MEMORIES and mementoes from the Lights of Leamington Festival were on show in an illuminating exhibition.
Switched on Stories – The Exhibition took place at All Saints’ Church in Leamington and aimed to shed light on a slice of local, post-war history,
The Lights of Leamington Festival was said to rival the Blackpool Illuminations and drew crowds from across the Midlands.
And now, with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Leamington-based events company Whittle Productions’ team have held workshops and met with the community to collate some personal recollections from those who attended the Jephson Gardens’ events between 1951 and 1961.
Stories include community coach trips to join the celebrations in town, cheeky ways to sneak into the gardens for free and heartwarming personal recollections of a town emerging from post-war austerity.
Directors Carole Sleight and David Clargo said: “It has been a privilege to hear such an incredible array of interesting and fascinating recollections about the lights festival and know that by documenting this project it will create a legacy and become part of the towns cultural and heritage narrative. Thanks to The National Lottery Heritage Fund and to National Lottery players for making it all possible.”
The exhibition will have a permanent home in the Warwickshire County Records Office.
