOR SHARING THEIR INVALUABLE MEMORIES
)NTERVIEW WITH *OHN ,EVETT *, !NNE -ARIE 'LASHEEN !-' BY %LOISE $ONNELLY
o 7HAT INSPIRED THE PROJECT
!-' -OVING HOUSE ) DISCOVERED ) WAS A STONElS THROW FROM WHERE MY MOTHER WAS BORN AND GREW UP AND THAT HER FATHERlS ROOTS WERE STRONG IN THE AREA (AVING COME TO %NGLAND WHEN ) WAS SIX )lD ALWAYS BEEN FASCINATED BY WHERE )lD BEEN UPROOTED FROM TAKING FOR GRANTED MY %NGLISH ANCESTRY 4HE MORE ) DELVED THE MORE INTRIGUED ) BECAME *, "IRTH .OTHING MADE SENSE AFTER THAT ) GREW UP IN A FAMILY OF ME
MUM AND GRAN !UNTS UNCLES AND COUSINS POPPED IN FULüLLED OBLIGATIONS AND POPPED OUT AGAIN 3OMETIMES THEY TALKED LOUDLY AND SOMETIMES IN WHISPERS ) ASKED QUESTIONS GOT ANSWERS ON THE EASY ONES AND k7E DONlT TALK ABOUT THATl OR k9OUlLL HAVE TO ASK YOUR MOTHERl OR k)lLL TELL YOU WHEN YOUlRE OLDERl OR k,ETlS GO AND PLAY IN THE GARDENl ) GOT VARIOUS INSTRUCTIONS ABOUT WHAT TO SAY IF ANYONE ASKED ABOUT THE FAMILY 7E MOVED HOUSE A LOT 3OMETIMES WITH GRAN SOMETIMES SOLO SOMETIMES INTO THE ATTICS OF GRAND HOUSES
SOMETIMES ONE ROOM ONCE BY THE SEASIDE ONCE BESIDE A PARK ) HAD NO REASON TO SUPPOSE THAT THIS WASNlT LIFE ,IFE SETTLED IN ,UTON SOMETIME AROUND OR DATES BECAME IMPORTANT IN üXING THE TRANSIT OF PEOPLE AND EVENTS %NTER 5NCLE *OHN ) WASNlT KEEN ON 5NCLE *OHN THE MOUSTACHE AND NOR WAS GRAN WHO ALWAYS WENT UP TO HER BEDROOM WHEN HE TURNED UP 4HATlS WHEN THE PROJECT BEGAN IN EARNESTqWHO IS HE WHY DOES GRAN GO UPSTAIRS WHEN HE COMES WHY DOES HE WANT TO TAKE ME TO THE PICTURES WHY DO WE HAVE TO TALK QUIETLY WHEN HElS AROUND WHY IS HE BUILDING A CHICKEN RUN IN THE GARDEN WHY IS HE BUILDING A BATHROOM
WHY DOES HE TELL ME )lM GOING TO BE AN ENGINEER WHEN ) GROW UP 3ECOND BIRTH LIFE AS AVOIDANCE !S QUESTIONS MOUNTED SO DID AVOIDANCES /N EVERYBODYlS PART ) CANlT REMEMBER WHEN IT WAS ) üRST ASKED k7HO IS MY FATHER l BUT IT MUST HAVE BEEN EARLY ON WHEN ) DISCOVERED THAT MOST PEOPLE AROUND HAD ONE k(E DIED IN THE WARl WAS A CATCH ALL THAT MUST HAVE HAD A LOT OF CURRENCY IN THOSE YEARS "Y EARLY TEENS NOT THAT TEENS HAD YET BEEN INVENTED ) HAD DECIDED THAT THE WEIGHT OF PROBABILITY WAS ON k5NCLE *OHNl ) ASKED MUM -UM SAID SHElD TELL ME ON MY SIXTEENTH BIRTHDAY 3HE DID (E DIED IN THE WAR ) GOT MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE EMERGENCE OF k5NCLE *OHNl WHO WAS ALLEGEDLY MY FATHERlS BROTHER WHOM MY MOTHER HAD MET WHILE SEARCHING FOR MY FATHER AFTER AN AIR RAID ) SHOULD HAVE STOPPED HER IN FULL ČIGHT TO SAVE HER THE PAIN OF INVENTION ) DID THE NEXT BEST THING AND NEVER ASKED AGAIN
7HAT HAD EVOLVED AND WHAT CONTINUED WAS AN HERMETIC RELATIONSHIP IN WHICH TWO PEOPLE LIVED WITH EACH OTHER WITHOUT COMMUNICATING ABOUT THE ONE THING THAT THAT HAD BROUGHT THEM TO TOGETHER 4HE QUESTION NEVER WENT AWAY -Y MOTHERlS HISTORY NEVER SURFACED COMPLETELY
