I bought this postcard two days ago after a
series of meetings which had left me feeling gloomy and depressed about the
future of primary education and literacy. You can always count on Oscar Wilde
to find le bon mot. It made me smile. The older I become the less
certain I am of anything. There are no easy answers anymore.
Then I thought about my own breathtaking
arrogance when I was younger. The assumptions that I made that I knew better
and that there were different ways of doing things. Shrinking violets do not
change the world!
As if on cue and during a rare bout of
dusting I uncovered this document created in 1984. (Those heady days before the
advent of the computer)
In 1982, during the last Tory government
and during a period of unemployment, recession and social unrest I was living
in Aberystwyth. I had just finished a Drama and English degree and was
considering my future. The old Drama and Education Department in the town
centre had become empty and I became part of a group of local people to form
The Aberystwyth Community Association. For a while in 1984 I think I became the
Chair! I have a vague memory of making a speech.
The building was filled with artists, film
makers, theatre groups, photographers. Thanks to a Manpower Services Grant I
had a part time job with Theatre West. I helped run Aber Youth Theatre and
started a group for local unemployed people called Supplementary Theatre.
Nothing seemed impossible.
We ran classes in photography, drawing,
clay modelling, screen printing. Open studios were created and classes provided
for people with mental heath problems. An art gallery was created. There was a
mother and baby drop in room.
The experiment didn’t last. The buildings
were returned to the council. I left for London.
Some parts of the Community Association survived.
Perhaps there are some easy answers.
