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Report No 1
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First Reunion and Exhibition
Exhibition for over 50's
Exhibition proves an overwhelming success.
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First Reunion and Exhibition
Location: Kent
Exhibition proves an overwhelming success.
Organisers and visitors alike, were delighted with the response.
The project team has been very busy over the last 6 months interviewing and gathering information, and had often been asked if it would be possible to arrange a reunion. The team thought this was an excellent idea and decided the time was right to combine it with a fact-finding exhibition, showing the progress of the project to date and encourage people to come forward to help by sharing memories and adding their comments.
The event was therefore advertised as a Reunion and Exhibition, and appeared on several web sites. The local press was approached and coverage appeared on the Thursday before the event, complete with a write-up and photograph. (This prompted two phone calls regarding the 1944 Shield.) News was also spread by word of mouth with Posters, mini flyers and bookmarks. Many past pupils of the school were contacted by telephone.
The exhibition was based on a timeline starting from 1870 to the present day. This was equally divided to stretch out over 9 tables each about 6 feet long. A board displaying documents and photographs relating to every 15 years of history backed each table. There were additional display boards with photos of past events and lots of unanswered questions. The team was looking for answers and names and dates to photos, in fact any information to fill in the gaps or to confirm facts already displayed.
Refreshments were available right from the start, and there was a hive of activity from 11 am to well beyond the planned closing time of 4 pm.
It was an enlightening and emotional time for many, some meeting for the first time in more than fifty years. Ages of those attending ranged from under 5 to over 90, some travelling from as far a field as eastbourne, luton and North Wales. A number of people who had a major role at the time of the school closure and the purchase of the building for use as the village hall were there, including a well-respected teacher who taught right up to the final day. There were so many people who contributed in many different ways, too many to mention here.
The team was overwhelmed with the response, not only by the numbers but by the interest and willingness to come forward with information and photos. Many were so grateful to the team for putting on such an event, and many acquaintances were rekindled. There was such a happy atmosphere, some left for lunch only to return later to study the displays and meet more friends.
The team would like to convey its thanks to all the helpers and those who attended with all their useful contributions.
There is now plenty of work to do, sifting through all the new information and following up new leads and contacts.
Fortunately there have also been offers of help with transcribing of recorded interviews and video work.
Information about the 1944 shield, came in just before the Exhibition, in response to the pre-exhibition Press feature. (Details to follow at a later date.)
Quotes:-
• “It was such a great atmosphere and so much to see that I had to come back after lunch for more”
• “I hope there will be another one, I know so many people who were unable to come.”
• “It was a great exhibition, absolutely wonderful.”
The team are looking into the possibilities of displaying an updated version of the exhibition to cater for those who missed the event and for those who would like additional time to make a more detailed inspection.
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