Memory Tea

In 2022, the museum ran sessions where we invited in members of the community in to the Literary Institute for an informal conversation about their experiences of Egham through the ages, accompanied by coffee and cake. This was part of our Tourism, Trinkets & Trade programme, inspired by the area’s rich heritage as a destination for tourists and traders alike.  By asking people about their experiences, the museum was able to get a better understanding of how the town itself has changed over the years, especially how people would spend their free time, as well as the major events that have occurred over the years. While part of the aim of these sessions was research focused, it was also intended as a community and social event, using the Literary Institute and Egham Museum collection to create community connections and social engagement for those who have lived in the area for a long time.

We welcomed in members of the community to the main hall in the Literary Institute over two sessions, each with a separate focus. First was memories of the entertainment that people could enjoy in Egham, including the dances, cinemas and public houses. Second, we asked about the big events that had taken place over the last 50 years, such as Magna Carta Day, the Egham Royal Show, and the jubilee celebrations; particularly relevant since it was a jubilee year! Volunteers sat at each table and would prompt the community members with items from the collection, such as photographs, to encourage conversation. The hope was that by using these prompts, people would be more able to remember places or events in Egham history that they would otherwise have forgotten. This informal setting allowed the visitors to chat in such a way that they would also be able to prompt and remind one another of things that have happened, creating more stories to record and promoting a more social atmosphere. These stories were recorded by volunteers seated at each table, furiously taking notes while introducing new items to trigger new memories and stories. 

We are grateful to Surrey County Council and Cllr Marisa Heath for allowing our oral history project to go ahead with the support of their members fund.