Remembering Hazel

I found out this week about the passing of long-time Hoo Peninsula resident Hazel Stockbridge.

Back in 2010 I met Hazel several times at his home in High Halstow to discuss local history, particularly his own background, family and connections to the local community. 

Our discussions were recorded as part of my on-going film projcet to collect memories and stories about life on the Hoo Peninsula.

I send my condolences to Hazel's family.

  

Hoo Peninsula Film Project

I’ve posted something very similar about this before, but no apologies for doing so again!

Since 2006, I’ve been meeting lots of the peninsula’s longer-standing residents, or ‘peninsula elders’ as you might like to call them, to record on camera their stories and memories about living and working here.

Often more than just the typical recollections you tend to read in history books, I’ve heard some fascinating tales. Always unique and sometimes shocking, it’s been a real pleasure to have listened to these personal insights into everyday life. And I’ve learnt so much about our local history, including the odd snippet about my own family!

When I’ve finished I’m planning to donate these recordings to historical archives and local history groups. I’d hope that future generations of historians, and residents, seeking to expand their knowledge of local social history might find them useful - and I know they’ll find the people in them interesting and often really funny!

I still have a whole list of people on my list to get through in the coming months, but it’s always good to hear of anyone else with a few interesting stories to tell.

Just get in touch via the contact page.
 

Hoo Peninsula Film Project

Over the past few years, I’ve been meeting lots of the peninsula’s longer-standing inhabitants, or ‘peninsula elders’ as I like to call them! And I’ve been recording on camera their stories and memories about living and working here.

Often more than just the typical - and edited - recollections you tend to read in history books, I’ve heard some fascinating tales, some of which have been truly shocking in their detail. Always unique and personal insights into everyday life in this often overlooked corner of Kent and Medway, it’s been a real joy and privilege to have listened to them.

I now have a growing selection of recordings, each of which is being very slowly and carefully edited. When finished I’m planning to donate them to historical archives and any interested local history groups for posterity and, hopefully, for watching by future generations of historians, and residents, seeking to expand their knowledge of local social history.

All those ‘elders’ I’ve had the pleasure to meet so far have been very generous in their willingness to be recorded on film. Not always an easy process, especially when an amateur like me is doing the filming!

I have a whole list of people on my list to get through in the coming months, but it’s always good to hear of anyone else with a few interesting stories to tell.

Just get in touch via the contact page.