Lights of Leamington exhibition to be hosted next month on post-war stories from locals
An exhibition is set to take place next month in Leamington Spa as part of a new and re-invented community lights festival. The Lights of Leamington Festival will explore the role light has for the communities and faiths in the county.
This year, the Switched On Stories project will preserve the stories and memorabilia from the Lights of Leamington festival, which took place in Jephson Gardens from 1951 to 1961. This will be through personal stories, photographs, and community artifacts for an exhibition exploring post-war local history.
Organisers say the Lights of Leamington Festival rivalled the Blackpool Illuminations and drew crowds from across the Midlands. The stories vary from community coach trips to personal recollections of a town emerging from post-war austerity.
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The exhibition captures posterity memories of 'rainbow-lit trees,' 'magical animal installations,' 'spectacular skylines,' music, dancing, and firework displays designed to lift the post-war spirits, organisers added. With funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Leamington-based events company Whittle Productions held workshops and met with the community to collate the recollections of those who attended the Jephson Gardens' events between 1951 to 1961.
Directors of Whittle Productions, Carole Sleight and David Clargo, said: "It has been a privilege to hear such an incredible array of interesting and fascinating recollections about the lights festival and know that by documenting this project it will create a legacy and become part of the towns cultural and heritage narrative. Thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and to National Lottery players for making it all possible."
The Switched On Stories project shares the history and personal memories in an indoor and outdoor exhibition, website, film, podcasts, and information pamphlet to create a legacy for Leamington that will have a permanent home in the Warwickshire County Records Office. Switched On Stories will be launched alongside Spotlight, a new Lights of Leamington community-focused lights festive currently in development.
The free Exhibition opens on Saturday, February 8, and runs through Sunday, February 23, from 11am to 5pm Monday through Saturday and 1pm to 5pm Sunday at All Saints Parish Church, Priory Terrace, Leamington Spa.
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