o )N WHAT WAYS DID THE PROJECT EVOLVE *, "OTH MY MOTHER AND FATHER DIED ON THE EDGE OF THE S "OTH TOOK THEIR CONNIVANCES WITH THEM )T TOOK MORE THAN ANOTHER DECADE TO RETURN TO THE SCENE ) BEGAN WRITING A MEMOIR FOR MYSELF TO TRY AND PIECE TOGETHER EVERY MEMORY ) COULD GATHER
EVERY CONVERSATION WE HAD ON FAMILY EVERY SNATCHED ASIDE EVERY COINCIDENCE OF PEOPLE AND PLACES ) RECALLED PEOPLE WHOlD FEATURED IN MY INFANT YEARS AND THEN LEFT THE SCENE PEOPLE WHOlD BEEN FREQUENT VISITORS TO THE CORNERSHOP MY MOTHER RAN WHOlD STAYED
TALKED LEFT WITHOUT BUYING FRIENDS WHOlD COME AND GONE FRIENDS )lD LOST FOR REASONS BEYOND RECALL ! LARGE PART OF A LIFE WITH GAPS HAD PASSED AND DREDGING UP THE SUNKEN BITS MIGHT üLL SPARE TIME IN THE REMAINDER /VER THE DECADES ACCOMPANYING VARIOUS PROGRAMMES OF SELF DESTRUCTION ) HAD DESTROYED MUCH OF THE ACCUMULATED ARCHIVE OF MY LIFE INCLUDING LETTERS PHOTOGRAPHS MEMORABILIA ,ITTLE REMAINED TO MAKE MUCH OF ) BEGAN WITH A PORTRAIT OF MY MOTHER FORMAL
POSED EITHER INTENDED FOR SOMEONE OR OUT OF THE SOCIAL PRACTICE OF PERIODIC SITTING FOR A STUDIO PORTRAIT ) MANIPULATED THE PORTRAIT BY COPYING PHOTO COPYING SKETCHING OVERLAYING SCANNING
SCRATCHING ERASING AND üNALLY REPHOTOGRAPHING )N THE üRST INSTANCE ) WAS EXPECTING INSIGHTS TO EMERGE FROM SIMPLY IMMERSING MYSELF IN VARIATIONS OF THE SAME IMAGE BUT WHEN ) EXTENDED THE EXERCISE TO OTHER IMAGES WHAT EMERGED WERE MORE QUESTIONS AND CREATED NARRATIVES 7HO TOOK THE PHOTOGRAPH 7HO WAS NEVER PHOTOGRAPHED 7HAT EVENTS WERE NEVER RECORDED 7HERE WAS FAMILY 7HERE WERE THE HOLIDAYS THE BIRTHDAYS 7HAT ABOUT #ORONATION $AY THE STREET PARTIES ANY PARTIES 7HERE WERE FRIENDS DID ) HAVE ANY 7HERE WAS THE PROGRESS OF A LIFE 4HERElS A PHOTOGRAPH OF ME AND A DOG -INE /URS !NOTHER DOG ANOTHER QUESTION 4HERE WERE PHOTOGRAPHS OF MY MOTHER WITH CARS BY A ROADSIDE
NEAR A COMMON IN A GARDEN ) TRACED THE CAR THE ROAD THE COMMON
THE GARDEN TO THE USUAL SUSPECT 7HAT TURNED UP WAS A LIFE THAT SHE NEVER REVEALED NEVER SHARED PART OF HAD NO MEMORABILIA THAT ) COULD RECALL ONCE KNEW PEOPLE THAT HAD BECOME FOREVER EXCLUDED )T WAS AS IF A LIFE HAD STOPPED ONE DAY IN !UGUST AND A NEW ONE FASHIONED ALONG WITH A FRESH HISTORY ) CAME ACROSS -ARIANNE (IRSCHlS BOOK k&AMILY &RAMES PHOTOGRAPHY NARRATIVE AND POST MEMORYl AND DISCOVERED THAT OTHERS HAD DONE THIS THING BEFORE 4HROUGH k&AMILY &RAMESl ) DISCOVERED THE WRITING OF *O 3PENCE AND 6ALERIE 7ALKERDINE AND
