The 47th edition of the Thelma Tapes continues with our series on working lives in Edinburgh's past, our contribution to the city wide Edinburgh 900 heritage project (see episode 46).

In this second episode we hear from Charlie Holligan and Andrew Bell, two members of Leith's Pilmeny Development Project which supports, and runs activities for, folk in their senior years.

First Charlie tells us about his 44 years' service with Edinburgh Corporation Transport (now Lothian Buses) and then we hear from Andy about his long employment as a stonemason. Both men begin their oral histories with the first ever jobs they had as youngsters.

The Living Memory Association expresses its thanks to the City of Edinburgh Council's  #Edinburgh900 fund for supporting this podcast series.

Thnaks to Nancy Sinclair for use of their Dynamic Indie Spark tune found on freesound.org

In this 46th edition of the Thelma Tapes, we begin a new series 'Our Working City' as part of the Edinburgh 900 anniversary celebrating 900 years of the city.

To complement the topic of 'City of Industry' one of the Edinburgh 900 themes, we'll hear from folk about their working lives, work practices and attitudes around work and the workplace through the decades.

In the first episode Kenneth G Williamson recollects his upbringing in Granton and how his schooling lead to a 45 year career as a book keeper and Scots Law Accountant at a prestigious Edinburgh legal firm.

The Living Memory Association expresses its thanks to The City of Edinburgh Council's #Edinburgh900 Fund for supporting this podcast series.

Thanks to Nancy Sinclair for use of their Dynamic Indie Spark tune found on freesound.org

Sikh Stories is a podcast series produced in collaboration with Sikh Sanjog, The Living Memory Association and funded by Awards for All Scotland. The project idea came from members of the Sikh Community after images of a Leith Sikh family were displayed at The Wee Museum of Memory. These podcasts highlight the commonality amongst cultures and people that cut across divides. Celebrating their individual experiences, from a love of house music, sharing food and drink with new found friends and embarking on a discovery of spiritual awakening. As a minority group within the wider minority communities, the Sikh community has a relatively low profile, yet has been a part of the fabric of Leith and Edinburgh since the 1940’s. We will celebrate the Sikh community of Leith and Edinburgh increasing the understanding of the wider public of the Sikh community’s experiences and contribution.

Episode 45 of the Thelma Tapes was recorded in our Wee Museum studio by our friend Raj Singh and is a celebration of our partnership with Sikh Sanjog. Celebrity Chef Tony Singh, reminisces about the powerful impact Hip Hop music had on his early life and how this genre of music subsequently propelled him to exploring and delving deeper into race, history and class. The full series can be found on Spotify at: https://sites.libsyn.com/539422/site

The 44th edition of the THELMA tapes, The Liming Memory Association Podcast, is a dive into memories of the 1930s through the 70s. They have been gathered from our collection of old interviews and features a miscellaneous assortment of stories that don't quite fit into our regular episodes. This episode goes from tales of a father's steam powered lorry, to working in sales in the 50's, to tenement life during the war, to working on a Portuguese cruise ship, touring Paris with boys in kilts, to a first visit to the library all the way down to having class with a bad teacher.

In the 49th edition of Lifestory, at the age of 86, Melvin takes us through the ups and downs of his life. Starting with his childhood playing on the train tracks in his back yard, to his time studying Engineering at Heriot-Watt University. Later his time in the national service, and eventually his life studying and then subsequently practicing law, first with his father's law firm and later with British gas. Mel also tells the story of how he met his wife at the sailing club and about his life since retirement.

This episode of the Thelma Tapes was recorded in our Wee Museum studio by our friends Tynah & Jonathan and is a celebration of our partnership with Enkula Health.   Kamel's story is fascinating, from a childhood in #Libya in a culture of loyalty trust and alternate, this episode is a breath of different in the truest sense. Tradition, Education, and Perspective from a different view point.  The full series can be found on Spotify, check them out soon at https://open.spotify.com/show/7L9X39YLYWkqM7TqQyWiAi?si=2af53bc6270d46d1

Thriving Beyond Borders is a limited series podcast and book produced by Enkula Wellness Hub in association with The Living Memory Association as part of a Heritage Lottery-funded project that explores the compelling stories of migrants of African descent who have moved to the UK and Scotland Home. The project explores the financial experiences of people who've made Scotland their home in engaging conversation cafes that have brought together a remarkably diverse range of intergenerational participants aged up to 85.

Packed with incredible nuggets and stories, these podcasts are a piece of heritage that will mark an important historical touchpoint for future generations. Tune in for a delightful financial exploration and community engagement series. Special thanks to Freesound creator RTB45 for the use of 'Africa Pavilion Drum Jam'.

In the 42nd episode of the Thelma Tapes we dare to investigate what collections, themes and objects will form the stuff of future museums and the sort of stories future generations might learn about humanity.

Working with our Wee Museum of Memory in Livingston and exploring the 'Marseum' resource, commissioned by Museums Galleries Scotland, in their digital skills development classes, pupils from West Calder High School in West Lothian researched and curated content for their own museum displays culminating in an installation at our Livingston museum space.

In this podcast, a selected group of pupils talk about their choice of subjects and what impact they think these will have on a museum visitor of the future....

Thanks to stk13 for use of their prometheus.wav track found on freesound.org

The Living Memory Association thanks the pupils of WCHS and teacher Mr Casey for their hard work and input. Many thanks to Emma Peattie from West Lothian Museums & Archives and to Heather Robertson and Russell Clegg from The Living Memory Association, who co-ordinated the project. Thanks also to Museums Galleries Scotland for their support and encouragement.

The 41st episode of the Thelma Tapes continues our 'Away for the Messages' shopping and retail heritage project.

This episode features oral histories from Ian Suggitt and Tom Hislop both of whom worked for Edinburgh's Co-operative Stores in the 1950s/60s and the 1970s/80s respectively.

Ian tells us about his time with the St Cuthbert's Association Store and Tom recalls his work history with the Leith Provident Store and St Cuthbert's, following the merger of the two.

Thanks to BigCat_Smauls for the use of his 'Without a Care' Upbeat Loop found on Freesound.org

The photograph of 1950s Leith Provident staff which illustrates this podcast was kindly donated to us by Ruth Nolan.

Thelma acknowledges and appreciates the generous funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, Scotland towards this project, thanks to players of the National Lottery.

The 40th episode of the Thelma Tapes is from our 'Away for the Messages' shopping and retail reminiscence project.

This is the second part of a feature on the shops in the Niddrie and Craigmillar area of Edinburgh and focusses on 'Cunninghams' a ladieswear and haberdashery shop which first opened in 1954. In the episode we hear from proprietor Alan Cameron about his memories of this family business and his reflections of working alongside the folk of Craigmillar.

Thanks to Bigcat_Smauls for the use of his 'Without a Care' Upbeat Loop found on Freesound.org

We are hugely grateful to the National Lottery Heritage Fund Scotland for their generous funding of this project thanks to players of the National Lottery

The 39th Episode of The THELMA Tapes takes us back in time to a selection of weird and wonderful holidays taken from the 1940s to the 1990s, gathered from visitors to our Wee Museum in Ocean Terminal Edinburgh.  Thanks to everyone who shared their earliest vacation stories with us, we hope you enjoy joining us on a trip down memory lane to Scarborough, Ayr, Liverpool, France, Budle Bay, Cramond, Uganda and many more, not all of them cheery tales!