Heritage from Home
Hello and welcome to another edition of Heritage from Home.
in touch if you can help! Email louise@bouncetheatre.com.
This week we’ve been thinking about what makes a hero. Over the last few weeks we have been witness to many acts of heroism and kindness.
Wishing you well.
We were interested to think about this in the context of our project. On that note, our project will change a little. We will begin to make our radio plays with young people. We would love your help in so many ways. Whether it’s to look at the change in language, remember the slang from the times or help bring home the message to young people about the value of the time and the impact your actions had on the world, It would be a complete honour to hear from you! Please do get
All photos from the project with young people
With love from Louise, Holly-Anne, Henry, and Sharon at Bounce Theatre.
Things to read Heritage with Henry
be careful of how we use the term in certain contexts. Badges of metal or honour shouldn’t be a substitute for proper support - through pay, protection, and safeguards - for people doing their jobs. But what I try to do with this column is share areas of history I’ve found that people may be less aware of, perhaps helping us reconsider perspectives. It’s in that spirit I share this week’s story with you - that of ‘Agent Zigzag’.
This week we’re exploring the theme of ‘heroes’. There are various answers we could give to this. The obvious ones in WWII would be the British armed forces who fought fascism in Europe. The Air Raid Wardens who helped save lives, enforcing blackouts, and pulling victims of the Blitz from the wreckage of bombed-out buildings. Or the ordinary citizens who helped keep the country going, day-by-day.
Eddie Chapman was a professional criminal before WWII. A member of a ‘jelly gang’, he specialised in robbing safes, blowing them open with gelignite. By 1939, however, he was being hunted by police. He was eventually caught by Jersey police, and remained in prison until October 1941, even after the Germans had invaded and occupied Jersey.
It’s easy to think of potential comparisons between any of the above with COVID-19. The NHS and care workers, looking after patients in hospitals and care homes. The retired doctors and nurses who’ve returned to the front line. The supermarket and transport workers who’ve allowed us to get our groceries, and for all key workers to still get to work. The teachers who’ve looked after other key worker children, and the ones who’ll be returning this week, as schools gradually reopen. All of these deserve the metaphorical badge of ‘hero’ - though we should
What’s striking is what happened next. Upon release, Chapman volunteered his services to the Germans as a spy, training for a year in occupied-France for the German secret service. Chapman offered to recruit others in the criminal underworld, and his explosive expertise, which the Germans hoped to use for sabotage. But upon deployment back to Britain, Chapman turned himself into the police and MI5, telling them everything about his training and missions. He even volunteered to work as a spy for the British against Germany!
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Despite skepticism, given his past, MI5 concluded Chapman was genuine. He became ‘Agent Zigzag’ a vital double agent. Chapman and MI5 then pulled off a remarkable deception. Chapman had been instructed by Germany to attack the De Havilland factory in Hatfield. MI5 helped create the appearance of a massive explosion at the factory - bombdamaged transformers made from wood and papier-mache, buildings disguised with tarpaulins, and iron sheets painted - so German aircrafts would see what looked like halfdemolished remains of walls and roofs. Rubble and debris were spread around the power plant to complete the illusion, and MI5 planted a story in The Express.
I read it. It reminded me of ‘Spider’, a gang member I’d discovered in my research, who, after failing to steal a safe at the height of an air raid, rescued a young girl trapped in a nearby building, before disappearing into the night. ‘Spider’ and ‘Zigzag’s stories raise questions about what it means to be a hero. Unlike Billy Hill, who confessed to never being a ‘King and Country man’, both these criminals temporarily eschewed criminality for a greater purpose; saving lives. One could argue they were self-serving, but Spider never received public commendation for his heroism, and the evidence suggests Chapman volunteered himself to Germany as a means of getting home, so he clearly felt some affinity for Britain. He could’ve put his skills towards destroying lives, instead he helped MI5 to save them. It’s easy to look at WWII as it was in pictures - in black and white. Good people pulling together, bad people who sought to benefit themselves, often through criminality. But as with Spider and Zigzag, maybe heroes don’t need to be completely selfless after all. Perhaps at times of crisis, the heroes are simply those who rise to the occasion, in ways big and small.
