Local residents write poetry to explore their memories of growing up in the WestEnd
The Stories of the Stones group tried their hand at writing poetry, celebrating memories of growing up in Newcastle’s WestEnd. The group of local residents having been meeting weekly at Westend Libary on Condercum Road in Benwell to research local history, tracing the lives and stories of people buried in the ares’s two Victorian cemeteries – St John’s and Westgate Hill.
Last week, working alongside project poet and group facilitator Donald Jenkins, they were encouraged to write some poetry that helped them connect with their memories of growing up between the 1950’s-70’s in Elswick and Benwell.
By using creative writing, they were able to remember the smells, the sounds and various capers from their childhoods. Though there are differences in age between members of the group, it was amazing to see how much shared history they had. Several of the group members had attended the same schools, hung around and played in the same spaces. They helped unlock each others memories through the poems they wrote – from the bakery that would waft the luscious smell of fresh bread over Elswick Park to the teachers they didn’t like or those that have left a lasting impression on their lives.
Some of these poems will feature in the Stories of the Stones poetry book that will be published as part of the project and also feature on this website.
If you have any friends, family or ancestors buried at either St Johns and Westgate Hill Cemeteries or are interested in local history – get in touch. We are going to create a poetry book and develop this website to honour their memories, celebrate local history and nature.
We have a weekly drop in, cuppa, chat, research and arts activity session running on Monday afternoons 1-5pm @ Westend Library, Condercum Road NE49JH (opposite Lidl). Just drop in OR find out more info by dropping us an email: Julie Ballands julieballands@gmail.com or Donald Jenkins bornlippywordy@gmail.com