BEGAN WRITING AGAIN 4HE IMAGE AND THE TEXT BECAME INSEPARABLE NEITHER WOULD SUFüCE ALONE !-' )NITIALLY IT WAS GOING TO BE MONTAGED IMAGES ONLY AND REPRODUCTIONS OF ORIGINALS "UT AFTER ATTENDING A ,ONDON )NDEPENDENT 0HOTOGRAPHY MEETING AT THE 6IEWüNDER ) FELT INSPIRED BY MEMBERSl PINHOLE PICTURES 3O ) SHOT PARTICULAR BUILDINGS USING A PINHOLE CAMERA AS ) WANTED TO APPLY OLD TECHNIQUES TO CONTEMPORARY VIEWS 4HE RESULTS WERENlT GREAT THOUGH AND SOME HAVE HAD A DOSE OF kREWORKINGl o 7HAT FACTORS GUIDED YOUR SELECTION OF IMAGES TO BE REWORKED AND DISPLAYED *, 4HERE WAS HARDLY ANY SELECTION PROCESS ) HAD A LIMITED OF NUMBER OF IMAGES LEFT AFTER VARIOUS EPISODES OF DESTRUCTION OVER THE YEARS AND THOSE THAT ) HAD RETAINED WERE THE ONLY ONES TO WORK WITH 7HY THOSE SURVIVED IS WORTH CONSIDERING 4HERE ARE FEW THAT CONTAIN ME AND FEW THAT WERE TAKEN BY ME FEW THAT APPEAR TO EXPRESS JOY LOVE TENDERNESS TOWARDS THE OTHER -OSTLY THE GAZE IS UNCERTAIN INSECURE CAUTIOUS APPEARING TO BE ANOTHER OBLIGATORY PORTRAIT FOR ANOTHER -Y MEMORIES OF MY MOTHER ARE OF SOMEONE WHO STRUGGLED AGAINST UNCERTAINTY
UNFULüLMENT LOSS OF SOMETHING THAT ALMOST WAS ) RECOGNISED THAT IN THE GAZE /R ) READ IT INTO IT ) NEVER ASKED SHE NEVER TOLD !-' ) WANTED TO USE SIGNIüCANT DOCUMENTS OLD FAMILY PHOTOS OF BUILDINGS AND ADDRESSES THAT STILL EXIST UNFORTUNATELY TWO NOW SIT UNDER CAR PARKS AND PHOTOS OF FAMILY MEMBERS AS THEY WERE (AVING SCANNED THEM INTO THE COMPUTER ) COMBINED THEM WITH MORE RECENT DIGITAL SHOTS o 7HAT INČUENCED THE WAYS IN WHICH YOU MANIPULATED THE IMAGES !-' ) PUT PEOPLE kTHENl TOGETHER WITH OTHER kTHENSl AND WITH PLACES kNOWl AND WITH OLDER kSELVESl ) WANTED EACH IMAGE TO TELL A STORY *, #HANCE SERENDIPITY MOOD RANDOMNESS BOREDOM TIME OF DAY TIME OF YEAR ANGER THE CATCH OF LIGHT ) TRIED ANYTHING THAT MIGHT SUGGEST AN INSIGHT A RECOGNITION OF MEMORIES THAT MEET A COINCIDENCE ) WAS MORE INTERESTED IN WHAT MY FEELINGS WERE WHILE WORKING WITH THEM AND WHAT THE OUTCOME OF THE PROJECT WOULD BE ON A PERSONAL LEVEL
o $ID YOU HAVE ANY UNEXPECTED REACTIONS TO YOUR RE WORKING OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS !-' .O THE IDEAS BEHIND THE PROJECT HAVE GENERATED INTEREST BUT THE REWORKED IMAGES HAVENlT BEEN SEEN BY ANYONE *, &IRST k)lVE HAD ENOUGH OF THISl )lVE BEEN REWORKING THESE IMAGES ONE WAY AND ANOTHER SINCE ABOUT AND THATlS QUITE ENOUGH
7HAT DOING IT HAS ACHIEVED IS ACCEPTANCE THAT SOME QUESTIONS WILL NEVER BE ANSWERED THAT SPECULATION IS AN ULTIMATELY FUTILE PRACTICE AND ) MIGHT AS EASILY INVENT ANOTHER LIFE STORY FOR ALL THE SUSPECTS THAT ) HAVE NO MORE QUESTIONS TO ASK THAT LIVING WITH UNCERTAINTY AND RAGGED ENDS IS NO LONGER THE ISSUE THAT IT USED TO BE )lVE ACHIEVED RESOLUTION BY BOREDOM
