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.

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.

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.

47 minutes and 9 second interview with an anonymous Leicester man aged 42 who recounts his memories of growing up in Leicestershire, working in London as a magazine publishing intern in the 1990s and of the Dielectric club in Leicester. He started going to the club in 1993 and describes the interior of the club building and the different types of music played. He talks about the rave scene in general and the "authentic experience" of the Dielectric. He describes the clothes worn by the ravers and the alternative atmosphere in the club, as well as the drug use. Later in the interview the man talks about the changes to Leicester in the late 1990s, his mother's involvement in the hosiery industry and the closure of the Dielectric in 1998.

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.

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.

27 minutes 25 seconds interview with Bill Shelton, city councillor and Phoenix board member. Bill talks about his family background, his first job at Percivals shoe factory, and becoming a union member. Bill worked at the shoe factory for 21 years until he got a fulltime job with the Footwear Union in 1986. Bill was the union representative for Percivals employees and also Rowleys and Fairbrothers employees in the 1990's. Bill then talks about the decline of footwear manufacturing in Leicester. He then comments on the decline of the hosiery and knitwear industry. Bill then goes on to talk about the Odeon cinema and the films he saw there, and the Cinema architecture. Bill then outlines his political career, he was a member of the Communist party 1968-1982, then joined the Labour party. In 1999 joined the planning committee, now planning vice-chairman. Bill gives his opinion on the architecture of the Cultural Quarter, and the importance of retaining Leicester's industrial heritage.

19 min 27 sec interview with John Barradell, retired textile designer employed by Thompson Fabrics, Leicester. The interview includes; family background; training as a graphic designer, career outline; marriage; John and his wife design for Corahs, then employed by Thompson Fabrics in their design studio, large factory employing 200 workers; John describes the overwhelming stench coming from the nearby Butchers' Hides and Skins building; unions; the area around Thompson Fabrics; retirement; social life in area; closure; John then worked in Hinckley setting up a youth opportunities program; decline of textile industry.

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.

13 minutes and 46 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). In this second part of his interview he talks about his life in Leicester including: living in the Cultural Quarter, the development of the Cultural Quarter through European Union money, his work for the Labour Party, giving evidence to council working parties on the development of the Cultural Quarter, the recession causing investment to cease, and his memories of the Odeon cinema. Trevor also discusses the online magazine "Arts in Leicestershire" formed in 2005, of which he is editor in chief, http://www.artsinleicestershire.co.uk/ and describes living in Deuce House.

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

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

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

34 second sound recording of a steam kettle whistling.

17 second sound recording of a telephone ringing.

21 minutes and 43 second interview with Donna Jackman, born in Nevis, and Charmaine Blake, born in Jamaica. Donna talks about growing up in Highfields in Leicester as part of a strict Caribbean family and going to LUCA (Leicester United Caribbean Association). She also mentions shopping on Wharf Street and the bus station (now the LCB depot). Charmaine grew up in Belgrave having migrated to the UK when she was six, her family also went to LUCA. Charmaine mentions the different events at LUCA, midnight dances at the Palais, and describes a typical saturday night. Both describe the International Hotel as upmarket, Donna worked there for a time as a catering assistant.

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.

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.

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.

70 second recording of traffic sounds on Charles Street.

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