HLF has awarded £72,800 to two intergenerational projects that are capturing the diverse stories of their Cambridgeshire communities for generations to come.

Musical memories of the Fens

Babylon ARTS has been awarded £63,600 to save Baby Boomers’ memories of the music they listened to as teenagers in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s.

Focusing on the four market towns of March, Wisbech, Mildenhall and Brandon, the project will explore the influence of rural life and nearby US airbases on the area’s musical heritage, from fashion to film.

Reminiscence Roadshows will give residents the opportunity to share their experiences and memorabilia, creating a documentary film and touring exhibition to be shown at local venues.

The project will form part of the Arts Council funded Creative People and Places 'Market Place' programme, being delivered across Fenland and Forest Heath.

The Littleport Button Tree

[quote=Robyn Llewellyn, Head of HLF East of England]“It’s fantastic to see Cambridgeshire communities using their heritage to explore and share local stories, thanks to support from National Lottery players."[/quote]

The Field Theatre Group’s unique community project will tell the story of Littleport through its residents’ memories, thanks to National Lottery funding of £9,200.

Through local memory gathering workshops, people will be asked to contribute buttons – whether it’s from a soldier’s uniform or a school blazer – that have a special significance or family memory associated with them.

These buttons will be incorporated into a new textile artwork, creating a vivid and personal snapshot of Cambridgeshire history, and their stories will be recorded and edited into an online archive, book and touring exhibition for local schools and museums.

The project’s research will also find a permanent home at the Adams Heritage Centre.

Saving local memories

Robyn Llewellyn, Head of HLF East of England, said: “It’s fantastic to see Cambridgeshire communities using their heritage to explore and share local stories, thanks to support from National Lottery players. Heritage is not just about buildings; it’s people’s personal experiences that tell us what life in Cambridgeshire was like throughout the 20th century. These projects will save important memories and engage new audiences in the stories of our past.”