University students travel back to the past
Posted on 30 March 2005
Twelve undergraduates from the university are working with the National Railway Museum to collect the reminiscences of local people about the social impact of railway travel during and after the war and its importance in reconstruction.
The project was conceived as part of the celebrations to mark VE Day, to spark interest in the social impact of the war among young people in York. The aim is to bring together different communities within the district and help older people realise their significance in the community by recording their memories of the past.
We can ... give future generations the opportunity to hear firsthand what it was like to work for, and travel on the railways during the Second World War
Paul Bisson
Paul Bisson, Programmes Manager at the National Railway Museum, said: "This exciting project not only means that we are able to gather valuable oral history material to go into our archives, we can also give future generations the opportunity to hear firsthand what it was like to work for, and travel on the railways during the Second World War."
Student Liz Kingston said: "We are hoping to interview people via the Royal Air Force Association, the Royal British Legion and residential care homes. We will also be in the museum on Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays between 18 April and 7 May 12:30-14:30 to interview any visitors about their wartime memories of the railways."
It is expected that the material the students collect will feature in a display at the museum later in the year. The project has been organised jointly with Active York, the body that co-ordinates staff and student volunteers at the University and the Museum. Several of the undergraduates are hoping to follow a career in the museum world.
Heather Richardson of Active York said: "The project is providing a great opportunity for University of York students to get involved in the community, as well as providing them with valuable skills and insights into museum work."
Notes to editors:
- Active York encourages the University's 9,000 students and 2,000 staff to volunteer in the community. There is a long-standing culture of volunteering at the University of York.
- Active York provides small-scale funding to develop volunteering projects.
- Active York is working with and learning from the experience of current volunteers to develop existing activities and to pioneer new ways of supporting the community.
- The National Railway Museum is holding the event "60 Years Ago. Railways in War and Peace" from 9 April - 8 May 2005.
- A leaflet detailing all the activities during the event is available from the museum. Details are also available at www.nrm.org.uk
- The Museum is open daily between 10am and 6pm and has free admission. (Picture available on request, please contact Nicola on 01904 432029 or email njc7@york.ac.uk)