Women and Reminiscence began in April 2004 when FWA commissioned artist Marysia Lachowicz to work with members of The Westminster Community Reminiscence & Archive Group (WCRAG). This group offers older people from the local area the opportunity to reflect on their contributions and shared experiences of World War II at weekly meetings at the Cabinet War Rooms.

Marysia attended the Reminiscence sessions from April to July 2004, talking with the women and working with them to create artwork that was special and relevant to them. Inspired by one of the women’s stories about knitting socks for the men in the forces, Marysia took the idea of knitting squares for blankets and stitching quilts as a shared experience, and looked for a way to translate this experience into her artwork. She transferred the idea of blanket squares into postcards, and produced a series of 72 which engaged with the themes which had arisen from the group’s discussions.

In February 2005 FWA received a Big Lottery Grant from Home Front Recall, which enabled the Women and Reminiscence postcard exhibition to be made into a full-scale show.  This expanded exhibition seeks to explore the diverse roles of women during World War II, roles of duty from Land Army girls to nurses to jobs traditionally considered ‘man’s work’; and personal roles as girlfriends, wives, sisters, daughters, friends and neighbours. The women whose stories are documented here present a varied and engaging insight into life in London during the war, some were children and some were young women, all have a story to share.

This project is being led by Project Co-ordinator Lucy Inglis.

Women and Reminiscence is currently on display:

from February – May 2006

Churchill Museum and Cabinet War Rooms
Clive Steps, King Charles Street, London SW1A 2AQ

Please contact the office if you would like to take Women and Reminiscence for your venue.

To coincide with the production of this exhibition, FWA has produced, together with the LB of Westminster Education department, an education pack with postcards from the exhibition and reminiscence exercises for schools and families, including lesson plans and postcards. The pack and exhibition will be an active resource for Key Stage 3 teachers who can use contemporary visual art and the accounts of local residents to teach World War II history.

FWA held a very successful school workshop at the Westminster Archives in July 2004 as part of the South Westminster Community Festival. This involved local primary schoolchildren working with Marysia Lachowicz and WCRAG members, to discuss reminiscence and wartime experience. FWA will co-ordinate a series of further inter-generational workshops with local schools and older people, see above for dates and venue information.

An example of one of the exhibition panels

Previous venues of the Women and Reminiscence exhibition:

7 November – 28 November 2005 (dates  TBC)
Brandon Library
Maddock Way, Cooks Road, London SE17 3NH

Reminiscence session: 1.30pm on 17 November 2005
Children’s workshop: TBC

27 September – 31 October 2005
Brixton Library
Brixton Oval, London SW2 1JQ

Reminiscence session: 2.30pm on 18 October 2005 (dates TBC)
Children’s workshop: 10.00am on 19 October TBC

1 – 27 September 2005
West Norwood Library
Norwood High Street, London SE27 9JX

Reminiscence session: 2.30pm on 6 September 2005
Children’s workshop with involvement of older members of the community planned for November

25 & 26 June 2005
West End Live
Leicester Square

30 June – 14 July 2005
Paddington Library
Porchester Road, London W2 5DU

Children’s workshop: 10.45am on 4 July 2005
Reminiscence session: 2.30pm on 7 July (cancelled due to terrorist attacks in London)

16 July 2005
South West Festival
St George’s Square, London SW1
(In the Churchill Museum & Cabinet War Rooms tent. Alongside other WW2 activities eg flag making, bunting making for children and swing dancing sessions.)

23 July – 12 August 2005
Pimlico Library
Rampayne Street, London SW1V 2PU

Reminiscence session: 2.30pm on 28 July 2005
Children’s workshop: 10.30 am on 2 August 2005