Twin towns in link-up on history

Oct 24 2008 by Brian Daniel, The Journal

A PROJECT is being launched to increase understanding of life in a Northumberland town and its Polish twin during the Second World War.

The scheme involves Berwick and one of its two twin towns, Trzcianka in north west Poland, and is being led by Berwick Library and Berwick Record Office.

Over the next few months the partners will be working with year five pupils from Tweedmouth Middle School to increase their knowledge and use of the library and archives, while learning about Berwick during the war.

The project links up with two schools in Trzcianka to gain a picture of life in that town both now and during the war.

It has been made possible with funding from the Museums, Libraries and Archives Partnership and the Big Lottery Fund, Their Past, Your Future 2 programme – and is one of only eight successful bids to that fund in the North East.

The project leaders are looking for volunteers from Berwick to recall and record memories of town life during the war.

A workshop on oral history skills, which aims to teach participants how to record those memories, will be held at the Berwick Record Office on Wallace Green on Monday from 2-5pm.

Further sessions on the project are being held at Berwick Library on Walkergate, on Friday, October 31 from 10am to 4pm and Saturday, November 1 from 9.30am to noon.

Anyone who wants to get involved should contact Diane Wright at Berwick Library on (01289) 334051 or borough archivist Linda Bankier on (01289) 301865 or email: lb@berwick-upon-tweed.gov.uk