Travelling history visits city - Sussex

From the Chichester Observer

THE INTEGRAL role Travellers have played in the Sussex community is on show at a new exhibition at the Record Office.

The touring exhibition of Gypsies, Travellers and travelling show people has been created by Brighton-based charity FFT (Friends Families and Travellers).

The exhibition charts their history, ever since Romany Gypsies migrated from India in the 12th century.

The West Sussex Record Office, in Orchard Street, Chichester, is the first 
venue for the exhibition.

John Stanley donated a number of pictures and recounted stories of his family’s history.

“It’s very good, it’s done very well. I’m really impressed,” he said.

The exhibition is at 
the record office until Thursday, March 20.

Liz MacPherson, heritage lottery fund project officer at FFT, said: “We want to bring to life some of the most interesting and vibrant communities in Sussex which have long been marginalised and forgotten.

“This exciting exhibition brings a deeply personal look to the Gypsy, Traveller and showmen communities of Sussex, and their often overlooked place in the shared cultural heritage of the area.”

Funded by the heritage lottery fund, the exhibition is the culmination of a two-year project by FFT, which it described as capturing ‘the fast-fading history of these communities in Sussex.’

Photographs from recent decades show travelling people throughout the county, with audio and visual clips also available.

Participant Chris Brown said it was ‘important to keep our ways alive, so my people don’t fade into the background’.

Senior archivist at the record office Sue Millard unearthed various documents relating to Travellers in the area, which were on display.