Affective Digital Histories

These cuttings relate to the Affective Digital Histories flash fiction commission, "An Imperial Typewriter" by Divya Ghelani.

These cuttings relate to the Affective Digital Histories flash fiction commission, ‘An Imperial Typewriter’ by Divya Ghelani.

These cuttings relate to the Affective Digital Histories flash fiction commission, ‘An Imperial Typewriter’ by Divya Ghelani.

These cuttings relate to the Affective Digital Histories flash fiction commission, ‘An Imperial Typewriter’ by Divya Ghelani.

These cuttings relate to the Affective Digital Histories flash fiction commission, ‘An Imperial Typewriter’ by Divya Ghelani.

These cuttings relate to the Affective Digital Histories flash fiction commission, 'An Imperial Typewriter' by Divya Ghelani.

These cuttings relate to the Affective Digital Histories flash fiction commission, "An Imperial Typewriter" by Divya Ghelani.

A collection of newspaper cuttings from the Leicester Mercury regarding the Leicester United Caribbean Association. The original LUCA centre building was demolished to make way for the Curve theatre.

Newspaper acticle describing how a licence was refused for a proposed gay club on Abbey Street.

50 minute interview with Anna Mee, lifelong resident of Leicester. She describes her family background and how she left school at fifteen and became a cutter, eventually working at several hosiery manufacturers in Leicester. She recalls her brand new Secondary Modern school ; going from work to the lunchtime dances at the Palais on Fridays ; how the industry employed an entirely white workforce until the 1970s, when Asian women started to be employed ; meeting her husband at El Rondo ; being sacked for coming back to work drunk after lunchtime drinks ; as a child going to see the Coronation with her school at the Odeon cinema ; how she and her husband took over the running of The Charlotte in the early 80s. She recalls how Helsinki's was the fashionable place to go, and the scene at El Rondo where the black guys liked to dance and so were popular with the white girls. She relates how the hosiery factories were gradually replaced by small units and the area became run down.

46 minutes 43 seconds interview with Nils Feldman, an architect. The interview includes Nils talking about university and training to be an architect. He then gives a career outline and includes the architectural projects he has been involved with, and working with the Regeneration Company. Nils gives his opinion on the architecture of the Cultural Quarter and Curve Theatre and goes on to talk about the LCB Depot (Leicester Creative Business Depot) and the regeneration of the area. Nils then talks about the cultural and social life around the Phoenix Theatre and Orton Square. Finally Nils talks about the discovery of King Richard III and how it will affect the tourism industry in Leicester.

30 minutes and 43 seconds interview with Trevor Lock. Trevor Lock was born in Portsmouth in 1949 and moved to Leicester in 1975 to work as Information Development Officer at the National Youth Bureau (now the National Youth Agency). He talks about his life in Leicester including running a pub called G3 for 3 to 4 years, living in the first converted mill flats in Deuce House StGeorges and visiting the Helsinki Club where Garage and Happy Hardcore music was played, he also describes the interior of the club. He describes raves at Rack and Roll on a Saturday night that went through to 7am Sunday, the interior of the G Spot sex club, the different "estate tribes" using the pubs in Leicester and the unsafe atmosphere in the city centre in the evenings during the 1970's/80's.

41 minutes 52 seconds interview with Winston Thomas former doorman. Winston talks about his training as a carpenter, and painter and decorator in 1970's and also his martial arts background. Started door work in 1982 at Coasters in Lee Circle. Later he worked at Helsinki's bar, a popular bar, with huge mix of people, everyone was welcome. Winston goes on to talk about racism among club goers and bouncers. He was busy and worked all over Leicester, he finished working as doorman in early 1990's after almost 15 years. He describes an incident at Coasters involving 20 members of the Baby Squad gang who caused a large fight, Helsinki's was quiet place in comparison with only occasional fights. Finally, he recalls other incidents whilst working as a doorman.

Leicester Mercury rave newspaper cuttings 1

Leicester Mercury rave newspaper cuttings 2

Leicester Mercury rave newspaper cuttings 3

1 minute 4 second sound recording of a film projector whirring and clicking.

Final version of the choreopoem commissioned as part of the Arts & Humanities Research Council's Affective Digital Histories project.

18 second sound recording of someone using the rotary dial on a telephone.

Final version of a collection of flash fiction commissioned as part of the Arts & Humanities Research Council's Affective Digital Histories project.

20 minute and 43 second interview with George Cole in which he details his memories of LUCA (Leicester United Caribbean Association). George talks about the types of music that were popular, including reggae and blues. Rendezvous (next door to LUCA) was a club aimed at the Afro-Caribbean community, whilst other venues were more European and less welcoming. He mentions that the influence of the Black Power movement from America was felt in Leicester. Later on the Highfields Community Centre was a purpose built recreational space that the Afro-Caribbean community were involved with.

27 minutes and 42 second interview with Randy Stabana who was born in Kingston, Jamaica in 1957, he moved to Leicester in 1967 and lived in the Charnwood area of the city. Randy attended the Avalon Youth Club and Mandela Boys School, he started to go to LUCA (Leicester United Caribbean Association) in the late 1970s around the age of 16. He mentions going out to nightclubs in Leicester for example, Bailey's, the Adam and Eve club and some of the racial tensions in the 1970s, 1980s. Randy also mentions the Odeon Cinema, the old bus station (now the LCB Depot), City Hall, the Palais and midnight dances at the International Hotel. Finally Randy talks about his business Stabana Cultural Products and the closure of LUCA.

30 minute and 42 second interview with Wendy Christian in which she recalls her visits to LUCA in the late 1970s-1980s, she describes the venue and the different events held there. Wendy talks about the music scene in Leicester at that time and mentions the Spectrum club, Freewheelers, Adam and Eve, and the Palais. Wendy also recalls her singing career and the homegrown, vibrant music scene in Leicester in the 1970s and 1980s.

A colour video (duration 2 minutes 1 second) of a man recalling his time when he was seventeen spent working at Leicester Hide and Skin in the bad working conditions. He also recalls seeing the Odeon cinema, International Hotel and other industrial buildings in the area at that time. Poor sound quality, beginning and end of video cut off.

Colour photograph of Cherub brand sock made in the 1940's

Colour photograph of the Guild of the Crippled, later the Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, abandoned and boarded up.

Black and white sketch of the Guild of the Crippled. The building is now used as the Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple

Colour photograph of Premier House.

Black and white photograph of St George's Church taken Christmas 1981.

A black and white photograph of St George's Churchyard with man clearing leaves.