The ambition of the Transition project was to engage the local community in exploring and sharing the history of the Wide Lane site in Swaythling. The project was fortunate to meet many committed and resourceful volunteers who helped in a variety of ways. Below are just four who contributed creatively to the pop-up museum by participating in the curation team.
Jackie is a First Class Fine Art graduate from Southampton Solent University. She was involved in the project from the start and contributed to research, curation, event planning, and co-delivered workshops in schools, igniting children’s enthusiasm for art. Her distinctive drawings of workers’ memories were an integral feature of the pop-up museum, and her art was sold in the pop-up shop.
Phil worked at the Ford Southampton plant for 27 years. After it closed he gained a First Class Photography degree from Southampton Solent University. He joined the project as an oral history interviewee and went on to become a key member of the curation team. Phil’s photographs of the site’s demolition and redevelopment formed a major part of the exhibition.
Laurie worked at the Ford Southampton plant for nine years until it closed. She contributed to the project as a guest speaker, oral history interviewee, and key member of the volunteer curation team. Since being made redundant when the factory closed in 2013, Laurie has become a successful sign-writer, and provided the pop-up museum’s ‘Fordies on the Line’ sign-written board.
Damian is a full-time structural engineer who also makes models in his spare time. As a curation team member he contributed to the planning, installation and running of the pop-up museum, and his Transit models and diorama of the Ford site were a delightful part of it.
