Doncaster's new museum could house nostalgic black history exhibition looking back at 60s and 70s

But a display which was set up in Doncaster town centre during Black History Month could now be picked up by Doncaster’s new town centre museum when it finally opens its doors after delays due to the pandemic.

The exhibition dedicated to life in the 70s and 80s, was on display in one of the shop units at the Frenchgate Centre throughout October and earlier this month.

But organisers say that attendance of the exhibition, called The Way We Were, was affected by Doncaster having Covid-related restrictions put in place throughout most of the month.

It looks at the experiences of the ‘Second Generation’ – the children of the Windrush Generation – offering a first-hand view of what life was like growing up in Doncaster for Afro-Caribbean people during the 1970’s and 80’s.

The showcase has been produced by Second Generation Community group members Alex Watson, Joanne Brown and Marcia Watson, and will feature artefacts from the 70’s and 80’s as well as a recreation of a typical ‘front room’ of the time.

Mr Watson said the exhibition had been created to be movable, and had been praised by those who had visited it.

"It’s gone down well considering the situation people are in with Covid.

"But it has meant that there was a reduced number of people passing the shop.

"We’re still working with the museum, and we’re hoping to have some of this in the museum next year. The Frenchgate have also said they would be happy for it to return, and we’d like to expand things in terms of the material we have.”

Alex said one of the difficulties in getting the exhibition set up had been finding retro furniture items for their recreated 70s and 80s front room.

Finding a pineapple shaped ice bucket for the drinks trolley had been tricky, leaving them scouring internet sites.

Other items that were hard to find included a tall, old fashioned, standard lamp, eventually picking one up in a second hand shop; and an old fashioned ‘radiogram’. They managed to track one down through a house clearance near Grimethorpe.

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