CAROUSEL: HEREFORDSHIRE LIFE THROUGH A LENS

Following audience favourites Stories from the Hop Yards and Chewing the Cud, this Catcher Media film delves deep into the Derek Evans photographic archive from the 1950s – 1970s to bring you the stories behind his photographs of the county, from the May Fair to Hereford United, from the Fownhope Heart of Oak walk to jazz clubs, from childhood to politics and much more.

The film is part of the Herefordshire Life Through a Lens project, which explores the huge collection of photographs and negatives from Herefordshire photographer Derek Evans. Alongside digitising and exhibiting his archive, the project is creating an extensive selection of 140+ oral history videos from Herefordshire people, about the memories the photographs evoke.

The archive consists of over 200,000 negatives, 790 exhibition images, hundreds of prints, scrapbooks full of newspaper cuttings, photo journals, and daily log books of the studio’s activities.

“Derek was clearly passionate about Hereford and the region. His image repertoire is affectionate, humanist, liberal and well crafted.” — Dr Russell Roberts, University of South Wales

“Funny, moving and enlightening. What a brilliant resource, linking us to the past of Herefordshire” — Audience member.

Visit the project website to see the full film.

Supported by the National Lottery Heritage Fund.

  • "Wonderfully ambitious and beautifully realised too"

    Daniel Meadows, renowned photographer
  • “Catcher’s approach to heritage is outstanding; the quality, accessibility and beauty of their work means that the community are drawn to their projects”

    Hannah McSherry, Herefordshire Council
  • "As well as working with a wide range of Herefordshire heritage, arts and community organisations, Catcher Media has been committed to boosting skills, employment and economic development within the county."

    Jenni Waugh Consulting Ltd.
  • "We have worked with Catcher Media for many years on several diverse cultural and heritage projects including large heritage projects of regional and national importance and we have come to rely on their expertise"

    Jan Nesaratnam, Senior Librarian at Herefordshire Library Service
  • Our collaborations with Catcher Media have been hugely valuable in the cultural life of Herefordshire and the wider region."

    Jon Chedgzoy, Museums, Libraries & Archives Manager at Herefordshire Council
  • "Catcher Media have made a vital contribution, not just in our county but to the heritage, culture and arts of this country as a whole"

    Rt Hon Jesse Norman MP, Member of Parliament for Hereford & South Herefordshire
  • "The powerful and beautifully produced films reached huge, enthusiastic audiences that crossed generations and brought the past to life"

    Rhys Griffith, Senior Archivist at Herefordshire Archive and Records Centre
  • "Catcher Media's oral history projects just get better and better."

    Audience member

  • "We often have people coming here with cameras but you are interested in us, and what we are actually doing."

    Marcin Lisowski, Polish migrant worker
  • "I firmly believe that to honour our ancestors is a very special thing, to bring them to life."

    Raine Geoghegan, Romani poet

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