OUR TOWN

Our Town captures a place and its people at the turn of the 21st century and is about human stories, connections, and dislocations.

Our Town is a composition of music, speech, and ambient sounds forming an integrated whole and where all elements are treated musically. The following is an excerpt from the work:

Our Town Transcript , Composer Notes and Credits

From infancy to old age, bankers and beekeepers, mothers and fathers, rich, poor, happy, angry, sad. Some tell of their passions, of those who have left an indelible mark on their lives, and others of their journey as it nears its end.

All the sounds you hear in Our Town were recorded in Basingstoke and Deane, Hampshire, England.

The Our Town, My Space exhibition provided a voice for over five hundred people, many never having expressed themselves publicly before. Visitors to the exhibition heard sounds, conversations and music collected from the people and place of Basingstoke, which forms the hour long 'audiotexs' Our Town.

As visitors to the Our Town, My Space exhibition travelled through the exhibition space, they came across a wide variety of visual media. Some people used paint to express how they felt about their space, some chose to represent their space in a concrete or representational way, others decided to exhibit an activity they did in their space.

Our Town was co-commissioned by The Willis Museum, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, and Central Studio Arts Centre. Our Town received a grant from The Millennium Festival Awards For All programme. Supported by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, Hampshire County Council, The Four Lanes Trust, Hampshire Museum's Trust, Southern Arts, The Automobile Association, The Basingstoke Press, NTL telecommunications, Sun Life of Canada Financial Services, Virgin, and Wiggins Teape.

"One of the pleasures and privileges of my Mayoral Year has been to be associated with the Our Town project. It is a wonderful project which has brought together so many members of our community.

I knew of the project in its early stages long before I became Mayor and I know how much is due to the enthusiasm and genius of its initiator and project developer Michael de Sousa with the able support of the Steering Committee.

The project has undoubtedly enhanced the community spirit of the Borough, and everyone of us should be grateful for such a gem to start off the Millennium."

Lynden Jones, Mayor of Basingstoke and Deane, 1999-2000

Mike de Sousa: Project Director, Composer, Curator, Exhibition Designer, Fundraiser, Administrator, Marketing and Promotion.

Daryl Fraser: Arts and Heritage Manager, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Sue Sharpe: Graphic Designer.

Hazel Hartgill: Exhibition Technician. 

Tim Evans: Exhibition Technician.

Pat Bonifacio: Curatorial Consultant.

Izita Kerr: Exhibition Consultant.

Alan Williams: Exhibition Consultant.

Derek Bunyard: Exhibition Consultant.

Felicity Brooker, Town Centre Manager.

Tim Evans, Curator, The Willis Museum.

Christopher Holland, Solicitor, Project Treasurer.

Rob Iliffe, Leisure Officer, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council.

Izita Kerr, Artist (Committee Member 1998-1999).

Phil Pennington, Director Central Studio.

Mike de Sousa, Project Director.

Sue Sharpe, Graphic Designer.

Grant Assistance

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council 

Four Lanes Trust Millennium 

Festival Awards For All Programmes 

Hampshire County Council 

Hampshire Museum Services 

Southern Arts

Corporate Sponsors 

The Automobile Association 

The Basingstoke Press 

Hammicks Bookshops 

ntl Telecommunications 

Sun Life Financial Services of Canada 

Wiggins Teape 

Virgin

Exhibition Venues

The Anvil Central Studio 

The Haymarket Theatre 

Saint Michael's Church 

The Willis Museum

Venue Personnel

Christine Bradwell, Chief Executive, The Anvil

Tim Evans, Curator, The Willis Museum

Phil Pennington, Director, Central Studio 

Rev. Philip Welsh, Saint Michael's Church

Tim Wills, Theatre Manager, The Haymarket Theatre

Contributing Schools

Bishop Challoner Roman Catholic Secondary School 

Bishopswood County Infant School 

Bramley Church of England Primary School 

Fort Hill Community School 

Kempshott Junior School 

Kings Furlong Junior School 

Manor Field Junior School 

Marnel Junior School

Merton County Infant School 

Oakley Junior School 

Park View County Infant School 

Queen Mary's College 

Richard Aldworth Community School 

Rucstall Primary School 

Saint Anne's Roman Catholic Primary School 

Testbourne Community School

Barbara Applin, Basingstoke Archaeological and Historical Society

David Arnott, Communications Director, Sun Life Financial Services of Canada

Sarah Boundy, Public Relations, NTL Telecommunications

Annette Churchill, Human Resources Manager, Wiggins Teape

Lesley Clark, Sponsorship Manager, Sun Life Financial Services of Canada

Jeanette Davies, Head of Art, Testbourne Community School

Aileen McDonald, Day Care Manager, Saint Michael's Church

Rob Denham, Head of Art, Bishop Challenor 

Daryl Fraser, Arts and Heritage Manager, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

