Creative & Connected: November edition

Download activity pack

People have always had to work to make a living, but long gone is the 9-5 day. London, as a capital city, is a hubbub of activity 24/7, with jobs as diverse as London’s communities.

This month’s pack is inspired by an IBM electric typewriter in the Museum of London collection. These machines were essential for office workers from the 1930s until the invention of the computer.

Get creative with our packs and join our team online for chat over a cuppa about London's past.

London Lives podcast

In this podcast series we delve into the rich stories of London’s people to create an audible journey to the past.

Each episode is inspired by an object from the Museum of London collection and shares the reflections of real Londoners and their London lives. Listen back to hear wonderful stories of a cheeky, century-old Steiff teddy bear, the joys of Caribbean carnival and more!

This month's episode

In this episode of London Lives, storyteller Mara Menzies tells an enchanting tale of one family’s visit to the Museum of London. As they wind through the galleries, marvelling together at familiar tools and uniforms, they find a solitary object. Whispers of the past grow louder. Inspired by an IBM electric typewriter, held in the Museum of London collection, we hear from Helena, Derek and Hubert about their rich and diverse working lives in London. We invite you to listen in wonder and consider your own working lives.

Click on the white arrow in the orange circle below to play this episode.

With great thanks to Derek and John from Russia Lane Day Centre , Hubert from Ashford Place , and Helena and Jacqui from Nightingale Hammerson Care Home, for permission to share their stories.

You can also click here to read a full transcript of this episode.

Share a story with us

In our next podcast, we will be taking a look at age-old winter traditions enjoyed by Londoners.

• Do you follow any winter traditions?
• Have you ever been tobogganing or played in the snow?

We’d love to talk to you! If you’d like to share your story email [email protected] and we will get in touch to find out more.

Time for a cuppa

Why not join us to celebrate the festive season during one of our live, online sessions? This month the Memories of London team will be sharing objects from London’s past, singing, moving and chatting over two sessions!

Join us on Thursday 3 December, 10.30-11.30am and Friday 18 December, 10.30-11.30am.

To take part please register by:

• Emailing [email protected]

Or:

• Calling 07780 504506 Monday-Friday, 9am-6pm (Standard network rates apply)

Activity pack

Simply click the following link to download a large-print PDF copy of this month's activity pack.

We recommend printing it off as it has activities to fill out, trace or complete such as this telephone puzzle:

You can also enjoy some of this month's Creative & Connected activity pack below:

Doodle and draw

Have you ever used a typewriter? What does a typewriter sound like?

You might not have seen your friends for a while. Why not write or type a letter to find out how they are?

Work can be stressful, but one way to relax is through colouring or doodling. Can you illustrate your letter or create a typewriter-inspired doodle to colour in?

Hold please, caller

A lucky operator once used this telephone switchboard at Buckingham Palace. Extension numbers include individual members of the Royal Family and the British Prime Minister.

Ever made your own telephone? Give it a go.

Simply grab two paper cups, poke a hole in the bottom of them and connect them with a length of wool or string.

See if you can have a conversation!

Uniformity

Many jobs have a dress code. Have you ever worn a uniform?

Design a uniform to go alongside some of the iconic work clothes in the Museum of London collection.

What job will it be for?

Do you have any work clothes or uniforms?

Try them on and see how they look.

Tools of the trade

This whisk was used to make fairy cakes in a north London bakery owned by the Stanley family.

Have you ever worked in a family business?

Do you recognise these other tools? Which jobs do you associate these with?

Alongside the blowpipe, tongs were glassmakers’ most important tools.

Dock workers used hooks to grip heavy sacks of sugar and other goods.

Test your baking skills with the fairy cake recipe below or bake a family favourite. Remember to use a whisk!

Fairy cake recipe

What you need

• 100g caster sugar
• 100g very soft butter
• 100g self raising flour
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• Cup cake cases
• Icing sugar

Method

1. Pre-heat the oven to 180°C/ Gas Mark 4
2. Mix the butter and sugar in a bowl
3. Add the flour and whisk in the eggs and vanilla
4. Divide between the cupcake cases and bake for 20 minutes
5. You could mix butter and icing sugar to spread on once they’ve cooled

Singe it all off!

This Victorian barber shop is on display in the Victorian Walk at the Museum of London.

Victorian barbers practiced ‘singeing’ which involved passing a lit wax taper over a man’s hair to burn it off. Imagine the smell!

In the 1850s, stylish Victorian men were expected to adorn well-kept facial hair.

Try your hand at Victorian barbering by designing your own moustaches.

That's all we have for you this time, but remember to join us again next month!

You can find all the issues of Creative & Connected right here.