The effect of Coronavirus on Bristol
Posted on by Fay Curtis.
by Amber Druce – Curator of History
Are you keeping a journal? One day, insights into this time during the Coronavirus pandemic will be really useful to historians so we’d love to hear from you if you can help.
Our top tip for writing a journal is to assume that no-one else will read it! This helps preserve
authenticity and provide more accurate accounts (don’t worry, we won’t tell your boss how much
Netflix you’re watching!).
Information might include your daily routine, observations about life around you, your health, coping tools, pictures, feelings, and wildlife observations (you can also record this with BRERC). You can be any age to do this.
We’ll also be collecting things that were important to you – letters from neighbours, window rainbows, homework plans, gloves, photos, your stash of toilet rolls (but not yet of course)! What else would you suggest? The more it relates to Bristol, the better.
Photos might include your home-working setup, your daily walk, deserted (or not) streets…. We’re nosey, we want to see it all! If you’d like to help or ask any questions, please contact us.
We’ll ask for a photo if one is available, and the more background information you can provide, the better.
Once we’ve reviewed all our offers, we’ll decide what we can collect – both digitally and actual objects. Then comes a bit of paperwork and the sorting out of copyrights.
To find out more about how our History Team collects objects read our blog.
4 comments on “The effect of Coronavirus on Bristol”
I’ve set up a WhatsApp group for friends, family and friends of friends etc called A-Photo-A-Day-On-Lockdown where we share little moments we’ve had each day to bring joy and community to each other. It’s working very well so far. I think it’s helping us all feel connected.
I think this is great, I came here hoping to find this sort of thing, now I don’t have to create my own website for this! But I wonder, should there be a website devoted to collecting this info that can be promoted to the people of Bristol? It’s so important to document and collect people’s experiences and it would be great if anyone, whoever they are could (anonymously if they choose), record their stories of this time for posterity.
I also love your idea China, it’s nice that people are sharing these stories together.
Heather Anne says: I do a walk on either Brandon Hill or around the harbour everyday early in the morning. I am writing short poems inspired by the walks and by lockdown. When I get to a computer I will type them up and hopefully print them in a zine or similar booklet when I am back at work with access to a printer.
Hi- I was temping before the virus, so am in a period of forced unemployment. Luckily, I’ve re-started work on my art, The Art of Kindness.
Spreading messages of kindness and hope around Bristol has really helped me feel like I’m using my time usefully, and I’ve had lots of really lovely feedback.
I live alone, so doing my art has given me some social contact and a focus to my day. It’s a win-win thing, I keep busy and I (try to) brighten people’s days and remind them (and myself) that ‘This Too Shall Pass’ x