Living History
Myatt's took a step back in time to the coronation of Queen Elizabeth during its summer fair in 2012.
The fair, on 2nd June, celebrated the Queen's Diamond Jubilee (see the poster) with a big band, jive dancing and a dress code of red, white and blue - or 1950s clothing.
We served free food from 1950s Sri Lanka thanks to our food hero Dammi Holbourne - a delicious range of curries which highlighted the difference between the food that British people could get hold of and that of countries further afield.
A Memory Tent included banners made during a reminiscence project in the park in 2007, when older people were asked for their memories of the park and children from a local primary school created art works and poems. These were made into four banners which were displayed in the tent during the fair.
Visitors were also asked to look at photographs of heritage elements around the park - for example the Minet cat - and then draw them from memory. This workshop was sponsored by Camberwell Arts Week.
The afternoon also included a Big Lunch, when local people brought food to share on tables around the bandstand, a range of community stalls, a fairground and 1950s children's games including hula hooping.
The music by The Southwark Concert Band and the reminiscence project were funded by the Heritage Lottery Fund.
See this link for photos of the fair and images of the banners.