Reminiscence Group

The Reminiscence Group had been using objects to help recall their memories of Bedford life. I wanted them to expand on this creatively and to make up short stories based on objects they owned and ones in the Museum's collection. I am conscious that this is what I do as I encounter unfamiliar objects in the Museum, it's a way of extending our understanding of the role of objects from the past.

I made up Boy Story as an example, and the stories they created are here for you to read.

John was flying his model aeroplane along the pavement, arm aloft, above the black railings to school. He didn't notice PC Jones' broad - breasted brass - buttoned tunic, until he ran smack into it and bounced off, his arm flailing backwards, causing his Sopwith Camel to take off. It flew free for the first time in its existence.

He watched it as it wheeled up and back in an arc, as if controlled by a miniature pilot, banking sharply to avoid an oncoming enemy fighter. In the next few seconds, his imagination had conjured a whole morning's dog-fight, full of mad-cap stunt flying, near misses and close scrapes and just as he saw his battle-torn hero breaking off to land, the model plane came back into reality, flipped over haphazardly and disappeared behind the railings, into the abyss beneath.

The clang of the school bell and PC Jones scolding 'Oi! Watch where you're going!' made John react rather than think and he found himself running to school - he was going to be on time for once! John didn't remember much about that day at school, only the relief of the bell at going home time.

I expect you will want to know if John got his plane back. Well despite the best efforts of Mr Franks with Mrs Frank's long handled feather duster, the plane remained infuriatingly out of reach. It was only several decades later, during building renovations, that the plane was recovered. It was and handed to the local Museum, by the dentist who remembered owning a similar model himself.

John never again forgot to look where he was going. A skill he used to explain how his long and successful flying career.

Susannah Oliver 2003