3ECOND ) APPRECIATE MY MOTHERlS HUMANITY 3HE MADE SOME SERIOUS MISTAKES IN HER LIFE AND CREATED A LABYRINTH OF FALSE TRAILS THAT HAD MORE THAN ONE PERSON GUESSING AT WHAT HAPPENED BUT ) NOW APPRECIATE THAT WE ALL DO THAT ) DOUBT THAT SHE üNISHED UP WITH WHAT SHE WANTED AND ) THINK SHE LIVED HER LIFE WITH A DULL REGRET THAT SOMETIMES SURFACED THATlS NOT UNCOMMON &ROM WHAT ) PIECED TOGETHER ) THINK THAT SHE GREW UP HAVING A LARK WITH LIFE AND THEN WANTED NORMALITY WHICH SHE GOT MORE OF AS SHE AGED 4HE CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE HOWEVER STAYED 7HEN SHE WAS DYING SHE SAID k)lM BEING PUNISHEDl 4HIRD SHE MADE A DECENT üST AT BRINGING UP HER CHILD TO WHOM SHE HANDED DOWN MUSIC THEATRE OPERA üLM SEASIDES MOORS DOWNS
MARSHES TRAINS GARDENS WALKING MOTORBIKES POETRY NOVELS
POLITICS HISTORY PAINTING SCULPTURE CATS EDUCATION AS LIBERATION
SERIOUS TALK LOVE OF COMPLEXITY TOLERANCE INCLUSIVENESS ) HAVE LEFT THE PROJECT WITH AVOIDANCE AMBIGUITY EQUIVOCATION LEFT WITH THE SAME NOUNS DIFFERENT CHAPTER o "OTH OF YOU HAVE PURSUED PARTICULARLY PERSONAL PROJECTS DID YOU HAVE ANY RESERVATIONS ABOUT BRINGING THESE TO A PUBLIC FORUM !-' .OT REALLY SINCE SO MANY OF THE PLAYERS ARE NO LONGER ALIVE AND THE STORIES ARE ) HOPE OF INTEREST TO THE LIVING 4HERE ARE THINGS TO BE PROUD OF AND NOT SO PROUD OF BUT A FAMILYlS HISTORY IS ITS HERITAGE AND CONTRIBUTES DIRECTLY OR OTHERWISE TO ITS INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSl SENSE OF IDENTITY *, .O -Y MOTHER FUDGED THE TRUTH 3O DO ) 3O DO YOU o $ID YOU HAVE ANY INPUT FROM OTHER FAMILY MEMBERS OR RELATIVES !-' -Y AUNT LENT ME THE FAMILY ALBUM SO THAT ) COULD SCAN IN THE IMAGES ) NEEDED ) ALSO kINTERVIEWEDl HER AND MY MOTHER ABOUT THEIR MEMORIES 4HIS PROJECT IS AS MUCH ABOUT WHAT IS FORGOTTEN AS IT IS ABOUT WHAT IS REMEMBERED AND MUCH HAS BEEN FORGOTTEN *, .O ) HAD AN INPUT FROM *O 3PENCE WHO WROTE m7E BELIEVE THAT WE ALL HAVE SETS OF PERSONALIZED ARCHETYPAL IMAGES IN MEMORY
IMAGES WHICH ARE SURROUNDED BY VAST CHAINS OF CONNOTATIONS AND BURIED MEMORIES )N PHOTO THERAPY WE CAN DREDGE THEM UP
RECONSTRUCT THEM EVEN REINVENT THEM SO THAT THEY CAN WORK IN OUR INTERESTS RATHER THAN REMAININING THE MYTHOLOGIES OF OTHERS WHO HAVE TOLD US ABOUT THAT kSELFl WHICH APPEARS TO BE VISIBLE IN VARIOUS PHOTOGRAPHS n &AMILY MEMBERS AND RELATIVES ARE MEMBERS OF THOSE kOTHERSl
o (OW HAS THIS PROJECT AFFECTED YOUR OWN APPROACH TO DOCUMENTING FAMILY LIFE AND THE CREATION OF YOUR OWN FAMILY ALBUMS !-' !LTHOUGH ) LOVE THE MYSTERY OF OLD PHOTOGRAPHS AND kIMAGININGl THE STORIES BEHIND THEM ) FEEL ) SHOULD GO THROUGH MY BULGING ENVELOPES OF PHOTOS BIN A WHOLE LOT AND CATALOGUE AND LABEL THE REST BEFORE ) FORGET kWHOl kWHATl AND kWHENl AND SO THAT MY CHILDREN AND GRANDCHILDREN WILL KNOW WHOlS WHO ) HAVE HOWEVER CREATED A FEW kPRINT ON DEMANDl BOOKS THAT USE PHOTOGRAPHS TO NARRATE OTHER FAMILY STORIES *, .O FAMILY .O ALBUM 3PEAKS VOLUMES o $O YOU THINK THE ADVENT OF DIGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY AND WEB BASED PHOTO ALBUMS HAS FUNDAMENTALLY ALTERED THE TRADITION OF THE FAMILY ALBUM !-' )NEVITABLY BUT THERE IS STILL NOTHING THAT BEATS PHYSICALLY OPENING AN ALBUM THE FEEL AND SOMETIMES CREAK AND EVEN SMELL OF THE HEAVY PAGES )TlS LIKE OPENING 0ANDORAlS "OX BUT RELEASING GHOSTS RATHER THAN ILLS *, 9ES 4HE ALBUM REČECTED PHOTOGRAPHYqIT WAS AN OCCASIONAL AFFAIR 4AKING OUT THE ALBUM REČECTING UPON IT RECALLING EVENTS
