Lytham pupils turn back time for a special lesson

Year 5 pupils at Lytham Hall Park Primary School took part in an intergenerational café as part of Jukebox: The Teenage Revolution project, a celebration of British music and teenage culture in the Fifties and Sixties.

Dance artist Coz Tams worked on some jive moves with the children in the morning and in the afternoon there was a discussion about jukeboxes, the music of the Fifties and Sixties and the changes in how music was listened to back then compared to now. Grandparents were welcomed to the session to share their experiences of the era.

“The children gained so much from the day, truly learning about local history from those who experienced it first hand,” said headteacher, Mrs Sharon Bowker whose own parents attended the session.

“It was so interesting to talk to people who lived in the Fifties or Sixties about how they listened to music and how things have changed.”

Run by Lancashire-based arts and heritage charity, Mirador, and Lancaster University Library, Jukebox: The Teenage Revolution is a series of exciting events taking place on Lancashire’s seaside coast, supported with a £50,904 grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund, thanks to National Lottery players.

Lytham St Annes and Blackpool were the birthplace of the distinctive British jukebox produced by the Ditchburn Equipment company. St Annes is also home to the Ditchburn Jukebox Museum.

Mirador’s engagement officer, Steve Fairclough said: “This intergenerational collaboration was wonderful to be part of. The highlight of the day for me was seeing how interested the children were about history, and, of course, everyone dancing together at the end to Rock Around The Clock! "

Anyone with memories of being a teenager in the Fifties and Sixties or photographs from that era, please contact Mirador at: http://miradorarts.co.uk/get-in-touch