LIVING ARCHIVE - Key Persons
Albert French was born on June 22, 1899 in New Bradwell, Buckinghamshire. He ran away from home to join the army during the First World War. He sent letters home to his father and sister May from his training camps and from the trenches in France. He was killed a few days before his 17th birthday.
Albert French was born in New Bradwell and lived most of his life in Wolverton. He joined up with the ...
Job Titles:
- Member of the Membership of Living Archive Board
- First Honorary Trustee
Paul Clark was involved with Living Archive since Milton Keynes' first musical drama documentary All Change!was produced by Stantonbury Campus Drama Group in 1977.
He composed and performed many songs both for that production and,throughout the 35 years following, for subsequent documentary shows that came under the auspices of Living Archive. In addition, during the last quarter century he served not onlyas the Chair of Living Archive's Board and later as its Vice-Chair; he also simultaneously pursued a high-powered career in education taking him to the top echelons of his profession.
Canadian by birth, Paul came to England in 1963 with a first degree in Engineering Physics and gained a doctorate in Theoretical Physics. As a pioneering don for the Open University in Milton Keynes, his lectures were broadcast on BBC TV. He progressed through being Dean of Science at the OU, Director for Teaching and Learning at the Higher Education Funding Councils for both England and Scotland, and became a much respected author of books and articles in his field. Paul ultimately fulfilled the role of Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Learning and Teaching) at the Open University until he retired in 2008. He was a Visiting Professor such as at the University of Abertay in Dundee and spoke at conferences all over the world, from Asia to Australia. Yet it is in Milton Keynes, at Living Archive, where we have enduring evidence of Paul's special qualities - not only his careful stewardship of the organisation during some of its most challenging times, but also the musicianship and the poetry of his songs, written specially about, and for, the people of Milton Keynes.
Job Titles:
- Director of Stantonbury Campus
Milton Keynes is in mourning after Geoff Cooksey, director of Stantonbury Campus, died aged 86, in March 2012.
He was valued worldwide by organisers of educational events and conferences, as the original director of Stantonbury Campus, the first purpose-built comprehensive school for the new city of Milton Keynes, and now one of Britain's largest schools.
He was appointed three years before Stantonbury Campus opened in 1974.
"I got seconded to the Schools Curriculum Council for England and Wales which took me all over the world to learn about how things should be done in education. And I was back in Shirebrool to plough through all this deep, profound new knowledge when somebody in a pub said "Why don't you apply for that job?" and that was Stantonbury."
Herbert Booth looks after the archive and manages a team of dedicated volunteers who sort, digitise and catalogue our archive material. He also puts on regular exhibitions within the community.
J Cunningham is one of the most brilliant, prolific and reliable song-writers who, as a teacher at Stantonbury Campus, where the large-scale musical documentary plays originated, was in exactly the right place at the right time. His unmistakable style, original and full of surprises and delights, readily adapted to the needs of the plays; and the structure of his songs was all the stronger because of his capacity to absorb and apply the insights about traditional folk song forms that we all gained from the master classes given us by Ewan MacColl and Peggy Seeger in the lead-up to the production of All Change!', our story of early Wolverton.
Kevin Adams has been fundamental to the music created for Living Archive documentary dramas over the last twenty years. His compositions have both integrity of feeling and variety of form; his live performances - on the fiddle, guitar, mandola, mandolin and vocals - energise Living Archive songs; and his music production achieves a professionalism of sound that in the early days we could only dream about.
His many Living Archive songs, based on the life experiences of Milton Keynes people, range from the passionate 1 st World War anthem - ‘Bright Battalions' - to the street-wise wit of hapless London settlers in 1960s Bletchley - ‘What Do They Think We Are?' His recording productions include the Living Archive Band's definitive double album CD ‘All That's Changed' Vols 1 &2. Currently (2012) he is working on the radio ballad ‘Calverton Manor Farm' based on the reminiscences of former farm workers near Stony Stratford. Kevin is mixing interview extracts with sound effects and new original music - much of it his own - to provide enduring evidence of Milton Keynes citizens' unique heritage, and also of his special talents. It is hoped that the programme will be available as a download or CD in 2013, with live performances also envisaged.
Khaki Train (later known as The Ambulance Train). Another concert favourite with the Living Archive Band, the song is a masterpiece of humour and poignancy - particularly when it was performed in the later production of 1993 with endless lines of wounded soldiers crossing the stage. J says: ‘Wolverton Works made a fully-fitted ambulance train. The wealth of detail about this medical innovation proved a godsend. In this case I had made up the tune long before needing it. I wrote and performed it on the piano with a twiddle I am fond of, pinched from Scarlatti. ‘Somewhere to spit and stub out your cigar' seems unlikely, but spittoons and ashtrays were included in the fixtures and fittings!'
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Milton Keynes Development Corporation
Melanie has been General Manager since 2008 and has a keen interest in the history and heritage of Milton Keynes. She manages the various projects and activities that Living Archive MK is involved in.
Rachel joined Living Archive in 2018. She has a background in arts marketing and administration for various local organisations including The Stables and the Milton Keynes Festival Fringe and a long-standing interest in MK's arts and heritage scene.
Job Titles:
- Chairman of Board of Trustees
Job Titles:
- Co - Founder
- Director
- Co - Founder of the Living Archive Project and Director of Nearly All the Community Musical Documentary Dramas for Which J Composed Songs, Writes
Roy Nevitt, co-founder of The Living Archive Project and Director of nearly all the community musical documentary dramas for which ...
Timothy James William Hill came to Milton Keynes in 1977 and became the first Chief Superintendent of the newly created Milton Keynes Division of Thames Valley Police in 1980. After 30 years' service with the police force, he retired in 1987 to become the first Chief Executive of Milton Keynes Community Trust (1987 - 2000) now Milton Keynes Community Foundation.
Tim also served the Rotary Club for many years throughout his life, becoming President of the Bletchley branch twice. He became Chair of Living Archive Milton Keynes in 2001 until his retirement in the summer of 2014, LAMK's longest-serving Chair.
Tim died on 22nd May 2015 - ‘a much loved dad, grandad, brother and son-in-law; a greatly respected colleague and caring friend of many; a generous and kind man. He will be greatly missed.'
Tim Hill's Memories
Timothy James William Hill came to Milton Keynes in 1977 and became the first Chief Superintendent of the newly created ...