How to cook a hedgehog
Windsor Housing has worked with young members of East Berkshire’s Gypsy Romany Traveller (GRT) community to give a rare insight into their culture and way of life in an intergenerational interview in which a young member of the Traveller community interviews her father to discover more about her heritage. The interview, which contains fascinating information such as how to cook a hedgehog and why the GRT would burn a caravan full of belongings is available to listen to here: http://www.windsorhousing.org.uk/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=153&Itemid=111
In the interview, the father explains how he completed his schooling without ever learning to read or write, the GRT’s unerring respect for their upbringing and why a dog is not a pet. Other anecdotes include:
• How his father, John, got the nickname ‘Jack’; “He was so strong they reckon he could pick up the back of a wagon so they could change the wheel when it broke.”
• Dispelling the myths surrounding how a hedgehog tastes; “There are two different flavours of an hedgehog, all depends on what he’s been eating. One tastes like pork, one tastes like beef.”
• Exposing first hand experiences of prejudices that are still held against the GRT community; “As I’m the supervisor they give me the keys to the site. Not knowing I’m a Gypsy they’re telling me to lock up the gates or the travellers will be in to rob you.”
The broadcast was produced by young people who learnt to conduct and record radio interviews in a youth GRT project managed and lead by Windsor Housing’s Community Development Team.
Windsor Housing, part of Radian, manage a GRT site in Datchet, East Berkshire which currently accommodates over 16 families and also house a significant number of settled GRT in ‘bricks and mortar’ homes. Extracts from the audio footage generated by the young people, including Windsor Housing residents, has already featured in an exhibition about GRT culture and youth identity at the Fire Station Arts Centre, Windsor.
“We hope it will encourage greater community cohesion by breaking down barriers through better knowledge and understanding about this often marginalised community. It has also given the young people involved the opportunity to learn interview skills, operate radio recording equipment and add something exciting and unusual to their CV.” Rachel Bennett, Windsor Housing’s Community Development Team
The project was run in partnership with Reading Community Radio, Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Youth Services and the Thames Valley Traveller Education Services. For more information please contact Rachel Bennett – 01753 777493 or email This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
