Mastermind 2004 winner Shaun Wallace.

African heritage show during Olympics preserves Newham peoples past

Melissa York, Reporter Friday, June 15, 2012
6:00 AM

A new history exhibition opened on Friday to preserve the heritage of Caribbean, Nigerian, and Jamaican people in Newham.

People who lived and worked east London in the early 1950s were invited to share their memories for the free PAST Project Exhibition at Leyton Library.

Created by the African Heritage Educational Centre (AHEC), it also includes interviews with Olympic athlete Christine Ohurougu, Diane Abbott MP, and Lord Paul Boateng.

Opened by Mastermind winner Shawun Wallace, attendees to the event will be met by volunteer guides, and workbooks are available for school tours.

Shaun, a practising barrister, said: “This is a marvellous idea and I applaud the idea to share this with future generations.

“We should all celebrate our heritage.”

Christine Borsah, director of the charity, said: “This was a very important time in the history of east London.

“Memories have been documented and turned into an interactive exhibition which will run alongside the London 2012 Olympic Games.

“Our aim is to hold a London-wide touring exhibition of the PAST project so everyone can enjoy and learn from the experience.”

PAST Project opens for free at Leyton Library, open weekdays from 9am to 7pm, Saturdays 9am to 6pm, and Sundays 12pm to 4pm from Friday May 25 until after the Olympic Games.

For more information, contact AHEC on 020 85586811, email info@ahec.org,uk, or visit www.ahec.org.uk.