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News — Heritage Project launch ‘Hands at work’

A DVD called ‘Hands at Work has been launched’. The project was to collect “signed” history instead of oral history as the details are recorded on film by young deaf people filming the older generation instead of using a tape recorder. 10 older deaf people who had worked during 1920 to 1940 era explained about their work and what experiences they had during this period. One of the older deaf people, David Hyslop explained his experience as a deaf person looking for work and learning how to lip read. He also added that his experience as a jewellery maker had made him become more independent as he started to work as a Jeweller shortly after leaving school.

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Braidwood School for the deaf were involved in the filming with the support of James McLean, project co-ordinator, Lisa Davies, Multimedia production officer from bid services and John Hay, MBE, Senior Lecturer from Wolverhampton University. The pupils from Braidwood School were involved in filming and interviewing the older deaf people and collecting information on their experiences. Students from Longwill School created the DVD cover.

Interested viewers exploring hisory

Volunteers from Black Country Living museum dressed up in the work clothes of this era and were happy to explain what the working environment was like in the past. They were on hand to give out hard sweets which were popular during 1920's-40’s and a complimentary copy of the DVD. There were presentations from John Hay explaining the difference between ‘Oral history’ and ‘Signed history’, Izzy Mohammed, Community Outreach and the Community Officer from Birmingham Central Library explained his experience of working with deaf people.

John Hay giving his talk

James McLean, Project Officer said ‘I am glad this project has been created and the people involved have worked hard to make this possible. The pupils from Braidwood School have been proactive in this project and I am glad to see them here at the launching of the DVD. We are grateful for the support of Izzy Mohammed who helped us to develop an understanding of how to archive the records and collect historical details and a representative from the Museum of Jewellery Quarter funded by Birmingham City Council demonstrated the jewellery making skills as explained by David Hyslop.’

David Hyslop explaining his experience

Complimentary copies of the DVD are available for everyone to view and to see what experience older deaf people had in their younger years when working during the era. For more information you can contact bid services, or check the website for details.

Published 1st October 2009