üXING THE POSITION OF FAMILY MEMBERS CONüRMING STATUS
CONSTRUCTING STORIES CREATING REFERENCE POINTS ESTABLISHING HIERARCHIES AND LINEAGEqALL THESE WERE RITUALS SUPPORTING MYTHS
EMBELLISHING STORIES PROMOTING UNITY WRITING üCTION !LL TRIBES DO IT $IGITAL PHOTOGRAPHY IS NO LONGER OCCASIONAL NO LONGER NEEDS THE BUYING OF THE üLM THE TAKING OF THE CAMERA THE REMEMBERING TO REWIND THE WINDING OFF THE TAKING TO THE CHEMIST AND ALL THE PARAPHERNALIA THAT USED TO BE !NY CHILD BORN TODAY WILL NEED A PARALLEL LIFE DEVOTED TO THE ARCHIVE ONCE MATURITY ARRIVES (OWEVER THE kLOOKING BEHIND THE VEILl TO PARAPHRASE 6ICTOR "URGIN WONlT CHANGE !NNETTE +UHN m&AMILY PHOTOGRAPHS MAY AFFECT TO SHOW US OUR PAST BUT WHAT WE DO WITH THEMqHOW WE USE THEMqIS REALLY ABOUT TODAY NOT YESTERDAY n o 7HAT ARE YOUR PLANS FOR FUTURE PROJECTS !-' )lD LIKE TO SEE IF ) CAN TRACK DOWN AND üND OUT THE TRUTH ABOUT THE kOTHER FAMILYl OF MY GRANDFATHERlS MURDERED BROTHER ) HAVE FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHS TAKEN IN %UROPE AND BEYOND AND ANCESTRAL ROOTS THAT STRETCH ACROSS THIS CONTINENT AS FAR BACK AS 4HERE ARE PLENTY MORE TALES TO TELL IN WORDS AND IMAGESa *, .EARLY ALL MY STUFF IS ABOUT MEMORY AND ) WANT TO CHANGE THAT 0OSSIBLY SOMETIME
0OEM 4!,, 4!,%3 4254(3 !,,
)N AT THE AGE OF %LI (ENRY 0ETTIFER PREVIOUSLY A -ILLERlS TRAVELLER MOVED INTO (IGH 2OAD ,EE WITH HIS WIFE AND SONS AND SET HIMSELF UP AS A -ASTER "AKER /N THE ,ORDlS $AY !NN WOULD CAREFULLY LAY OUT THE BOYSl CLOTHES FOR THE WEEKLY OUTING TO THE "APTIST #HAPEL AND THE ONLY WORDS TO BE READ ON THIS DAY WERE THOSE FROM THE (OLY "OOK BAKER BAKER BAKE SOME BREAD p WHILE YOUR SEVEN SONS ARE SLEEPING WATCH IT RISE AND SEND ITS SCENT ASCENDING THROUGH THE CEILING %LI (ENRY GOING BLIND IS IT kSOMETHING IN THE ČOURl WITH YOUR WIFE CONüNED TO BED WAKE YOUR BOYS AND BRING THEM DOWN SHOW THEM HOW TO MIX GOOD BREAD NOT A GOOD YEAR FOR THIS BAKER !NNlS IN THE NEXT WORLD .ORMAN IN )NDIA &REDlS SHOT DEAD BY HIS SPOUSE FOUND kNOT GUILTYl THOUGH CONFESSING TO HIS MURDER %LI p RUINED p MOVES TO AN ALMSHOUSE SOME SONS GO TO WAR !LBERT A PRISONER .ORMAN WOUNDED 7ALTERlS SHIP SUNK SAILING THE -ED HE SURVIVES AND PERISHES LATER NO ONE KNOWS HOW OR WHERE OR WHEN
