Rock Around The Clock - Oral History, Reminiscence and Archive Project

Rock Around The Clock (Pilot) - Oral History, Reminiscence and Archive Project . Working with an establishment caring for those aged 70 - 103. Exploring Post-War memories of the1950's, stimulated by taster sessions from artists workshops and entertainers. These activities, interviews and discussions were filmed and will be archived for future generations
Thank you to Newport Film School for the use of The Divided Hours and to :
Rick Prelinger -Prelinger Archives
P.O. Box 590622 San Francisco, CA 94159-0622 USA

To view the film on vimeo history channel click here Rock Around The Clock - Film 

Youtube here  Rock Around The Clock 

The film is subtitled for the hearing impaired.

Thank you to staff and residents at Old Station House for taking part in this project.  

Particularity Elizabeth and Betty and those who contributed with their memories.

We would also like to thank:

Martin Loach

Helen Jacobs

Nick Gill 

and

Cait Sweeney

A very big thank you to Abigail Brown, Arts Development Officer 

for Vale of the White Horse District Council and the contribution they made to this project. 

This project was produced by Sharon Woodward / WoodwardMedia

WoodwardMedia Facebook page

Rock Around The Clock - Pilot

Show and Tell of Interrogation

 

Following the activities and on the day of Cait Sweeney’s show and tell session at the Old Station House. I interviewed a number of residents and they spoke to me of the memories evoked during the activities.

One such person was Fredrick John Griffin he recalled meeting his wife in 1946 at a football match in Culham .They made a date for the following Sunday to go to the pictures in Abingdon in the old cinema.  Abingdon Old Cinema

 Fredrick

He also recalled that during the WW2 the GI’s were living under different rules. Fredrick remembered that the white Americans would go to the Corn Exchange to dance, yet black Americans would go to MG Social Club near St Helens Church.

He also spoke of his time in the Air force from 1948 – 1953. He was station in Berlin and the day that King George VI died. He and his friends had gone for a drink (or several). They fell asleep on the underground and should have got out at Potsdam but instead went on to Potsdamer Platz . On arriving they were met by Russian Solders with guns.

They found themselves pulled in for interrogation.

Fredrick will speak more in the short film currently being made.

With special thanks to:
Elizabeth, Betty and Joan -  Rock Around The Clock - Committee Reminiscence Team
Jeff Denton - Activities Coordinator 
Carol Flynn - Housing Manager 

Cait Sweeney – Assistant Co-ordinator, Documenter & Production Assistant Sharon Woodward – Filmmaker/Artist in Residence, Project Manager

Supported by Vale of the White Horse Arts Development Officer Abigail Brown.

 

Sharon Woodward -Films and Projects

WoodwardMedia Facebook page
Cait Sweeney - Broken Home
Nick Gill - Classic Jazz
Helen Jacobs - Artist
Helen Jacobs - Bullpen