Wolverton

55: MURMURATIONS

WOF/058

One of nature’s wonders is the massed gatherings of starlings in the sky overhead and the creation of their murmurations. These murmurations over Wolverton and Greenleys were captured by Mike Boyd.
56: A GLIMPSE OF WOLVERTON

WOF/059

This film was made specially for a screening at a street party in Cambridge Street in 2013 as part of the 175th anniversary of the first train stopping at Wolverton Station in 1838.
57: BRITAIN IN BLOOM 2008

WOF/060

Wolverton and Greenleys decided to enter the Britain in Bloom competition in 2007. This film was made for the judges visiting in the second year 2008. It’s great to see that key environmental projects mentioned then – the Secret Garden, the Community Orchard and the Urb Farm, are still thriving today.
59: BUSHFIELD PLAYGROUND RHYMES

WOF/061

In 2000 Living Archive MK and the Open University linguistics department worked with the community of Wolverton on exploring language and accents between the generations. As part of that, people were asked to recall playground rhymes. In this film 4 children from Bushfield School, Ruby, Rochelle, Sydney and Claudra give 5 examples of playground rhymes ...
5: THE AGORA MARKET

WOF/006

Following on from last week’s film about the original design of the Agora, this film captures the Agora’s indoor market in 1997. It was made by trainees on the Living Archive’s media skills course, led by Louise Roche. The Agora Market is part of the Wolverton on Film 8 DVD, which can be purchased from our ...
60: WOLVERTON MUSIC HALL 1985

WOF/062

From the Syd and Jean Pearson Archive comes this extract from a film of a Music Hall evening in 1985, organised by the Wolverton Gilbert & Sullivan Society and held in the Scout Hall. It’s the final number, with the whole company singing Down at the Old Bull & Bush.
61: THE LITTLE STREETS AND THE GABLES

WOF/063

With the news that the Gables is about to be demolished, it’s a good time to see a film of it being built! This super8 film, shot by Reg Tite, shows the demolition of the Little Streets and the construction of the houses in St Georges Way and the Gables. It ends with the panoramic views ...
62: OLD SCHOOL HOUSE – GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY

WOF/064

The renovation and development of the Old School House in Old Wolverton has been a wonderful example of a community initiative. The film captures the groundbreaking ceremony, before all the renovation started in March 2018.
63: A TRIBUTE TO SYD PEARSON

WOF/065

Syd Pearson and his wife Jean were very well-known figures in the Wolverton community. They were heavily involved in the Wolverton carnivals and Syd was a leading figure in local drama and musicals. This film was created as a tribute to him after his death.
64: WOLVERTON BID FOR FUNDING

WOF/066

In 2011 Mary Portas carried out a review for the government about the issues affecting the retail sector in the UK, and particularly high streets. There was then a grant fund of £1.2 million made available for 12 pilot areas where shopping areas could help to rejuvenate. There were 371 bids for the money. This ...
65: WOLVERTON’S A PLACE

WOF/067

This is the last weekly Wolverton on Film for a while. This 65th film in the series gives an overview of the history of Wolverton, from its foundation in 1838, to the present day.
66: THE WIZARD OF WOLVERTON REMEMBERED

WOF/068

Much loved Wolverton character Les Jeffrey, who taught countless people to juggle and died of cancer in 2021, has been remembered in a new artwork on the west wall of Wolverton’s community centre, The Old Bath House on Stratford Road.
67: GREENLEYS FIRST SCHOOL AT WOLVERTON LANTERN FESTIVAL 2024

WOF/069

Greenleys First School children regularly contribute to Wolverton Lantern Festival. Here is a film about their work for the 2024 Festival (postponed until January 2025 because of bad weather)
6: TOPPING OUT WOLVERTON STATION

WOF/007

In 1991 Network Rail announced that they were refurbishing Wolverton station, that had stood on the bridge on the Stratford Road for more than 100 years. Unfortunately, while residents thought ‘refurbishing’ meant that the station was going to be updated, in fact it was demolished. Network Rail’s plans for a replacement were rejected by the ...
7: THE WORKS

WOF/008

Back in 1986 when British Rail Engineering made the decision to shrink the Railway Works to a third of its size, Living Archive employed photographer Dave Runnacles to photograph the Works and its employees before the changes were made. At the same time Roger Kitchen did 20 audio interviews. Dave’s exhibition was held in the ...
8: SCOUTING FOR WOLVERTON BOYS

WOF/009

Scouting has been an important part of life for boys in Wolverton. On 23rd February 1908, just 6 months after Baden Powell held an inaugural camp for boys on Brownsea Island, the Wolverton Scout Troop was formed. Two former members of the troop, Leo Coleman and Syd Pearson, share their memories of their scouting days ...
9: THE DEMOLITION OF THE WOLVERTON WORKS CHIMNEY

WOF/010

Back in 1994 the Wolverton skyline lost one of its most distinctive landmarks, the Wolverton Works chimney. This film brings together historic footage that was shot at the time, a poem that was inspired by the event and a song that was inspired by the poem. Demolishing the Works Chimney is part of the Wolverton on ...
Ansar Hussain

MNC/043

Ansar Hussian was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire in 1970 and moved to Milton Keynes with his parents in 1985. He started as a student at boarding school in New Bradwell to acquire a more detailed knowledge in the Islamic sciences. He has fond memories of this time, playing football and cricket in the local ...
Hawtin's Tales 6: Polly Parrot

HAW/006

Hawtin Mundy was a remarkable storyteller. Born in 1896, his memories inspired two books and a documentary play. Brad Bradstock devised a one-man show using Hawtin’s words that got a rave review at the Edinburgh Festival. Here he tells Hawtin’s memories of Scottie Edwards’ parrot.
Hawtin's Tales: To Be A Soldier - From Training Into Battle

HAW/010

Hawtin Mundy was a remarkable storyteller. Born in 1896, his memories inspired two books and a documentary play. Brad Bradstock devised a one-man show using Hawtin’s words that got a rave review at the Edinburgh Festival. Here he tells Hawtin’s memories of finishing his training as a solider in the First World War and going ...
Hawtin's Tales: To Be A Soldier - Joining Up & Training

HAW/009

Hawtin Mundy was a remarkable storyteller. Born in 1896, his memories inspired two books and a documentary play. Brad Bradstock devised a one-man show using Hawtin’s words that got a rave review at the Edinburgh Festival. Here he tells Hawtin’s memories of enlisting as a solider in the First World War.
Interview about Wolverton, the Co-operative Society and the Wolverton Works.

ALC/001/001

TB recalls the early history and management structure of the Wolverton Co-operative Society, its first shop in Church Street, the society’s later expansion, its committees and its amalgamation due to the building of Milton Keynes. He refers to the ideology behind the formation of the co-operative society and its inner workings. The minutes of the ...
MPs or TUC - An Old Tale (14 May 1976)

TRM/168

“Law and order is on trial and is being assailed by the forces of disorder. The country has got to decide whether it will be governed in future by the House of Commons, that is, by chosen representatives, or whether it prefers to hand over that government to the TUC.” Does that sound familiar? Actually it ...
Oral history audio recording of Jack Rowledge (b.1905).

ALC/003

Interview covering working conditions and management at McCorquodales print works from 1918. Family life, outings and events in Wolverton.