The Hoe/Worthing Snapshot
In May 2010 the parishes of Hoe and Worthing put on a joint exhibition in Hoe Parish Room of photographs and memorabilia collected from the current and former residents and it proved to be far more successful than we dared hope. From that sprang the idea of a Snapshot: the people and Houses of Hoe and Worthing to coincide with the 2011 census. The idea being to complement the census details by photographing every resident outside their home at or about the date of the census. Would there be concerns by residents regarding invasion of privacy etc. Many other concerns were expressed.
We, that is, four interested residents, two from Hoe and two from Worthing agreed first to inform and persuade by sending out a suitable flyer each month with the parish magazines. This we did for four months followed by a face to face meeting with each household to establish a) were they interested in the project; b) would they participate and c) could a date for a photograph be agreed. The response was overwhelming. Out of the 100 or so households only a few did not want to be involved.
The photographs were simple shots taken on standard digital cameras and residents were encouraged to wear and display something associated with their hobby or pastime. So those with golfing interest came with their clubs, those who fished, sailed, played an instrument etc. All entered into the spirit of the project.
The photographs were collected together in a properly printed and bound black and white book. We received a generous grant from Breckland District Council, which enabled a copy to be given to each household.
Residents of Hoe and Worthing were all invited to a specially held exhibition of the photographs at Hoe in July 2011 where they could collect their book.
A full colour book of the photographs was also produced using a publishing website on which it is possible to order just a single copy. That specimen of the book convinced many to place an order for their own copy which were produced via the website.
The books are a unique record of that moment in our parishes. The project generated an immense amount of interest among the residents many of whom had little knowledge of the skills and backgrounds of their neighbours. It has definitely drawn us much closer together both in each parish and between parishes.
The books are not for general sale. We set out at the start to protect everyone's privacy wherever possible. All documentation and photographs have now been deleted from our various computers. Only a DVD and a copy of the book(s) have been lodged at Norfolk Record Office so that in 100 years time our family historians searching where we were on the 2011 census will have a brilliant photographic record which will tell them so much more than the written census details. Not only what we looked like and how we dressed but what we did and what leisure interests we had and where we actually lived. That must be a family historians dream. ....David Knight