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.

A colour photograph of Cannon House, which is on Rutland Street next to St. George's Church.

Collection of photographs of Charles Street.

Collection of photographs of Morledge Street, corner with Southampton Street, Leicester.

Leicester Mercury newspaper article celebrating 20 years of rhe Phoenix Arts Centre in Leicester from 1963-1983.

38 minute 50 second interview with Beverley Haddon, longtime resident of Leicester, formerly an overlocker at various Leicester hosiery companies. The interview includes Beverley talking about her family background, leaving school at fifteen and beginning work at Corah's. She describes the division of labour by gender and recalls how the younger women spent their wages on clothes. She recalls working at Cherub's and finding the work boring and the atmosphere old fashioned. She remembers how the women hosiery workers became friends with Asian immigrants to the city, teaching them how to work the machines. Beverley lists some of the many jobs she has had over the years in various Leicester hospitals, and her work with the homeless and victims of domestic violence. She recalls some of the clubs and bars in what is now the cultural quarter and how young white women often mixed with young Afro-Caribbean men. She speaks about how the hosiery industry began to decline in the 1980s and 1990s.

90 minutes and 39 seconds interview with Kenneth West. Kenneth West was born in Leicester in 1922. He went to work at Faire Brothers Ltd. as a mechanical engineer until he was called up in 1943 to serve in WW2. He describes working in the factory before going to war including the bombing of Freeman, Hardy and Willis, the factory fire brigades, fire watch duty , the workforce and the social events. He then describes coming back to work at Faire Brothers after WW2, entertainment during WW2 including trips to the cinemas in Leicester, hearing Julie Andrews sing live at the Savoy Cinema, dances at the Bell Hotel and Palais de Danse. He talks about the American soldiers in Leicester and the colour segregation amongst them, meeting Gordon Rolls, the smell of the tannery, Faire Brothers closure and being made redundant, working at Wykes, WW2 and the British restaurant, family life, Curve and the Cultural Quarter, Scout gangshows and the ghost at Faire Brothers.

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 3

Two photographs of B.L. Scaffolding, Queen Street.

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

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

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

34 second sound recording of a steam kettle whistling.

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.

9 minutes and 37 second interview with Hena Lakhani. Please note audio momentarily drops out throughout interview. Hena emigrated from Uganda to Leicester in 1971 when she was two years old. Hena has childhood memories (1970s-1980s) of the St George's area being full of noisy factories, many South Asian women worked in the hosiery and packaging factories. She also remembers the Leicester fortnight when the factories and schools would shut down and everyone would go on holiday or spend time with their families. In the 1980s Hena would often go to the Odeon Cinema (now the Athena) with friends and meet them at the International Hotel for coffee.

20 minute and 39 second interview with Sheila Ghelani in which she recalls her time in Leicester as a student studying dance. She has memories of performing at and visiting the Haymarket Theatre. She also mentions visiting the Silver Arcade, Leicester market, Mud club, Streetlife and Helsinki. Sheila worked at the Rainbow and Dove pub for 2-3 years from 1992 and she describes the pub and its regular customers.

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 and 1 second) of a man recalling his memories of the cultural quarter area of Leicester in the 1980s. He mentions the Leicester United Caribbean Association, Spectrum and De Montfort University. Poor sound quality, end of the video cut off, interviewer is Sarah Vallance.

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.

A colour video (duration 1 minute and 7 seconds) of a man talking about his memories of the Leicester United Caribbean Association Centre, which used to be where Curve now stands. Poor sound quality.

89 second sound recording of building works taking place at the Squirrell Building.

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