The fascinating life experiences and stories of a hundred Anglesey residents have been collected and safeguarded for future generations.
Over the past year, an ambitious project has been carried out by volunteers to catalogue the oral history of Anglesey. Led by community radio station MônFM, the ‘Anglesey Voices’ project involved interviewing local people aged between 11 and 106 on a range of topics, including where they were brought up, their childhood memories, where they worked and other matters which had or were having an impact on their lives.
The result is a treasure trove of hidden stories, including memories of Second World War bombs falling on Holyhead; to the policeman who stopped a taxi carrying Senator Edward Kennedy and America’s former First Lady, Jackie Onassis, on a dark night, while they were on their way to attend the funeral of Lord Harlech.
The recordings have now been handed over to the Anglesey Archives, where the public in time will be able to listen to them.
Funded by the Ynys Môn Age Friendly Communities (an Interreg European Funded project) and MônFM, the project involved working with Communities First, local schools, youth clubs and the Youth Service, North Wales Police and other public and voluntary sector organisations.
With help from the MônFM team, volunteers were given training on interviewing techniques, and then mentored to undertake the interviews by station volunteers.
Tony Wyn Jones, MônFM’s Vice Chair, explained: “Most people have listened to uncles, aunts, cousins, grandparents or closer relatives and friends, who have their own unique stories and memories of growing up in an Anglesey – the Island has changed significantly in a generation, and these stories would eventually have been lost; but now, thanks to the Anglesey Voices project, these wonderful memories which reflect how life on the Island once was will be with us for the future.”
“Our aim throughout this project was to capture the life experiences of ordinary folk, be they fond memories or otherwise, so that recordings could be passed to the Anglesey Archives for future generations to enjoy, and to enable MônFM to make good Community Radio programmes.”
He added: “MônFM are grateful to Age Friendly Communities for their support in developing and progressing this project, which has in turn had so many benefits – we have all enjoyed taking part.”
Pat West, the Isle of Anglesey’s Principal Officer for Museums, Culture and Archives, said: “The recordings of stories and memories captured as part of the Anglesey Voices project play a significant part in the Island’s history and identity.
“This very special collection stands alongside the work already undertaken by Anglesey Archives in documenting and preserving the Island’s history. We’re delighted to add this collection to the oral history material that already exists at the Archives.”
Anglesey’s Leader, Councillor Ieuan Williams, added: “On behalf of the Council, I would like to thank MônFM and everyone involved with this process for their dedication and commitment to this important project.
“I hope the stories told in these recordings will continue to educate and give pleasure to both residents and visitors of the Island for many years to come.”
Age Friendly Communities is part funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Ireland Wales Programme 2007-13.
