Their Past Your Future

A VE Reminiscence Project for Schools

Four WWII veterans shared their experiences through stories, memorabilia and photos with Year 6 pupils from Freshbrook, Toothill and Windmill Hill Primary Schools.

Pupils worked alongside creative writer Sara-Jane Arbury, to write poems, diaries and letters; artist Laurie Plant, to produce inspiring dramatic paintings; and digital artist Dani Landau, to create digital artworks

Filmmaker, Gurchetan Singh's, video piece is a sensitive reflection of the engagement of young people with war veterans from their community.

771Kb Flash Movie

Exhibition Venues

Civic Offices Foyer, Euclid Street - November 12th 2005 - 3 January 2006, open Mon - Fri, 8.30am - 5.00pm

Swindon Arts Centre, Devizes Road - 5 January 2006 - 16 February 2006, open Mon-Fri, 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-1pm

West Swindon Library, Link Centre, Whitehill Way, 17 February 2006 - 28 February 2006, Tues, Thurs & Fri, 9.30 - 8pm  and Wed 9.30 til 1pm and Sats 10am-4pm

Swindon’s Primary Schools Link Advisor, Sarah Foulkes said, “This project has provided a unique opportunity for Swindon pupils to learn first hand about the war from veterans in their communities.  We have been impressed by the level of understanding the children have shown – many of them said it was the first time they appreciated how much people had sacrificed in WWII.”

Mobile Media Director, Shahina Johnson said, “It has been gratifying to see pupils engaging so sensitively with an older generation.  The strength of an arts project like Their Past Your Future, is that it can bring history to life.  By creating their own writing, visual and digital artworks on the subject, pupils have taken to the veteran’s stories, and their unique war experiences to heart, changing the way pupils think about life nowadays..”

Swindon Mayor, Mr Ray Fisher said, “This has been a fantastic project for bringing together young people in Swindon with an older generation in their community.  Their Past Your Future is part of a national initiative to commemorate the 60th VE Anniversary, and Swindon should be proud to have contributed to a permanent archive with such an inspiring project. ”