Oral Histories — Crafty Sew & Sows Red2Green, Charity, Cambridgshire

Now retired, Stewart Bye began working on his family farm when he was just 15 years old. Stewart paints a portrait of his life on Foxy Farm in Ely Cambridgeshire, growing and harvesting everything from chicory, beets, wheat, barley and onions. Stewart recounts his memories of the tractors and combines used on the farm and how they differ to what’s available today. Stewart developed a love of being outdoors from growing up and working on the farm but which came to an end when the farm had to be sold. Stewart then spent nearly 30 years working in a cardboard box making factory, a world away from being outdoors and farming life. To counteract the indoor stuffiness of the factory, Stewart eventually took on his own allotment. He and his wife, Teresa, have spent years using the skills learned from their earlier lives to grow award winning vegetables and helping others to grow their own. Stewart illustrates the joys of allotmenteering and how he and Teresa have evolved their knowledge and skills over the years.

Stewart Bye was interviewed by Ruby Wallace, Jack Sugg and Grace Wordsworth-Clarke at Swaffham Primary School.

This oral history was recorded as part of the Crafty Sew and Sows Project in Cambridgeshire. Led by the charity Red2Green, funded by the HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND and delivered in partnership with Swaffham Primary School and Bottisham Village College.

Michael Snodgrass from Red2Green managed the Crafty Sew & Sows project.

Kulwant Dhaliwal of Hi8us Midlands collaborated with project participants to produce this oral history with support from Michael Snodgrass and staff at Swaffham Primary School, Swaffham Bulbeck.

Jane Starnes is a prolific crafter, a passion that grew after receiving her first Sear’s Children’s Loom before the age of 10. Jane has tried and excelled at many crafts including weaving, jewellery making, basket weaving, lace making, dying fabrics and crochet. In this interview, Jane focuses largely on her weaving practice, talking about her inspirations and how her skills have developed over the years. Jane also illustrates the process of weaving and the many benefits of crafting. Jane’s insights about the history of the cloth trade illuminate the events and industrial practices that led to important changes regarding child labour and education policies in the UK.

Jane Starnes was interviewed by Ruby Wallace, Jack Sugg and Grace Wordsworth-Clarke at Swaffham Primary School.

This oral history was recorded as part of the Crafty Sew and Sows Project in Cambridgeshire. Led by the charity Red2Green, funded by the HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND and delivered in partnership with Swaffham Primary School and Bottisham Village College.

Michael Snodgrass from Red2Green managed the Crafty Sew & Sows project.

Kulwant Dhaliwal of Hi8us Midlands collaborated with project participants to produce this oral history with support from Michael Snodgrass and staff at Swaffham Primary School, Swaffham Bulbeck.

Anne Langran is a lifelong knitter having learned the skill from her grandmother. Anne lives in Lode and charts her experience of knitting in the context of social and cultural change illuminating how its use and perception has changed over the years. For instance, Anne talks about families of knitters in which men would knit their own fishing jumpers or how jumpers mights be picked apart for the wool to be reused in the creation of something new.

Anne Langran was interviewed by
This oral history was recorded as part of the Crafty Sew and Sows Project in Cambridgeshire. Led by the charity Red2Green, funded by the HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND and delivered in partnership with Swaffham Primary School and Bottisham Village College.

Michael Snodgrass from Red2Green managed the Crafty Sew & Sows project.

Kulwant Dhaliwal of Hi8us Midlands collaborated with project participants to produce this oral history with support from Michael Snodgrass and staff at Bottisham Village College.

Cliff Bagent grew up in and around the village of Bottisham, Cambridgeshire. As a child during world war two, alongside his brother, Cliff learned to grow his own food. In this oral history Cliff reflects on what they grew and how and the necessity for it due to the war and rationing. Cliff also talks about how he and his fellow school friends were enlisted to help with harvesting during this time, an opportunity to get time off school while earning some pennies.

Cliff was interviewed by Jessica Wright, Dion James Martin and Teagan Courtenay-Moore at Bottisham Village College.

This oral history was recorded as part of the Crafty Sew and Sows Project in Cambridgeshire. Led by the charity Red2Green, funded by the HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND and delivered in partnership with Swaffham Primary School and Bottisham Village College.

Michael Snodgrass from Red2Green managed the Crafty Sew & Sows project.

Kulwant Dhaliwal of Hi8us Midlands collaborated with project participants to produce this oral history with support from Michael Snodgrass and staff at Bottisham Village College.

Colin Marshall is Mill Trustee of Burwell Museum & Mill, a role Colin took on after becoming involved in the restoration of the Mill. Colin shares the journey of restoring the Windmill and why he became involved. Colin also illuminates how Windmills work and their evolution, their uses across the ages and their decline in the UK.

Colin Marshall was interviewed by Charlie Compton, Hayden Batts and Cosmo Collison at Swaffham Primary School.

This oral history was recorded as part of the Crafty Sew and Sows Project in Cambridgeshire. Led by the charity Red2Green, funded by the HERITAGE LOTTERY FUND and delivered in partnership with Swaffham Primary School and Bottisham Village College.

Michael Snodgrass from Red2Green managed the Crafty Sew & Sows project.

Kulwant Dhaliwal of Hi8us Midlands collaborated with project participants to produce this oral history with support from Michael Snodgrass and staff at Swaffham Primary School, Swaffham Bulbeck.