! LOT OF GOOD A STRICT UPBRINGING DID THEMa ALL SAVE 3TAN LIKED THEIR TIPPLE TOO MUCH /LIVER MOVED OUT OF ,ONDON AND SETTLED IN "OURNEMOUTH HIS WIFE APPARENTLY A DREADFUL COOK "US DRIVER &REDERICK WAS NOT A NICE MAN HE BEAT HIS WIFE %LIZABETH AND MADE HER GO ON THE STREET TO KEEP HIM "ETWEEN TIMES HE LIVED WITH AN kOTHERl FAMILY IN $EPTFORD /NE DAY FEARING FOR HER LIFE
%LIZABETH BOUGHT A REVOLVER 4HEN CAME POOR 7ALTER p DID HE DROWN IN THE .ILE OR WAS HE EATEN BY A CROCODILE 7HATEVER HIS FATE HE NEVER RETURNED AND AS HIS ALCOHOLIC WIFE COULDNlT COPE WITH THEIR CHILDREN THEY WERE TAKEN INTO CARE #REEPY 2ALPH AS YOUR NIECES CALL YOU WAS IT YOU WHO THREATENED &REDlS WIFE AND SON 7AS IT YOU STEALING FROM THE TILL 9OUR MOTHER DEAD YOUR FATHER BLIND AND BANKRUPT WAS IT GUILT THAT DROVE YOU AND -ARY TO CARE FOR %LI -ARY A WORSE COOK EVEN THAN /LIVERlS WIFE ! kSLY SODl WAS 3TANLEY WHOSE WIFE )lM TOLD MADE UP FOR HIS SOBRIETY !LBERT HAD A NICE WIFE THATlS ALL ) KNOW THOUGH ) MET BOTH HIS CHILDREN .ORMAN THE SEVENTH SON WAS MY GRANDFATHER (AVING PARTIALLY REGAINED HIS SIGHT %LI (ENRY DIED AT THE "AKERS !LMSHOUSES IN ,EYTON JUST SHORT OF HIS TH BIRTHDAY
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.ORMAN WAS THE ONLY ONE NEVER TO WORK IN %LIlS BAKERY (E GOT A JOB AT THE BUTCHERlS UP THE ROAD INSTEAD 4HEN HE LIED ABOUT HIS AGE AND JOINED THE MILITIA HIS FATHER BOUGHT HIM OUT p SEVERAL TIMES )N THE END HE ENLISTED AND IN AGED HE WENT OFF TO )NDIA (E WAS THERE FOR THE $ELHI $URBAR AND WAS ON HORSEBACK FOR HOURS IN THE HOT SUN (E TOLD MY MOTHER THAT WHEN THEY NEEDED A PEE THEY JUST PEED IN THEIR RIDING BOOTS !T THE OUTBREAK OF WAR HIS REGIMENT WAS ORDERED TO &RANCE &ROM -ARSEILLES THEY WENT STRAIGHT TO THE &RONT (E WAS THERE THROUGHOUT THE WAR UNTIL HE WAS BADLY WOUNDED IN /CTOBER BUTCHER BUTCHER CUT ME A NICE STEAK TO EAT WITH THE BREAD YOUR BROTHERS BAKE CUT CRUSH CHOP GRIND BONE AND TRIM BOIL BLOOD FOR PUDDINGS SAVE OFFAL FOR FAGGOTS SEE THE SAW AND SMELL THE RAW ČESH
4HAT STENCH OF RAW ČESH )T DIDNlT PREPARE YOU -AKE THE TRENCHES MORE SUFFERABLE $EATH EASIER TO HANDLE &ROM NO MANlS LAND DID YOU CARRY YOUR # / LIKE A SIDE OF BEEF TO THE üELD DRESSING STATION $ID YOU HEAR THE NEXT SHELL BURST &EEL LIFE DRAIN FROM THE BODY SLUMPED OVER YOUR SHOULDER $ID THE EVENT UNFOLD SLOWLY !S SLOWLY YOU PUT ONE FOOT DOWN IN FRONT OF THE OTHER /R DID IT OCCUR IN A SPLIT SECOND "EFORE YOUR FOOT RECONNECTED WITH EARTH $ID YOU SEE THE ČASH &EEL THE FRAGMENT STRIKE YOUR HEAD 0IERCE YOUR EYE 0UNCH YOUR STOMACH $ID YOU LIE THERE 5NDER THE CORPSE $ID YOU THINK ) AM DEAD .ORMAN SURVIVED AND IN HE MARRIED HIS üRST COUSIN 7INIFRED )N MY MOTHER 'LADYS THE üRST OF SEVEN CHILDREN WAS BORN )N THEY MOVED TO ONE OF "ELLINGHAMlS k(OMES FOR (EROESl BUILT FOR REGULAR SOLDIERS WHO RETURNED FROM THE 'REAT 7AR !S THE FAMILY GREW THEY MOVED TO A BIGGER THEN A STILL BIGGER HOUSE ON THE ESTATE (IS WAR PENSION PAID THE ã RENT HIS WAGES AS A POSTMAN FED THE FAMILY )F HE MADE THE MISTAKE OF DRINKING SPIRITS HElD END UP BEHIND THE SOFA WITH YOUNG 'LADYS "ACK IN THE TRENCHES HE
