Chronicle Spring 2022

15 ST EDWARD’S CHRONICLE

Doreen and Herbert Zayne on their arrival at Tilbury on board HMT Empire Windrush with their children, 1948. As part of her research, Dr Smith managed to track down Doreen and Herbert’s relatives and it was an absolute delight to welcome to the Private View Dawn Chamberlain, younger sibling to the pictured children, and her niece, Wendy Zayne, daughter of David Zayne, the toddler pictured above – and many other members of the extended family.

What have been some of the highlights during your writing residency with TopFoto? At the outset of my writing residency, I could not have envisaged that my research would unite a family with an exhibition photograph of loved ones (and, in the case of two of the family members, with an image of their childhood selves) – I will forever be grateful that my research as part of this residency has made this so (see above). Working with Flora Smith to realise and manifest a series of thoughts and concepts expressed across a three-year-long creative conversation was a highlight. Collaborating with Christella Litras was another project highlight. We have known and respected each other’s work for about 20 years. We have friends, collaborators and

I selected the 34 images for the exhibition, because they are images to which I was drawn emotionally, historically, critically and creatively. For example, there are images from the Sunset Club, a 1950s Soho nightclub, with a diverse clientele, where jazz could be heard. My passion – and doctoral research – concerns jazz and civil rights. Ken Russell’s image of the young boy cricketer is luminous; every time I look at it, I have a profound sense of wanting to find a language for the gestures and light in that image (see page 16). With the image of Herbert and Doreen Zayne, I felt a kindred connection; this is an image of a mixed-heritage family – taken over 25 years before I was born into my own mixed-heritage family. I felt each exhibition image held a story that I wanted to know – and that I wanted to share with others.

mentors in common, but this was the first time we’ve had the chance to collaborate on a creative project.

‘The Inspiring People talk was excellent. Rommi is hugely talented and pupils were impressed by her ability to convey such an important challenge to the prevailing narrative of ‘Britishness’.’ HUW THOMAS, HEAD OF HISTORY