Shona Driscoll

Shona was born in Glasgow in 1961. Her family made two unsuccessful moves to Bletchley before settling there when she was 13.

Her education was disrupted and she had problems at school, but she went to the Compass Club. It became Counterpoint and her partner put on bands there like Chumbawamba and Conflict. She and her friend did the refreshments. Her partner was in a punk band called Jumble Head and also put on bands at other venues. The Council closed it because they wanted to use the building for something else.

She got married and got a REEMA flat, then moved to Serpentine Court, Fishermead. She moved to places outside Milton Keynes, then she got a house on the Lakes Estate. She moved from there to Bradville. In Bradville there was an eccentric old man, Smithy, who repaired bikes. She and her partner bought his house long after he’d died.

She did various jobs whilst her children were growing up: painting and decorating, cleaning and warehouse work. After her daughter died she did some City & Guilds and taught herself to touch-type. She worked for the Living Archive and ‘Women and Work’. After three years she got a job with the ‘Volunteer Centre’ and was able to help people who’d had the kind of struggles she’d had. She was made redundant, but got a job with Community Action running a weekly drop-in. She did that for 13 years.

The biggest change she’s seen in Milton Keynes is how big it’s become. It needs a better bus service and a bigger hospital. Another big change has been the cutbacks, the loss of youth clubs and the resulting young people hanging around.

The green spaces are one of the ‘top brilliant things’ about Milton Keynes. She has lots of friends and enjoys socialising at places like the Craufurd Arms.

She thinks the city will continue to get bigger and is worried about the housing problem.

She wants the new gallery to feature the stories of individuals.