Nadia Harding, Unit Manager, Audley's Wood Resource Service 

Gordon Hill, Managing Director, The Basingstoke Press

Angie Holmes, Head of Art, Kempshott Junior School

Paul Littlehayes, Manager, The Walks Shopping Centre, Basingstoke

Ken Single, Day Care Helper, Saint Michael's Hospice

Bill Smith, Marketing Director, The Basingstoke Press

Julie Smith, Community Embroidery Teacher

David Tattersal, Manager, Corporate Public Relations, The Automobile Association

Mary Thomas, Community Art Teacher

Peter Thomson, Chief Executive, Saint Michael's Hospice

Jamima Trotter, Leader, Audley's Wood Outreach Centre, Basingstoke Day Care Services 

Rob Verner-Jeffreys, Manager, Hammicks Bookshops

Gill Walle, Head of Art, Fort Hill Community School

Mike de Sousa: Composer and sound editor

Piano, keyboards, guitars, percussion and sampler programmes

vocals (Where I Want To Be)

Interviews and recorded ambient sounds

Studio recording, engineering and production 

Keith Marsden: Songwriter: Bring Us A Barrel

The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra Recorded at The Anvil, Hampshire, England

Erik Faithfull: Northumbrian pipes, Uilleann pipes, wooden flute and tin whistle 

Rip Rippingdale: Lead Singer: Bring Us A Barrel 

Saint Michael's Church Choir: The Angel Gabriel (extract in Opening): C Edgar-Pettman/Sabine Baring, Organist and Director of Music: George G Hay

Saint Michael's Church Bellringers: Extract in Full Circle

All Saints Church Bellringers: Extract in Full Circle 

The Salvation Army Brass Band: Extracts in Full Circle 

The People of Basingstoke: Ambient sounds from public areas

Sue Sharpe: CD Cover and graphic design 

Sound Recording Technology: High End Mastering and CD Manufacture 

Jack Cruttenden, 

Molly Gray, 

Sue Sharpe, 

Class 5H Kings Furlong Junior School: CD Picture Credits

Audley's Wood Resource Service 

The Anvil Grapevine Information Services Ltd 

The Automobile Association 

All Saints Bellringers 

Awards For All 

Basing Clog Morris Dancers 

Basingstoke Community Day Care Services Basingstoke Cycle Works Kingsclere MOT Centre Basingstoke Ice Rink North Hampshire Quilters 

The Basingstoke Press

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council The Malls 

Basingstoke Model Engineering Society 

Basingstoke Salvation Army Band

Basingstoke Sports Centre

Business Support Centre

Basingstoke Ramblers Ordnance Survey 

Basingstoke Rugby Football

Berry Bros. and Rudd Ltd

Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra

Central Studio

Club 2000-2005 Bingo

Club Queen Mary's College

Corbett and Gelson

Fairfields Arts Centre

Festival Place Shopping Centre

Financial Services of Canada

Football Club 

Hammicks Bookshops 

Hampshire County Council 

J Sainsbury's 

Junction 6

Mayflower Morris Dancers Basingstoke 

Millennium Festival

Saint Michael's Church Bellringers

Saint Michael's Church Choir

Saint Michael's Hospice

SISK Builders Basingstoke

Southern Arts

Sun Life

The Common Theatre Company

The Four Lanes Trust The Willis Museum 

The Haymarket Theatre 

The Old Trout Band 

Virgin 

Warner Brothers Cinema

Wella Bisons Ice Skating Team 

Wiggins Teape

Special thanks to May Place, Roman House, and Saint Michael's Hospice for their generosity of spirit, time and effort. Our Town would not have come about without the help of many members of the public who kindly contributed towards this work yet preferred not to be mentioned by name in the following credits. 

