Willesden and Kilburn history – on the Right Track!

Last month, I visited Kilburn Library to help set up a display of some work carried out by students Santino Vassell, Aisha Nicco-Smith, Kushal Sheth, Andrea Fernandes and Sanjay Patel from The Right Track Project and The Ability Group – which work with young people with Learning difficulties and disabilities in Brent. The project was managed by Heather Rhule, who works with these groups and as a Connexions Advisor in two local schools, and supported by Nayara Miranda Santos a work experience student. The project helped the participants share their thoughts on Kilburn and Willesden local history, through written and visual responses after visiting local landmarks and using photographs from Brent Archives. Students made a comparison of the past and present by taking their own photographs and producing art work inspired by selected local landmarks, including Kilburn and Willesden Libraries, Kilburn Park, Queens Park, and Willesden Green and Willesden Junction stations. I also took some of the Museum handling collection to Kilburn Library with me so that the students could look at some of the items, and discuss how everyday objects have changed from past to present. The display will be up until this Saturday (28^th February) – so make sure you have a look for the student’s work when you are next at Kilburn Library! Here is what Santino, Sanjay and Nayara had to say about the project:

“I learnt that Willesden has not changed that much.  Cars are modern and comes in different shapes and sizes.

The milk bottles have they were made out of clay instead of plastics and glass.

I learnt from the lady from the brent museum about the history of  how  have changed over the past 100 years.”

By Santino Vassell

“I felt great helping put the exhibition together with the help of my other group members. Also the time and experience it took to complete the exhibition. It was a new experience for me working as a group with people I have never met before. But the whole point was for me to communicate with new people and act as a leader to get the job done. The picture gives me an insight towards the history which feels great. I felt surprised that my picture was there on the flyer, and I didn’t know it would come up on the flyer. We looked at the different areas and identified landmarks. For Kilburn I can identify Queens Park station and it shows how it has changed over time. For Willesden I can identify Willesden high road and how things have changed. At Queens Park station I saw the station and the buildings surrounding the station opposite it is Kilburn library.

Looking at the photos, I see that the clothes people wear are different the clothes now is more modern also the buildings have changed as they are much larger. The vehicles before are much different to what people drive in now car models have changed.

The houses from before still exist today also the cars are different from before to what they are now. The roads haven’t changed from before they are similar now but different bus and road routes.

I would visit the Brent Museum when it opens in the summer if I have spare time and I like using computers.”

By Sanjay Patel

“I worked on this project for around 2 months and assisted the Connexions Advisor (Heather Rhule) with the supervision of pupils, showing them how to work in a team and also individually. We began working on the project from the Roundwood Youth Centre and visited Kilburn Library and the Queens Park area to take photographs of our journey. We worked together to build a frame to put on the wall in the Library and mount the photographs of our work. I helped them also with writing their journals in their note books. I participated in a group meeting with a representative from the Brent Museum and Archives team (Josephine Warren). She explained about the history of the area with the photographs. I didn’t think Willesden and Queens Park had changed a lot. Some of the difference is in that today we have more traffic, Willesden library is now getting bigger than before. I like all the pictures but my favourite is where the lady is sitting in Queens Park. Because for me it still looks the same as before and it is good to sit and have a break in there. Reading something or having fun with friends and enjoying the wonderful view that the park gives to us.

I learnt that the new Brent Museum and Archives building will be in The Library at Willesden Green. They will show us the history of our borough of Brent and host events.

I enjoyed all the project so far but the most that I enjoyed is Kilburn Library. We did a lot of tasks and met with Jo who works for the Brent Museum and Archives team. Heather, me and the pupils has built a frame to put on the wall of Kilburn Library. I actually found it fantastic. We labelled and displayed the photographs and pictures on show and also making a comparison of Willesden and Kilburn area then and now today.”

By Nayara Miranda Santos (Work Experience Student)

Josephine Warren

Heritage Officer – Brent Museum and Archives