Heritage Forum at the University of Brighton in Hastings
In Partnership with Hastings Museum & Art Gallery and Women’s Voice
Lecture Theatre, University of Brighton in Hastings, Priory Square
Featuring Stephen Bourne, social historian and author of Black Poppies: Britain's Black Community and the Great War (2014) and the ‘Out of the Doll’s House’ Project at The Hastings Museum
This year’s Hastings Heritage Forum uncovers some of the hidden histories and untold stories lying behind the traditional narrative usually associated with the Great War.
The University of Brighton in Hastings warmly welcomes renowned social historian, Stephen Bourne, who will talk about his most recent and award-winning book, Black Poppies: Britain’s Black Community and the Great War (The History Press, 2014). Described by The Independent as ‘a powerful, revelatory counterbalance to the whitewashing of British history’ (11 September 2014), Bourne’s work enriches our historical understanding of this neglected aspect of the First World War.
The forum also welcomes author and historian, Ann Kramer, whose recently published book on conscientious objectors during the Great War, Conscientious Objectors of the First World War: A Determined Resistance (Pen and Sword, 2014) has done much to reveal the ‘determined resistance’ of individuals who refused to engage in armed combat. Kramer’s work tells many stories about a different sort of bravery, which has often been overlooked in the standard historical account. Kramer has worked as an history consultant for the BBC.
The forum will provide an opportunity to find out more about a Heritage Lottery project currently being run by Hastings Museum. Hastings Remembers: Local Stories of the First World War is an ambitious programme of community engagement, public activities and exhibitions revolving around local historical sources and life writings related to the Great War.
Dr Nicola Smith and Dr Julian Freeman’s papers will discuss two under-researched aspects of historical scholarship on the Great War; Smith’s paper deals with the experience of women who joined the remount service, which challenged accepted norms of behaviour for middle class female horse-riders. Freeman’s paper focuses on the vital contribution made by artists to the war effort, particularly in terms of eye-witness visual accounts, reportage and national morale.
The forum will close with a presentation by participants of Out of the Doll’s House. A joint Museum and Women’s Voice community history project, it explores women’s experiences during the Great War. The presentation will be hosted by and held at the Hastings Museum at 3.30pm.
Speakers and papers include:
- Stephen Bourne, ‘Black Poppies: Britain’s Black Community and the Great War’
- Ann Kramer, ‘Uncovering a Determined Resistance: The Stories of Conscientious Objectors during WW1’
- Dr Nicola Smith, University of Brighton, ‘Women and the Remount Service During WW1’
- Dr Julian Freeman, Sussex Coast College, ‘1916 and the War Artists’ Scheme’
- Catherine Harvey, Education Officer, Hastings Museum, ‘Hastings Remembers: Local Stories of the First World War’
- Hastings Women’s Voice, ‘Out of the Doll’s House: What were Women Doing During the First World War?’
Refreshments are provided throughout, with lunch at 12.30. The forum is free of charge, but you should register in advance at: A.Callaghan2@brighton.ac.uk. A full programme will be provided once registered. The academic contact is Dr Deborah Madden at: D.Madden2@brighton.ac.uk.
This forum has been funded by the Hastings Exchange and is part of the University’s Black History Month.
