Memories

Funny old things memories and its odd what triggers them sometimes.

I took part in a project with the storytelling group I belong to Cambridge Storytellers recently gathering the memories of folk who grew up in the 1930's mainly in Cambridge. Heard some fascinating stuff a lot relating to the second word war but after we had a performance sorted we took some of those memories back to the people we collected them from and let them listen to us telling bits from their stories.

It was fascinating watching them hearing what they had said and then from somewhere else they added more information to that we already had. Very moving as well, I wont forget the chap who had not said much about his was service who volunteered some very strong personal recollections of taking men of the beaches at Dunkirk.

While at a different care home I got chatting to this chap who tells me he is 98 years old, I looked at him and thought blimey if I get that far I hope I am in the same condition as you. We talked about his work and then some of my own memories were opened up. He worked as an entomologist at the Rothampstead Institute in one way or another doing a lot of work on Locusts.

Hold it my mind says Locusts and then from nowhere seemingly in my head comes the words Schistocerca gregaria the Desert Locust. And there I am back in school a member of the Bug Club looking after Locusts again.


Its small world and no mistake.