Everyone has a story – but sometimes it’s hard to move it on to paper. During the Inspiring Islington photo exhibition at Islington Museum (which you can still catch, it ends 3 June) six brave people came to share their stories and hone their interviewing technique with Nicola Baird.
Writers’ workshop at Islington Museum during the Inspiring Islington photo exhibition: Heather, Lydia, Nicola, Stephen, Kelsey, Judy and Jeanette (c) islington faces
This is the 300th interview – which includes three interviews all by people who live or work in Islington.
FOLLOW ISLINGTON FACES a new interview is published every week. Please also come and see our free “Inspiring Islington” photography exhibition at Islington Museum until 3 June 2019. More info on www.islingtonfacesblog.com/events
Below is a taster for being the interviewee and the interviewer from some of the participants at this workshop.
>>Interview with LYDIA ASHMAN by Heather Otway
Question: what are your favourite places in Islington?
- “I work at the Angel and go to cafes in Chapel Market. I like the Angel Deli, 56 Chapel Market. It is a greasy spoon serving breakfast, potatoes, sandwiches and tagines in a ceramic dish with a lid and funnel. The food inside can be meat, or vegetables, with couscous which is cooked fresh with spicy herbs and is reasonably priced at about £6.50 per person.”
- “I like going to the Union Chapel where I once saw the Fairport Convention, a folk group that were famous in the ’70s.”
- “I go to Yoga Life Centre, 1-7 Britannia Row after work to unwind and as a cyclist, find back roads to avoid Upper Street and the human football traffic on match days. Highbury Corner has been closed for so long and there are no real big parks or playgrounds in Islington.”
>>JUDI KENNEDY-CLARKE interviewed by Janette Keller
Judi is short for Judith but the only person who called her Judith was her grandmother, when she was cross. Judi was born in Burnley.
Creativity
Judi started going to Claremont, 24-27 White Lion Street, N1 after her husband, Steve, died. Judi had cared for him for about seven years and then he spent his final eight months in a home. He died in August 2016. Judi went to Drovers first, in New North Road, run by Age UK Islington. She had been to a Church fete at St Mary’s and met an art teacher who suggested doing more art since Judy had liked art at school and has A-level art, but had been busy for years working in Human Resources.
She started going to a pottery class at Drovers doing ceramics. Then she learned of a creative writing class at Claremont so now goes there once a week. “It’s an opportunity for self-reflection and an opportunity to be creative, with poetry and writing.”
Family
Judi did not get much support while caring for her husband – someone did take him out though. She looks after her son, Joseph, who is 27 and who lives with her at home. Her daughter is 41 and lives in Cardiff and has 2 children of her own. Judi has been diagnosed with cancer twice: breast cancer, for which she had radiotherapy the first time.
- Time’s up! We ended the interview there and wish Judi very good luck – and happy times in the art studio.
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>>Faces Workshop 11 May 19. Interview by Judi Kennedy-Clarke with JANETTE KELLER
Places she likes to go: Claremont
Janette cared for her mother. They slept in the same room Her mother had dementia, and she also lost the use of her legs. “In Wigan, when you retired, you got a bungalow.” Janette was born in Wigan, Lancashire but moved to London to go to university. When her parents moved to the London area, they got a bungalow in Waltham Abbey, near Epping. Janette believes this is what made her mother become immobile, as there were no stairs and she got little exercise. Janette had access to only 5 hours per week respite care, and she doesn’t want to repeat this for her kids. The Claremont Project has given her access to art galleries, tango, this workshop. She joined nearly two years ago when her mother died.
Family
Janette’s mother was impressed with Islington – she was not used to the same support where she lived. Islington gave Janette and her mum help she didn’t even know to ask for and they both really valued that.
Janette misses her lovely house, which was part of a converted church. She was really proud of it and it was hard to come to terms with losing it but she downsized to help her children. Her mother moved into her house as it was practical to do so. She is close to her children, three of whom live in Walthamstow and one in Leyton, and sees them often. She spent this morning at her daughter’s house doing DIY, as her lodgers are changing, so she helped to sort it out. Her son led a meditation session, which she went to, yesterday afternoon. The youngest is coming round tomorrow. Her eldest daughter has just had a baby. She enjoys her time with them all.
Janette was shocked when she got a cancer diagnosis. She didn’t want company. Her husband asked her what she wanted to do. “I wanted to live my life as if I had not had the cancer diagnosis – ordinary things. I don’t have a bucket list.” But she felt safe going to see her children; they understood and supported her. She felt safe enough to be sad. The diagnosis has affected her terribly – it’s at the back of her mind all the time. She has two referrals for further investigations.
- We ended the interview there but wish Janette very good luck – and happy times writing.
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Exercises
Back of the envelope writers’ workshop exercise (c) islington faces
As well as interviews we tried some memory-tickling exercises. One exercise aims to get memories flowing using a stick person picture. The idea is you think of an injury, a near miss or a family anecdote/family saying. And then tell your neighbour. Once the idea’s out you can then try writing it up in a serious or amusing way.
Feedback
Thank you so much for all the people who came along and had a go at the various writing tasks – there was a lot to get through in just two hours. This was the feedback:
“Liked the notes. Enjoyed learning about my interviewee. Good practice. Thanks!”
“It was quite challenging, although fun. Lots of clear guidelines gently shared and a very interesting group.
“Simple and effective tips and techniques for structuring and conducting interviews. Thank you!”
“I thought the questions were so very good. They sparked so many memories for me that I want to go home and write. I may start to go to Claremont’s creative writing class now.”
“Liked meeting an interviewing someone completely new – different age, culture and interests.”
“Inspiring informative, amazing techniques. Thank you!”
“I really enjoyed yesterday’s workshop – it was wonderful to hear others’ stories as well as feeling my own memories bubbling to the surface.”
- If your organisation would like Nicola Baird to run a journalism, interviewing or creative writing workshop please contact me on islingtonfaces@gmail.com or my nicolabaird.green email (if you already know it!).
Over to you
If you’d like to nominate someone to be interviewed who grew up, lives or works in Islington, or suggest yourself, please let me know, via nicolabaird dot green at gmail dot com. If you enjoyed this post you might like to look at the A-Z index, or search by interviewee’s roles or Meet Islingtonians to find friends, neighbours and inspiration. Thanks for stopping by. Nicola
