Interview with Roger Kitchen

Roger first describes his role as Community Worker in Galley Hill in 1972. In 1975 he moved into MKDC offices to deal with education and youth liaison. He later became head of the charity Inter-Action until 1984. But in the 1970s he began personal projects collecting people’s own stories in Wolverton to create local history books. These were published by the People’s Press of Milton Keynes, which was organised by Roger, Bill Elliot, Rib Davis and others, He believed that ‘Publishing a book… was saying: this life has value’. Roger was then inspired by the dramas produced by Roy Nevitt (Head of Drama) at Stantonbury Campus to great acclaim. Roger began working with Roy on more local history documentary dramas, including the WWI letters of Private Albert French to his sister, and the stories of Hawtin Mundy. Their dramas were very successful – there was little entertainment available in 1970s MK. Roger describes how he and Roy obtained two to three years funding for their dramas, together with guidance for production of similar projects elsewhere, from the Gulbenkian Foundation.

By 1983-84 a formal organisation was needed to manage and develop the collection of oral histories and archives. The Milton Keynes Documentary Arts Trust (Trustees Peter Cheeseman, Alison Chitty, Ewan McColl & Peggy Seeger and Professor Ruth Finnegan) was set up, and Roger was appointed General Manager of the new Living Archive Project. Roger acknowledges revenue funding received from local Arts organisations, MKDC, and MK Council. But in the 1990s budgets were squeezed; Southern Arts removed its grant, and Roger says: ‘At one point we were nearly going out of business …but the Community Foundation gave a grant, realising Living Archive’s importance to MK’. Roger remembers the many projects Living Archive has managed, working with talented artists and local volunteers. A key collaborator has been Marion Hill. One memory that sticks in his mind was of Hawtin Mundy coming on the stage to speak at the end of the performance of ‘Days of Pride’. Looking back, Roger hopes their projects have shown people that their lives are important. He says: ‘There have been some amazing moments… now, we’re employing Poppy (Holman), who was inspired by the plays and wants to create similar productions’. Roger expresses thanks to his wife Jill for her support and says: ‘I’ve had a life of incredible variety… but I don’t want to stop!’