The Anvil

Basing Clog

Basingstoke Cycle Works

Basingstoke Football Club

Basingstoke Ice Rink

Basingstoke Model Eng. Soc.

Basingstoke Ramblers

Basingstoke Ruby    Basingstoke Sports Centre

Club 2000-2005 Bingo

Common Players Theatre

Corbett and Gelson

J Sainsbury's

Kingsclere MOT Centre    Mayflower Morris Dancers 

Morris Dancers Camrose Football Ground Oakley Junior School 

Queen Mary's College 

The Old Trout Band 

Sisk Builders 

The Irish Club Warner Bros. Cinema 

Wella Bisons

The following list of contributors is in alphabetical order and as agreed, no reference is made to their occupation or interest group. Many others contributed but wished to remain anonymous.

Mrs R L Allen

Joe Allnutt 

Louise Anderson

Valerie Applebee

Ellen D'Arcy

Angela Athawes

Emma Atkin

Richard Atlin

Arthur Attwood

Tony Attrill

Derek Ayling

Chris Bailey

Stephen Baker

Lloyd Ball

Craig Ball 

Samantha Bandy

Ian Baneck

Zoe Barrett 

Ron Bell M Bennett

Lindsay J Berry

Elliot Billingham

M Bibbó

Kayleigh Bird

James Blanchard

Luke Bloomfield

Christine Bonner 

Jane Bonnin

Ashley Boon

Martin Boult

Joe Bourne

Earnest Bow 

Rachel Bowden

Tom Braybrook 

Cyril Brooks 

Tony Brotherton

C Brophy 

Anne Brown

Anne Brunton

Peter Brunton

Hannah Bryer

Annabelle Buckland

James Burke

Brian Burwood

Jenny Byford

Lois Carrington

Julie Carver

Hugh Chalker

Tessa Chevallier

Peter Churchill 

Christopher Clair

Clarke-Williams 

J L Cochrane

Ben Constant

Kimberley Cook

Claire

Matthew Cleaver

Holly Coles

Adrian Collum

Morris Cooper

Mr G Cook

Ralph Cook 

Adam Coulter

David P Coppin

Verena Cornwall

Jade Coulter

Adam Coulter

Mike Curran

Rory Chapman

Peter R Churchill 

Debbie Clarke

Anne Craddick

Mrs Crawford

Paul Cripps

Paul Crosby

Nicholas Crowson

Jack Cruttenden

Alma Cruttenden

Fr. Danny

Colin Davies 

Nigel Darley 

Shiela Darley

Christopher Day 

Paul Day

David Deane-Saunders

Simon Derbyshire

Cicely Dewe

Rhiannon Doe

Emma Dobbie

Rhiannon Doe

Sophie Dollin

Don

Edmund Donovan 

Paul Donohoe

Yvonne Donohoe

Carol Dooley

Ernest Downing

Chris Duncan

Bryon Dwyer 

Graeme D East

Amy Elliott

Niall English

Angela C Evans

Clare Evans

Margaret Evans

Jason Ewins

Niamh Fagen

Janet Farmer

Mike Farrow

Sam Flint 

Michael Forbes

Pippa Forster

Barbara Foster

Paul Gallie

V Gilmour

Mgr. Jeremy Garratt 

William Garrey

Melinda Gatcum

Clive Grace

A Godfrey

R Gowling

Gavin Greenhalgh

John Greenwood 

Warren Grew

Jenny Grieves

Abdul Gioffar

R Gowling

Molly Gray

Warren Grew

Alexander Hackett

Iris Harding

John Harding

Mr G Hargrove

Chris Harris

Ian Harris

Mavis Gwendoline Harvey

Richard Hasted 

Heather Hasthorpe

Bill Hayes

S Haywood 

Stefan Harrison

S Haywood

Danika Henderson

Mrs S M Headley

Rose Heath 

EJ and SJ Hedges

Adrian Hemmings

Danika Henderson

Joy Hickson

Helen Hill 

Jeffrey Hill

Jim Hill 

Tom Hizer

Alan Hoare 

Leeza Hilden

Amanda Hobden

