Please can you circulate on the gem list

Thanks you

Eastside Community Heritage

‘Field of Dreams’

Around 20 days work.

Eastside Community Heritage is seeking tenders for the project ‘Field of Dreams’ funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund. We envisage the work will take approximately 20 days and to start immediately. 

This project will record and document at least eighteen/ twenty in-depth life story interviews with people who have long-standing personal connections with Wanstead Flats area through home or work. 

Wanstead Flats is a large area of open land which forms the southern edge of Epping Forest. Like the rest of Epping Forest, Wanstead Flats was saved from being enclosed during the late 19^th Century when the Corporation (now City) of London bought it and has managed it ever since.

The Flats are a well-known open space in East London. The land has been used for recreation for nearly 150 years. Football pitches predominate during the winter, but the Flats are also used by walkers, runners, horse and bike riders, model plane enthusiasts and many families who come to enjoy this large green “lung” surrounded by dense housing. A fair is held on the Flats over Bank Holidays, a tradition going back probably hundreds of years

It also has a lively history. The project aims to capture some of the richness of this history. Many local people have strong memories of Wanstead Flats going back well over half a century. Their memories would be recorded. There is also a contemporary experience to be recorded – Wanstead Flats is unique in being a meeting place for the whole diversity of cultures that makes east London so lively. Local schools use the Flats extensively for sports, and a number of famous players started their football careers on Wanstead Flats – which is therefore known locally as “the field of dreams”!

Working with ECH staff, a freelance oral historian is being sought to contribute to this project by: undertaking background research; helping to identify interviewees( So far 8 interviewees have been identified); conducting interviews; documenting the interviews (by producing summaries);

The interviews would need to cover the following area: 

• People who live or lived in the area of the Flats
• People who have used the Flats for recreational purpose i.e. Football
• People who have been involved in the yearly fetes, Mela and other festivals
• People who have worked on the Flats i.e.  Grounds people, employees of the Corporation of London  

The ideal candidate will have:

·  Experience of  arranging and conducting oral history interviews

·  Experience of working in a community setting

·  Experience of summarising interviews

·  Experience of organising/delivering reminiscence sessions

·  An interest in and knowledge of the history of London

·  An interest in and knowledge of east London

·  An interest in and knowledge of relevant British history

·  Ability to work unsupervised and on their own initiative

·  Experience of historical research techniques

To apply please send a CV with a covering letter outlining:

·  Why you want the position

·  How you meet the person specification

·  How you would deliver the project

·  Details of costs

Closing date for tenders Tuesday 17^th April 2007, Interviews to take place week beginning Monday 23^rd April 2007.

Please send to CV and covering letter to: Judith Garfield, Eastside Community Heritage, the Old Town Hall, 29 The Broadway, Stratford, London E15 4BQ

Or email: [log in to unmask]