This project started in the Spring term 2003 with families getting together in a learning environment to compare life of the children today with how things were for the older generations at the same age. The project was initiated by the Neath Port Talbot Lifelong Learning Service and Tonnau Primary Community School.

The project was given an initial focus by the historian and storyteller Mr. John Bilsborough, who wrote as a foreward to the initial booklet that was produced 'From the very start there was a buzz, an enthusiasm that we knew would lead to something. Would it be a modest exhibition, a web page, a book, even?'

For six Wednesday afternoons the group met to share memories and memorabilia, and the children and adults worked together to collect and record as much as they could from the discussions. As the weeks went by the work of transferring the information onto the computers began, the children and adults working together, and on more than one occasion the adults learning from the children.

This was a unique project where at one stage there were four generations round the table listening to stories. Some of the subjects that we looked at such as electrical items showed a mighty change, but others such as playground games were still similar. At the end of the project we produced a booklet called 'Then & Now' which was presented to each pupil. It was produced on the computers in the Community IT Suite at the school and was a massive achievement for all involved.

However a seed had been sown, as when the group had carried out their research for this project they realised there was very little local history information available on Tonna and therefore they wished to continue the project but from a different angle. Many adults had searched out old photographs to show the children and an idea of a local history book of photographs of Tonna began to take shape. There was one drawback and that was a funding issue.

We were then made aware of the Awards For All Wales lottery grant scheme and found that we could meet all the criteria. We filled in the application form and waited with baited breath. At the beginning of the autumn term we were notified that we had been successful and had been awarded the sum of £2,500 to meet the printing costs. It looked like we were up and running.

We are currently in the process of leafleting the whole of Tonna village to encourage residents to have their photographs considered for the book. These photographs will be scanned into a computer and compiled into a book, which should be available in September 2004. We already have plans for a book launch so please residents of Tonna (both past and present) don't let us down, search out those photographs and help us to make this a complete picture of life in Tonna through time.

You can contact us by email tonnalhp@yahoo.com or you can telephone the school on Neath 01639 637062. Alternatively you can come along to the Community IT Suite at Tonnau Primary Community School on any Wednesday during term time 1-3pm.

December 2003