O4O : Older People for Older People - Ardersier Heritage DVD Project

Life on film: Ardersier’s older people put their memories on DVD

The history of Ardersier, near Inverness, is being brought to life in a series of filmed interviews with older members of the community in a project involving UHI, the prospective University of the Highlands and Islands.

The project is headed by Ardersier and Petty Community Council, with funding support from local Highland councillors for recording and editing equipment, and the Inverness-based Centre for Rural Health, a research partnership involving UHI and the University of Aberdeen.

Part of the centre’s O4O (Older People for Older People) project, the filming has captured memories and tales of life in Ardersier and elsewhere – and presented an opportunity to engage villagers in discussion about their services and needs.

Oral history expert Hugo Manson, from the UHI Centre for History, and local broadcast journalist Mairi Rodgers, have been assisting the project – with community council chairman Sandy Devidge as cameraman and Douglas Cowie, a media studies graduate from Moray College UHI, editing the films. The interviewers are senior citizens Martina Gow, Pat Barrett and Mary Douglas.

Mr Devidge said: “We’ve done about 20 interviews so far and everyone is really enjoying it and finding it interesting. I was born and bred in Ardersier and the project is bringing back a lot of memories - and I’m learning things. One of our residents lived in Foyers during the war and I never knew it had been bombed.”

O4O project manager Kate Stephen said: “It was interesting to hear about the shops and services that used to be in Ardersier – including lots of garages selling petrol and only two cars. Now there are lots of cars but no garages selling petrol.”

A short film about the project itself is now available on YouTube (see below) and the O4O and community council websites, and was shown at a celebratory lunch on 12th May where some of the older residents were presented with DVDs of their interview.

The film group will now be seeking funds from the Highland Culture Programme to prepare themed DVDs about the village, wartime and agriculture, and to ensure this local history is preserved and celebrated. Completed material will be passed to the Highland Archive Centre for posterity. It also has links with the Highlanders’ Museum at Fort George which has expressed interest in the stories of the forces and wartime.

The group has prepared a booklet giving guidance and tips which might be useful for other groups who would like to undertake a similar project.

Kate said: “We hope the DVD project has enhanced a sense of place and pride in the Ardersier community, including school children and older people, and we are very happy to assist.