DUCKED SHELLS AND HOLLERED TO THE OTHERS 4HE HOUSE WHERE YOU WERE BORN LIES UNDER THE ,EWISHAM SHOPPING CENTRE AND MULTI STOREY CAR PARK 7ERE ) PARKED THERE AND THE GHOST OF THE HOUSE TO MATERIALIZE WOULD MY CAR APPEAR PERCHED ON THE CHIMNEY STACK
4HE BAKERlS WINDOW ADVERTISES SEXY CLUB WEAR WASHING HANGS IN A üLTHY UPSTAIRS WINDOW WHAT LIES BEYOND IS CONCEALED BY A TATTERED CURTAIN 7HAT WOULD %LI AND !NN SAY TO SEE IT !T THE BUTCHERlS WHERE YOU PREPARED MEAT #HINESE MEALS ARE COOKED AND PACKAGED READY FOR COLLECTION "UDDLEIA SPROUTS FROM THE WINDOWSILL ON THE SECOND ČOOR AND WHERE YOU ONCE PROUDLY STOOD FOR THE CAMERA TRAFüC CONES POSE 4HE RENTED ROOMS WHERE YOUR BROTHER WAS SHOT ARE BURIED ALONG WITH THEIR GHOSTS UNDER 0ECKHAMlS MULTI STOREY CAR PARK AND MULTI SCREEN CINEMA 7HEN WILL MULTI MURDERS END )N PLACE OF THE CHURCH WHERE YOU AND 7IN WERE MARRIED p THE üNGERS OF A MODERN EDIüCE ENTREAT THE HEAVENS
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%LI WAS A TALL MAN WITH BEARD OF SNOWY WHITE HElD SCAN A DIM HORIZON WITH UNSEEING EYES OF BLUE WHILE üNGERS THAT ONCE WORKED DOUGH SEARCHED WEARILY FOR ANSWERS FROM THE PAGES OF HIS FAVOURITE BOOK IN A POKY CRAMPED ROOM CRAMMED WITH PICTURES GALORE MEMORIAL CARDS POKED IN FRAMES kTHEYl COUNTED IN ALL EACH GIRL TO ATTENTION RECITES IN THE GLOOM VERSES FROM THE "IBLE FOR CHOCOLATE BUTTON REWARDS AND LATER FRUIT AND WINE GUMS TO TAKE HOME TO THE OTHERS &REDERICKlS SON THEY CALLED HIM 5NCLE &RED WAS A CABBIE (ElD TAKE .ORMAN AND 'LADYS WHEN .ORMAN AND *OYCE WENT THEY WENT BY TRAM TO VISIT %LI IN THE !LMSHOUSES (ElD TURN UP ON "OXING $AY AND TAKE THE k5NCLESl TO THE PUB AND THEN RETURN THEM USUALLY THE WORSE FOR WEAR (E ALSO DROVE THEM TO AND FROM FUNERALS WHEN THE NEED AROSE 'LADYS RECALLS &RED DRIVING THEM TO 'REENWICH TO GET THE PADDLE STEAMER TO VISIT HER !UNT !G IN 3OUTHEND 4HE ONE TELLS OF A TREE LADEN WITH PEACHES THAT GREW IN THEIR "ELLINGHAM GARDEN 0LUCKING ONE SHElD SINK HER TEETH INTO THE TENDER ČESH %YES SPARKLING SHE BRINGS HER CUPPED HANDS UP UNDER HER CHIN .EARLY EIGHTY YEARS ON SHE FEELS THE JUICE BURST FROM HER MOUTH AND DRIP DOWN HER YOUNG FACE
4HE OTHER TELLS OF A TREE LADEN WITH PEACHES THAT GREW FROM A NEIGHBOURlS GARDEN (ER MOTHER WOULD GATHER FROM GROUND AND BRANCHES AN ANNUAL CROP 7ITH AN AIR OF ANTICIPATION SHE EVOKES THE FRAGRANCED HOUSE 3EES ONCE MORE THE JARS üLL WITH STEAMING JAM TASTES TOAST SPREAD WITH THIS TREAT SAVOURS EACH CHUNK OF THE CHERISHED FRUIT 4HE ONE HARKS BACK TO THE üREWORKS DISPLAYS AT #RYSTAL 0ALACE VIEWED FREE FROM HOME 4HE OTHER TO #RYSTAL 0ALACE BURNING