People living in Tilbury and Chadwell St Mary are being given a unique chance to explore the changes that have taken place and how this has impacted on their lives and their surroundings over the past 70 years right up to the present day.

Historic events to be covered will include the 1953 Tilbury flood when the Thames burst its banks and 2,500 homes were inundated. The two-year history project will also be featured in the Tilbury Centenary Celebrations that take place next April.

Run by the Tilbury Riverside Project, an award-winning local community charity, the work, called By the Riverside: Tilbury and Chadwell Memories, will create a permanent ‘people’s history’ of an area so closely linked with the Thames as a source of work and leisure.

Up to 20 volunteers will be recruited and trained as interviewers to record the memories of some 300 members of the local communities involved. They will be supported by Thurrock Local History Society and the Thurrock Family History Society. Thurrock Museum will also provide support at training workshops.

Local community groups and students from the Gateway Academy will also be invited to get involved sharing not just reminiscences but also photographs, documents and memorabilia. The project has a strong emphasis on learning and one of the results will be teaching materials for children and young people attending local schools in Thurrock and Chadwell St Mary. The photos, stories and memories collected will also be used to create a special website in partnership with Thurrock Council.

Robyn Llewellyn, Head of Heritage Lottery Fund East of England, said: “This is a really exciting project that will give everyone a chance to get involved in finding out about what Tilbury and Chadwell was like in the past and to think about the kind of place they want it to be in the future. There are lots of extraordinary heritage stories to tell and I hope this project will inspire many people to share their memories of local life. We are always looking for new projects to fund, especially in Thurrock, if any groups are interested in applying, they should contact us to find out more.”

For Tilbury Riverside Project Chairman Ron Curtis, said: “This is a great project for people in Tilbury and Chadwell to share their memories about the local area and how their communities have changed and grown. We will be working with all members of the communities to give everyone a chance to participate and appreciate their towns all the more.”

Notes to editors

Using money raised through the National Lottery, the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) sustains and transforms a wide range of heritage for present and future generations to take part in, learn from and enjoy. From museums, parks and historic places to archaeology, natural environment and cultural traditions, we invest in every part of our diverse heritage.  HLF has supported over 30,000 projects, allocating £4.6billion across the UK, including £308million to the East of England alone.

Further information

Please contact Roland Smith at the Heritage Lottery fund, on 020 7591 6047 / 07713 486 420 or rolands@hlf.org.uk, or Phil Cooper on 07889 949 173

Richard Speight, Project Co-ordinator, Tilbury Riverside Project, on: 01375 859 911