Reuben Horsfall

Wendy Horsfall

Claire Hobbs

Andrew Hobden

Tony Hollow

John Holmes

Linda Holmes

Ian Holmes 

David Howe

Nick Houston

Colin Hyde

Daniel Ilett

Chloe Inman

Catherine Ives 

Daniel Ilett 

Jamie

Mrs Sandra Jeffery

Cerys Jenkins 

Emma Jobling

Amanda Jones

Lynden Jones

Rob Jones

Simon Jones 

Lucy Lucy

Jordan Lynne

Jordan 

Pete Jordan

Russell Keenan

Jan Kerch

Emily Kidgell

Fred Kinge

Janet Kinge

John Kinge

Kirsty Kinge

Matthew Kinge

Cheryl Knight

Janet Knight

Mrs Shirley Kirsopp

Shelain Lakhani 

Fiona Lane

Gary Langham

Dawn Langley

Mrs Sheila Lawrence

Josh Lee

Shane Lewis

Paul Littlehales

Kelly Longhurst

Carly Louden

Brenda Lockyer

Peter Malcolm

Becky Marlow 

Andy Marshall

Louise Martin 

Petronella Mattress

Phillip Mayer 

James Mayers

Christopher Maynard

Kathleen McCarthy 

Roy Mears

Anton Medford

Melanie Owen Mills

Daina Mills-Powell

Rajon Miah

Ripon Miah

Kelly Miller

T Minshell

John Moffat

Ann Monger

Robbie Monroe 

Emma Morgan

Susan Morris

Penny Morris

Kerrie Moth

Robie Monro

Phyllis Murray

Hannah Myat

James Myers

Brian and Richard Nagle

Sheila Nagle

Craig Newman

Jason Nethercliffe

Claire Noble

Mike Nicholls 

Charlotte Ninnis

Leanne O'Neil

Graham Osborne

Patrick

Mick Paull

Mr Pati 

Margarete Payne

Ian Pegg

Kelly Pearcy 

John Penfold 

Tim Pickup

George Plummer 

Gemma Plumb

Margaret Porter

Adam Pring

Simon Pugsley

Pat Rampton

Alisdair Ramsey 

Matt Randall

Rebecca Reilly

Alex Reid

Mrs Phyllis Ralton

Wendy Ray

Iris Raynbird

Joan Rhodes

Mark Richards

Chris Richardson 

Matthew Rixon

Daniel Robb

Eloise Robb

Mr and Mrs Robb

Christina Rocca

Jane Rolfe

Lily-Bilie Roman

D R Sadler-Hall 

Sylvia Salter

David Deane-Saunders 

Erica Schröder 

Cliff Seamark

Iona Sewell

Ian Shanks 

Stephen Sheedy

Jessica Sheldrake

Mrs Mary Shelley 

Mukhtar Siddiqui

Linda Simmons

Jake Simpson 

Andrew Smith

Jillian Smith

Julie Smith

Kirstine Smith 

Terry Smith 

Mr Trevor A. Smith

Jon Soar 

Jenny Soar

Kevin Spector

Grace Springthorpe

Victoria Stanford 

Natalie Stanton

Sarah Stevens

Mrs Alison Jane Stone

Dave Stone

Helen Stones

Aron Stroner 

Kath Sutton

Sharon Symonds

David Taplin 

Nathan Danielle Taylor

Threshie

Ron Tillson

Joan Thomas

Sandra Thomas

Tigg

Neil Topliss

Mathu Trevedi

Sabina Turrell

Rosalind Turrell 

Philip Turell 

Tyeson

Pauline Underwood

Scott Upshall

Mr Walker

Mr Barrie Walkley 

Jenny Walker 

Jenny Walpole 

Keith Walpole 

Betty Waters

Christine Waters 

Alethea Watterson 

Claire Wareham

Esmé Weaver 

Dorothy Wells

Rev. Phillip Welsh

Kelly Wheatland

Roger Wheble

Jill Wheble

Mr J D White

John White

Amanda Wilde

Steve Wiles

Vanda Williams

Robin Williams 

Sally Williams

Mrs E J Wilson

Jan Wise

Deborah Woods 

Stuart Woodman

Mr and Mrs Woodman

John Wright

James Wyatt

Michael Yau 

Vincent Yau 

Vest

Zingy

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