WATCHED FROM THE CORNER WITH THE NEIGHBOURS "OTH REMEMBER THE ROAMING ROVING RAMBLING FREEDOM DAYS $AYS IN AND DAYS OUT 4HEIR PLAYGROUND ENCOMPASSING THE (ORNIMAN &ORSTERS 0ARK "ECKENHAM 0LACE 0ARK !ND BOTH RECOLLECT THE END OF CHILDHOOD "ECKENHAM $AYS WERE "EAUTIFUL $AYS )N 3PRING AS WE STROLLED IN THE WOODS !ND LISTENED TO BIRDS SING IN THE TREES !S WE WATCHED THE YOUNG MEN 4IE BUNDLES OF BLUEBELLS 4O BICYCLE SADDLES 4O OFFER TO SWEETHEARTS "ECKENHAM $AYS WERE "EAUTIFUL $AYS 7E 'LADYSES üVE DRESSED TO THE NINES IN GOWNS AND GLITZ $ANCED TO &RANKLIN $ 2OOSEVELT *ONES AT THE 2EGAL 4HAT LAST TIME ) WORE AN EMBROIDERED BLUE DRESS 'OLD SHOES AND A BURGUNDY RIBBON AROUND MY NECK 4HE ATMOSPHERE WAS ELECTRIC 4HAT LAST DANCE 7HEN THE BOYS 7ENT AWAY 7HEN WAR BROKE OUT 'LADYS TRANSFERRED FROM "ECKENHAM %XCHANGE BACK TO ,ONDON SPENDING SOME TIME AT 3COTLAND 9ARD 3HE MOVED ON TO THE (OME /FüCE (OME 3ECURITY AND EVENTUALLY THE )NNER 7AR #ABINET -ARINES GUARDED THESE UNDERGROUND OFüCES -RS #HURCHILL WOULD VISIT WORRIED HER HUSBAND WOULD BE INJURED WHEN HE WAS UP ON THE ROOF CHECKING 3T 0AULlS HAD NOT BEEN STRUCK
DOWN IN THE NETHER REGIONS DAY AND NIGHT ALERT HOWEVER TIRED FOR WHO KNOWS WHO WILL CALL AND WHEN 7 WILL WISH TO SPEAK TO & OR THE OTHER WAY ROUND BREAK DUE SOON SO WEARYa ) COULD SLEEP AND LET TIME TICK BY BOMBS FALL BY DAY AND BOMBS FALL BY NIGHT SO LOUD THE BANGS IN MY EARS SO BAD THE DEVASTATION IN MY EYES SO ACRID THE SMOKE IN MY LUNGS SO CHOKING THE DUST IN MY MOUTH SO üLTHY THE GRIME ON MY SKIN ,ONDONlS BURNING SO WEARYa ) COULD SLEEP AND LET TIME TICK BY *OYCE HAD TO LEAVE SCHOOL AND *OAN %DNA AND .ORMA WERE EVACUATED TO #ORNWALL *OYCE DESCRIBES GOING TO THE END OF 3OUTHEND ,ANE WITH !LEC TO GET THE TRAM TO WORK !S THEY NEARED THE 4IGERlS (EAD THEY SAW A PLANE DROP ITS BOMB p THE BLACK CROSS AND SWASTIKA CLEARLY VISIBLE 4HEY RAN BACK DOWN THE ROAD A WOMAN TOOK THEM IN AS THE PLANE OPENED üRE .OT LONG AFTER VIEWING A HUGE CRATER LEFT BY A BOMB DROPPED NEAR THEIR HOUSE WHICH KILLED SEVERAL PEOPLE .ORMAN DECIDED TO GET THE GIRLS BACK FROM #ORNWALL AND MOVE THE FAMILY TO !UNT +ITlS IN 7EALDSTONE k!T LEAST WElLL ALL DIE TOGETHER IF A BOMB DROPS l 'LADYS "OB AND !LEC STAYED ON WITH THEIR FATHER FOR A WHILE /NE DAY THEY LEARNED THAT TEACHERS AND CHILDREN HAD BEEN KILLED WHEN 'LADYSlS OLD SCHOOL p #ATFORD #ENTRAL p WAS BOMBED IN BROAD DAYLIGHT AND THAT CHILDREN WERE üRED ON AS THEY RAN FOR SHELTER 3OME OF THOSE TEACHERS HAD TAUGHT HER )N !PRIL 7IN CAUGHT MEASLES 'LADYSlS BEST FRIEND SUGGESTED THEY GO TO A DANCE AT A CLUB THEY BELONGED TO "ECAUSE HER MOTHER WAS ILL SHE REFUSED BUT 7IN INSISTED SHE GO 4HAT NIGHT 'LADYS MET HER FUTURE HUSBAND "UT THATlS ANOTHER STORY
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