Jump to content
Free downloads from TNA ×
The Great War (1914-1918) Forum

Remembered Today:

Westland 100 Oral History Project website now live


TGM

Recommended Posts

Press Release:

Quote


The 100-years story of Westland is being told through a series of recorded oral histories with people who worked at the Yeovil factory on a new website.

The website – Westland100.org.uk - features the voices of more than 30 former Westland employees and is the result of an 18-month project to build a spoken archive of aircraft manufacturing in Yeovil 1915 to 2015.

A film about the World Helicopter Speed Record set by a Westland built Lynx (G-LYNX) 11th August 1986 called Westland ONE can also be watched on the site.

The project – Yeovil’s Magnificent Flying Machines – provided students studying media at Yeovil College with skills training in editing and storytelling and members of the Westland Retirement Association transcribed the oral histories.

One highlight of the new site are the oral histories recorded with 103-yr old Mini Ostler of Higher Odcombe and 96-yr old Norman Pilton of Montacute who talk about building Spitfires at Westland during  WW2.

Steve Haigh, Project Manager ‘Yeovil’s Magnificent Flying Machines’ said: “The creation of this living history is an important contribution to the social fabric of Yeovil. The intention is for the site to grow with people uploading their own memories and photographs. Without this initiative, it’s unlikely any of this remarkable material would have been preserved.”

Luke Cawley (18) Media student at Yeovil College, who helped produce Westland ONE said: “I learnt many good things making this film, not least, how to edit and write to pictures. I enjoyed in particular working alongside members of the Westland Retirement Association. Westland ONE has given me an amazing film to show to prospective employers.”

The ‘Yeovil’s Magnificent Flying Machines’ project was managed by Radio Ninesprings – a new community radio station serving Yeovil and South Somerset – with grant funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund and Leonardo Helicopters and support from Yeovil College.

To hear the oral history recordings go online to: www.westland100.org.uk

The recordings on CD are available for lending from Yeovil Library.

CD copies of the recorded oral histories have been deposited with Leonardo Helicopters, Yeovil, SSDC's Community Heritage Access Centre, The Royal Aeronautical Society and the Helicopter Museum, Weston-super-Mare.

For more on this story call: Steve Haigh, Project Manager ‘Yeovil’s Magnificent Flying Machines’ m: 07836 246678 or email: info@westland100.com

 

See  World War 1: the beginning 

Edited by TGM
Link to comment
Share on other sites

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
×
×
  • Create New...