Sweet Memories to share for the future
A time capsule unearthed in 30 years’ time will describe the experiences of young girls growing up in Newcastle-under-Lyme including what their life was like in lockdown during a global pandemic.
Members of the 1st Newcastle St Paul’s Brownies have buried a vintage-style sweet jar containing their thoughts, personal memories and trinkets – within the improved and extended grounds of St. Giles’ Church in Newcastle as part of their recycling interest badge and to help celebrate 30 years of success for the borough in Britain in Bloom.
Newcastle-under-Lyme Borough Council’s “Sweet Memories” project should have been completed in March 2020 but its postponement, due to the Coronavirus pandemic, has allowed the youngsters to reflect on these unprecedented times for future examination.
As well as sharing information about their group’s centenary celebrations and including photographs, press cuttings, old badges and handbooks, the seven to 10-year-olds have written about enjoying parks at the Lyme Valley and Brampton Park and missing their regular face to face meetings.
The time capsule is marked by a commemorative plaque, funded by sponsorship income, which was engraved by the late Wilf Burt, a local stonemason who sadly passed away in October 2020.
Beverley Sutton, Community Project Co-ordinator, said: “The Brownies did an excellent job of capturing their bloom-related thoughts and more recently have added some lockdown memories which I’m sure will provide some interesting reading for those who dig up the time capsule in 30 years’ time.
“This has been a great way to engage with different age groups within the community and it shows just how much our Britain in Bloom work has grown and evolved. While burying the capsule we took a moment to remember Wilf and the great work that he did as part of our award winning campaigns.”
Reverend Peter Nisbeck said: “Our grounds hold so many memories and have so much history. We’re so proud and privileged to have the time capsule buried here at St. Giles’. I couldn’t think of a better place for it.”
Trudy Reale, 1st Newcastle St Paul’s Brown Owl, added: “The children really enjoyed putting the capsule together and feel very proud that their work has been buried in the church grounds for examination in the future.”
The empty sweet jar was donated by Mr Simms’ Olde Sweet Shoppe in the town.
(Main image “Powell Owl” Gill Powell and Brown Owl Trudy Reale.)
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