The operation was a complete success. Chapman returned to Germany via neutral Portugal, and was awarded their highest honour, the Iron Cross - the only British citizen ever to receive it. He’d fully earned their trust. Upon return to Britain in 1944, Chapman was pardoned for previous crimes, and paid substantially. Though he returned to criminality after WWII, he’d nevertheless been invaluable to the war effort. Chapman’s story fascinated me when
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What do you think it means to be a hero? What qualities do you think it involves? Do you have any stories of WWII heroism you’d like to share? We’d love to hear from them, and to share them with some of the young people we’ve been working with, who’ve been writing stories for our Story Club, to give them some inspiration. Let us know!
Memory lane
Letters, memories and photos from our participants From Angela : What did your dad do? My father worked in the bank up in London and a nights, after, he did firefighting. He put out the blazes in the City. Oh my goodness. So he had two jobs? No, that (firefighting) was voluntary. And Mum? Did she work? No, mum didn’t work – she knitted, at home for a firm in New Bond Street. She knitted fancy jerseys to make a bit of money. Oh right. Would any of the knitting ever go to any of the soldiers? They did knit – they knitted socks. Really, for the soldiers? Yes, they knitted socks as well, yes. My nanna and my great aunt Ethel knitted socks and they taught me too. And then they would be sent in a package? Yes they were sent off, yes. They were collected and sent off. You know one way that you helped. That’s amazing. Yes, yes. And when my father came back from war I used to bathe his feet in water, when he took his boots and his socks off we used to darn his socks with a toadstool or mushroom put it over and darn his socks, and he had his feet bathed in the kitchen with a bucket of water.
From Walter : Oh, I can tell you something about going to school every day…two things I remember: was it became fashionable to make things out of coins. Cut. Things like birds or whatever. And so what you used to do, you used to get a coin and you used to have to rub it smooth, so they’d be rubbing smooth things to give them a circle of metal, to cut something like a bird out of it. That was one thing, so at playtime, the kids used to…I can even remember the spot where I used to do it – rubbing the two sides of a coin to smooth it off to make something out of it. That was one thing. Something else I can remember was that there were two school teachers. There was Miss Veevers who was a real tyrant and it you crossed the wrong line she got a size 12 slipper out the cupboard. [laughter] Because corporal punishment was administered then. In small quantities. But then there was another teacher called Miss Phillips and she had friends in America and they’d send her food parcels. And she’d bring that food into the school and give it to the kids. Oh, what a nice lady. So there was Miss Veevers and Miss Phillips.•
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Things to write Creative writing with Sharon
Hero Awards This week we’re thinking about heroes, about the people in our life who have helped us out in ways big and small. Write a list of some of the people who have helped you. It could be a stranger who helped you one day or someone that’s close to you who’s been a pillar for you in the long term. It could be a figure from history who stood up for something that’s inspired you today. Think about the qualities that each person brings to your life - what makes them a hero? Now give an award to each person! I’ve written an example below... it’s made me appreciate how many heroes are in my life and my local community.
Best Manners - Yukie, my hairdresser is Japanese and she is always very polite and accommodating. I’ve been visiting her for nearly eight years. Last time I went to see she changed my haircut and it was a big deal for both of us. Most Generous Suhaib from Roosters Hut. I have an addiction to eating fried chicken. Suhaib often gives me extra food and on Ramadan he also offered me some of the special food he had made for Iftar, his evening meal. It was delicious.
Sharon’s Hero Awards Best Compliments - My neighbour Jack - he always has something kind to say and it cheers me up. Kindest Smile – Lynette, who also lives down the road from me. We always have a nice chat when we bump into each other. Best Salute - My streetcleaner. Every morning, when I cycle past him, we s alute each other and wish each other a good day.
Best Community Spirit - Lara runs the community association on an estate a five-minute walk from me. During Lockdown, she’s worked day and night to provide her neighbours with food, activities and a sense of community.
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Best Chat - The shopkeeper in Sondly’s, my local convenience store. More about him below! Best Leadership I admire Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand. She has always conducted herself with tact, dignity and strength and I believe she truly puts her people ahead of her political ambitions. I also admire the fact that Jacinda Ardern is a mother, she’s a role model for working women across the world. Best Role Model - I first met Lanre when I was working at a theatre. He was fifteen at the time and was taking part in a project for young people who had been excluded from mainstream school. Lanre had had a tough time but he wanted to change his life and he got involved with drama projects. Six years on Lanre is now at a prestigious drama school studying acting. He’s also doing work in our local community helping other young people with mental health and employability. I am so proud and inspired by him! Most Encouraging - Parisa runs a local Facebook group encouraging environmentalism in our community. She cheers other community members on in the things they do for our local ecology, even if it’s a really small act. I admire how much she’s done already to make our area greener and cleaner. Strongest - My mum is a tough lady. She’s taught me the value of
working hard and that women can do just as much as men. She’s also taught me to be interested in the world and what everyone has to say.
