Filming sessions for a project exploring the history of the Royal School for Deaf Children in Margate will take place next month.
The Margate Deaf Voices project, which was awarded £24,300 from Historic England, is being joined by disabled-led arts and heritage production company 104 Projects to create oral histories and a documentary film.
The school was England’s first public institution for Deaf children. It was founded in 1792 in London and later moved to Margate. It was shut down suddenly in December 2015 after The John Townsend Trust, which ran it, went into administration.
Participants from 3D Care, a deaf led support service that supports the Deaf, Deaf blind and disabled community in Kent, South London and East Sussex, will investigate the history of the school and take part in interviews for former students who now live locally.
The group will be guided by 104 Projects and 3D Care experts to learn research, oral history and filmmaking skills to celebrate voices from the Deaf community before the physical presence of the school disappears for good.
There are four Deaf Together groups with 3D Care at Gravesend, Ashford, Medway and Margate. Members meet twice a month from 11am to 2pm, providing a space for social interaction, workshops, and events.
3D Care would like more members of the deaf community to come and socialise, connect with others, and participate in activities.
As part of the Historic England scheme, 3D Care is hosting two filming sessions at the Deaf Together Margate group, meeting at Westgate Community Centre, Lymington Road, on:
- 10th March from 11am to 2pm
- 24th March from 11am to 2pm
3D Care director Andrew Belcher said: “These sessions will provide a platform for individuals to share their stories, learn about filmmaking, and contribute to the research process.
“Travel expenses will be paid for ex-pupils who participate. BSL interpreters will be available at both sessions to facilitate communication.
“We believe this project is a vital opportunity to preserve the history of the Royal School for Deaf Children, highlight the experiences of the deaf community in Margate, and promote the valuable work of Deaf Together.”
One of the people taking part is Wilfred Jenkins, who lives in Westgate.
He attended the school between 2003-2015.
The 28-year-old is deaf and autistic. He has become a bit of a Thanet celebrity through his attendance at isle events, charity fundraising, volunteering and social media posts which include regular sign language videos.
He said: “I started (at the school) when I was seven years old until it closed when I was 19.
“I am looking forward about explaining history and explaining my times what it like there and how they helped me and the specialist people help me with my condition issues and learning too.”
Wilfred was living at St Christopher’s in Westgate before moving into his own flat some six years ago and living independently.
He is still in touch with many friends and his former teacher Viv Osbourn (pictured) who taught him from Year 7 to Year 9.
He said: “She is my dear friend and teacher and is very lovely and kind and we stay in contact with each other.”
The project team plan to premiere the film at the Margate Film Festival in November and deposit the oral histories in Kent Archives.
For more information about the film project or Deaf Together, go to:
https://www.facebook.com/share/19uC5aDKiz/?mibextid=wwXIfr
https://www.instagram.com/3d_care?igsh=cW54emVkbm9jbnlj&utm_source=qr
https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Va9Tkva7oQhfdESYFp0p
Shame about all the abuse that went on there
It’s a huge shame the buildings have been torn down and demolished. The original building was magnificent. There is so much greed and land-banking these days that these lovely buildings get destroyed for the land they stand on to become housing developments. It’s tragic there is nothing left of the long established Royal School for Deaf Children. Many royal patrons came to visit over the years.
I hope they can make this film using archives to show viewers what they had there.