Ever since Warley Woods Community Trust began managing Warley Woods in 2004, people have been coming into the Trust’s office sharing their memories. It became clear that people wanted to share them and that these fascinating stories should be recorded for others to hear. This was the impetus behind planning this oral history project and we were keen to ensure we recorded as many memories as we could.

The Community Trust has been able to undertake this project thanks to the support of the Heritage Lottery Fund. Their grant provided funding for training, equipment and professional support with sound editing, video production and transcribing.

Beginning in February 2012 with the first training course for interviewers, our volunteers have been out and about around the area responding to people who offered stories for our collection. Thirty-nine people have shared the part that Warley Woods has played in their lives and their stories span from the 1920s to the present day.

A book of these stories has been published by Warley Woods Community Trust which is available at the shop at The Pavilion, Lightwoods Hill. We think it does paint a fabulous picture of experiences and detail which ordinary history books could never tell.

Part of this project involved the students of two local schools: Abbey Junior School and St Gregory’s Catholic Primary School. In spring and summer 2013 Julia Letts of the Oral History Society visited the schools over a number of weeks, training the students in how to be good interviewers. The students then interviewed seven local residents about their memories of Warley Woods on camera, filmed by a professional film company, Scraggy Dog. 

The book and DVD can be bought at The Shop at the Pavilion or in our online shop. The book includes a CD with some of the stories we recorded. 

If you love Warley Woods, its history and care for its future, please support the Community Trust with a donation.

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      1. Kathleen Perkins Holidays

        Track_01.mp3


      2. Paul Ross Park Keepers and Scouts

        Track_02.mp3


      3. Dorothy Ludlow The Morris Dancers 

        Track_03.mp3


      4. Roger Phipps Cross Country Running 

        Track_04.mp3


      5. Nigel Lloyd Warley Woods Pacers 

        Track_05.mp3


      6. Sharon Williamson Fallen Tree 

        Track_06.mp3


      7. Kate Slade Santa

        Track_07.mp3


      8. Jim Haycock Courting 

        Track_08.mp3


      9. Beryl Paramore Courting 

        Track_09.mp3


      10. Roger Phipps Sledging 

        Track_10.mp3


      11. Bernard Cox Sledging 

        Track_11.mp3


      12. Joy Ricketts Sledging 

        Track_12.mp3


      13. Nigel Lloyd Sledging 

        Track_13.mp3


      14. Robert Jones Sledging accident 

        Track_14.mp3


      15. Alan Reynolds Sledging 

        Track_15.mp3


      16. David Gray The Icehouse 

        Track_16.mp3


      17. Steve Cemm The fence 

        Track_17.mp3


      18. Anthea Kirk Near the Abbey 

        Track_18.mp3


      19. Robert Jones Inside the Abbey 

        Track_19.mp3


      20. Derek Ward Inside the Abbey 

        Track_20.mp3


      21. Anthea Atherton Inside the Abbey Clubhouse 

        Track_21.mp3


      22. Peter Munn Inside the Abbey 

        Track_22.mp3


      23. Jack Yates Inside the Abbey 

        Track_23.mp3


      24. Keith Hutchinson The Pool  

        Track_24.mp3


      25. Paul Ross The Rose Garden 

        Track_25.mp3


We have reached the maximum number of sound clips for an individual webpage.  You can find the rest of our sound stories on this second page.