Hidden Heroes To the man who runs Sondly’s, Hello sir! I’m sorry that I don’t know your name even though I’ve known you now for two years since we moved here. Thank you for working tirelessly, day and night, to keep your store open so that it’s there for us when we need an emergency pint of milk, tub of ice-cream, or chocolate fix. Most of all, thank you for always being kind and cheerful and asking me how I am. It’s a small thing but it’s made a difference to my day so many times. And I know it must be the same for your other customers. I’ve enjoyed finding out about your life too and I hope that you can see your Mum in Egypt soon. You are so important to our community! Thanks and love, Sharon
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One Small Thing What small heroic acts have you done for others that you’re proud of? Send your stories to us and we’ll pass them on to our younger readers as part of our StoryClub project. Email them to louise@bouncetheatre.com Here’s something from me! A Hug I was in Trafalgar Square in the early hours of a Saturday night skulking heavily into a Sunday morning, waiting for the number 68 bus to show up late without apologising. I was thinking about the quickest way I could get my hands on some chips with mayonnaise, when I heard the sound of something collapsing. She was spread out on the pavement beside a gift shop; as if she’d starjumped flat onto it, handbag, arms, exposed open wide, cleavage peering outside of the top of her multicoloured dress, a hotel towel wrapped around cold shoulders. It shouldn’t have been a choice but there was one; between the number 68 and junk food and falling asleep watching bad television and the woman on the pavement. “What’s your name?” “I’m sorry I’m so drunk.” “Don’t worry, what’s your name?” “Darling I will go to sleep here.” “I’m going to zip up your bag, is that ok?” “Bless you, darling.” “What’s your name?” “My name is Maggie.” Maggie’s wig was slightly wonky. Maggie could have been fifty but she also could have been forty. Maggie told me she was from South Africa. “I used to live in Edinburgh. But it
was so cold there. Now Maggie lives in London.” I got her to sit up. Maggie told me that she’d had a husband. “Clive.” But he hadn’t made her happy. “Can you get up now, Maggie?” “Now Clive can’t find me.” “Why don’t you stand up, Maggie?” “I’m sorry. Maggie is so drunk.” She put the towel down on the pavement. “What were you doing tonight, Maggie?” I made up several stories about Maggie’s evening; most of them soaked in my simple prejudices, Maggie’s present and Maggie’s past was simply none of my business. I took Maggie’s hands and pulled her up; behind us the 68 breezed in and shimmied up to the pavement. I was about to say something when Maggie put her arms around my neck. The doors opened and I watched people drifting on, up the stairs, to the penthouse seats where you can see right inside people’s windows. It shouldn’t have been a choice but for a minute there was one. I thought about letting her go. Then I let myself relax and put my arms around her, placed her head on my shoulder, watching the 68 leave and trundle down the road into the distance, holding Maggie for however many minutes. I wondered when she’d last had a hug. Maggie let go and she smiled at me. “Don’t worry darling. In London Maggie’s free and Maggie’s happy.” I asked Maggie where she lived and what bus she needed to take. The number 253. Then I waited with her until the 253 strolled in and I escorted Maggie on to it. It was a small thing but I slept better that night hoping that Maggie had got home safely.•
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Things to make Art with Holly-Anne
Heroes Hey everyone – in this week’s edition of Heritage from Home we are looking at heroes. For me, particularly now during the lockdown, the real heroes are each and every one of us that makes it through another day showing kindness and consideration to others while dealing with loneliness, isolation, and anxiety.
There’s a word called ‘Sonder’ that springs to mind. It means the profound realisation that everyone, including strangers passed in the street, has a life as complex as one’s own, which they are constantly living despite one’s personal lack of awareness of it. With this in mind I have made a collage of my own hero living in London 2020. Who or what do you think might be your hero?
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JUST FOR FUN
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