‘Hidden Stories’: Warwickshire Libraries and Schools Celebrate GRT History Month 2024

In partnership with Arts Council England, Warwickshire County Council and Warwickshire Libraries, Traveller’s Times regular features columnist, Gemma Lees, helped Warwickshire school children to celebrate Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month in style

The county of Warwickshire, which is home to many Traveller sites and settled Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people, has been celebrating Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month (GRTHM) for the past four years, under the leadership of their GRT Engagement Group, of which Romany Gypsy liaison Abiline McShane and her daughter Leyla-Grace and Martin Rone-Clarke, a Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Advisor for Warwickshire Police, are key members.

The group was established with the purpose of improving engagement and support for GRT communities in Warwickshire. It is made up by representatives from Traveller Education, Police, Fire Service, partner agencies, charities, schools and other support groups in addition to representatives from the GRT community.

This year, with funding and involvement from Arts Council England, Warwickshire County Council and Warwickshire Libraries, Romany Gypsy artist and writer Gemma Lees was brought onboard as Lead Artist for the ‘Hidden Stories’ project. She worked closely with Wolvey CofE Primary School, which proudly educates 25% of all Gypsy, Roma and Traveller children in Warwickshire, and particularly their Year 5s.

“I loved working with the mixed class of Traveller and non-Traveller children as I was able to both act as a role model to the Traveller children and design a programme of workshops which reflected their cultures back to them in a positive light,” says Gemma, who worked with the children for two months, leading them in six creative workshops in which they made paper story dolls based off the Black Patch Gypsies’ Victorian clothing, paper bow wagons with traditional vardo designs, woven baskets, leather coin purses and proggy (or rag) rugs.

“It was also educational for the non-Traveller children, answering the questions they’d not wanted to ask before and teaching them new words and crafts to create a greater understanding in the classroom,” adds Gemma.

“The children were amazing, so receptive, so enthusiastic, so intelligent and so creative, I feel very honoured to have worked with them.”

Gemma also involved her father; Romany Gypsy children’s author and storyteller Richard O’Neill, and for the final workshop with the children, they made poems and cardboard ‘Paperlonius’ ponies based off his book, ‘Polonius The Pit Pony’. The final session was a trip to Nuneaton Library, facilitated by Gemma, in which the children were able to discover all of the free library services, activities and upcoming events and several parents also came down to the library and signed up for library cards.

Matthew Parker, Head of Wolvey School, had this to say of the project, “This year we have been privileged to have been able to work with Gemma. The children have responded so well. They have enjoyed participating in art, poetry and hearing stories from the GRT community. Gemma has always been enthusiastic and shown a real kind and caring manner when working with our children. Gemma has instilled our school values in being friendly and kind.”

The month’s events culminated in a four day, five libraries tour between 11th – 14th June, visiting Nuneaton, Rugby, Atherstone, Bedworth and Stratford and the final celebration event at Warwickshire Police Headquarters in Leek Wootton on the 20th June.

For the libraries roadshow, Gemma facilitated: An exhibition of the artwork and posters made by the Wolvey pupils, her new upcycled bottle cap art of the Romani flag, tactile exhibits of the traditional crafts of spoons, pegs, proggy rugs, puppets and baskets, all created by her and Richard, communal proggy rug making and basket weaving, colouring in sheets and story doll making, a snug story tent retreat with a range of Richard’s storybooks and videos of him narrating his stories on iPads with headphones, an ‘ask me anything’ question box, a reading of her new poem written for the event ‘Romany’, a video of the children reading their Polonius poems set to a slideshow of them working on their projects and a sing-along to the song, ‘Don’t Be Racist’, from her musical, ‘Mind Your Business!’ In addition to this, there was rock painting with Abiline and Leyla-Grace and several other displays of work done by schools from across Warwickshire, reflecting the theme of this year’s GRT History Month, 'What does family mean to you?’.

The roadshow was very well attended, engaging over 250 people, including five local primary classes, and overwhelmingly positive feedback from participants, such as: ‘Such a good time I am speechless with how good it was thank you’, ‘Inspiring exhibition giving vivid insights into GRT culture and lifestyle’ and ‘A creative workshop allowing pupils to learn through creativity and fun, can I come again?’

Bal Jacob, Director of Workforce and Local Services, said of the libraries tour: “These community roadshow events, led by Gemma Lees, provide a wonderful opportunity for residents to learn about and celebrate the rich heritage of the Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities in Warwickshire.  We are proud to support this inclusive initiative and encourage everyone to come along. These free events are a safe and welcoming opportunity to better understand and appreciate the diverse cultures that enrich our county.”

The final event, held in the beautiful gardens surrounding Warwickshire’s Police Head Quarters building, had all of the elements of the libraries tour, plus the completed co-created proggy rug and basket, a bender tent in front of a chitty and (unlit) yog, police and fire vehicles for the children to play in and with the sirens, a VR kit demonstrated by Police Cadets, catering provided by English Travellers, mother and daughter Abi and Dolce-Mae Smith and storytelling from Richard O’Neill.

“Today gives us the chance to join this celebration,” said Martin Rone-Clarke, Gypsy and Traveller Liaison Advisor for Warwickshire Police.

“The illustrations and audiovisual captured will continue to assist in educating communities and professionals in the reality of the GRT community, dispelling myths with facts and striving to enhance community cohesion within Warwickshire,” added Martin.

Philip Seccombe, Warwickshire’s Police and Crime Commissioner, commented: “It was a brilliant day, and a great chance to contribute towards helping spread the word and educate others about GRT History and culture.”

Gemma has also created a beginner’s guide resource for anyone working with Gypsy, Roma and Traveller people, with information about their histories in Warwickshire from local archives which can be accessed by anyone here: https://bit.ly/GRTHistory 

By Gemma Lees for the Traveller’s Times

(Lead photograph: Wolvey year five pupils show off their painted rocks, facilitated by Abeline and Leyla-Grace McShane. Photograph by Gemma Lees)