Bottesford Living History 2007 Exhibition

Opening the Project to the Community

By Neil Fortey

A great village weekend
May Day weekend was marked by a great variety of events and entertainments in Bottesford. These included the May Day Gala and parade, a series of tours, recitals and Morris dancing at the church, an exhibition by the Vale of Belvoir Art Society and the Living History exhibition. And let us not forget also the Mammoth Car Boot Sale. All in all, the weekend was a great success.

The Living History 'show'
The Living History Exhibition had at least 700 visitors, many of whom stayed an hour or more, some even returning for a second visit. There was lots to look at for all ages, with contributions from the Primary School alongside maps, farm implements, the Friendly Society marching banner, and of course the old photographs. Someone described it as rather like a living jigsaw, with people coming together and identifying friends and family from past schooldays and other events.

Climbing the steps
Speaking personally, I found it all quite tiring but very enjoyable. Apart from the exhibition, I enjoyed enormously the chance to climb the steps up the church tower and see Bottesford and the Vale spread out like a tapestry.

Thanks and congratulations
Congratulations and thanks to all who helped stage the Living History exhibition. It was a memorable three days. Thanks also to all those who visited the Fuller Room and gave us such support and generous comments and most of all to those who brought photographs for scanning or provided additional material for the exhibition and the project.