A Travellers Life

Aunt Mary

cover of a travellers life.indd 1 2/3/09 13:46:05

!ediaAc(ve:,llustrated2ooks5roject

Anini(a(veofThomasAdamsSchool=s!ediaArts5rogrammeand

deliveredinpartnershipwithQubeArts,thisprojecthasestablished

newopportuni(esforyoungpeopletodevelopaseriesofillustrated

booksthatreEecttheirinterests,concernsandcrea(vity.

Theyoungpeoplehaveworkedwiththesupportofar(sts,designers,

andacrea(vewriter,makingfulluseofdigitalmediaresourcesin

NorthShropshiretoresearch,planandproducethebooks.Theyhave

determinedthethemes,generatedtheideas,createdoriginalwri(ng

andartworks,andHnally,designedthelayoutandconstruc(onofthe

books.

TheprojecthasworkedwithIgroups,hasproducedIdis(nc(vebooks

andhasinvolvedkeypartners:LoppingtonHouse,ThomasAdamsSEN

Department,Shropshire,TelfordandWrekinYouthOffendingService

andtheWest!idlandsRonsor(umServicesforTravellingRhildren,

SchoolsandFamilies.

ThanksgotoSherelandJamieforalloftheirhardworkon

ATravellers’Life.


!ediaAc(ve:,llustrated2ooks5roject

Anini(a(veofThomasAdamsSchool=s!ediaArts5rogrammeand

deliveredinpartnershipwithQubeArts,thisprojecthasestablished

newopportuni(esforyoungpeopletodevelopaseriesofillustrated

booksthatreEecttheirinterests,concernsandcrea(vity.

Theyoungpeoplehaveworkedwiththesupportofar(sts,designers,

andacrea(vewriter,makingfulluseofdigitalmediaresourcesin

NorthShropshiretoresearch,planandproducethebooks.Theyhave

determinedthethemes,generatedtheideas,createdoriginalwri(ng

andartworks,andHnally,designedthelayoutandconstruc(onofthe

books.

TheprojecthasworkedwithIgroups,hasproducedIdis(nc(vebooks

andhasinvolvedkeypartners:LoppingtonHouse,ThomasAdamsSEN

Department,Shropshire,TelfordandWrekinYouthOffendingService

andtheWest!idlandsRonsor(umServicesforTravellingRhildren,

SchoolsandFamilies.

ThanksgotoSherelandJamieforalloftheirhardworkon

ATravellers’Life.


JamieMy name is Jamie. I am 12 years old and I live at a Travellers’ site in Oswestry. Before living here, I used to travel up and down the country with no fi xed place to stay, along with other Travellers.

My mam is called Jamie, the same as me, and my father is called Edmund. I have no brothers and no sisters but I do have a lot of animals including; twenty chickens, two dogs, one cat and also two horses.

My mam’s mam and dad are called Rose and Guy. They live at a caravan site in Southport along with lots of other travellers.

Jamie’s Mam

A Travellers Life.indd 1 2/3/09 12:37:12

Mydad’smamanddadarecalledMizelleandEdmund.They

liveattheOswestrysitetoo,directlyacrossfrommyplot.I

haveanenormousamountoffriendsandfamily,justlikeall

Travellers.

Idon’tgotoschoolbecauseIprefertostayathomeand

helpmymamdothehousework,likecleaningtheshed,the

caravan,andtheplot.OnFridaymorningmyfriend,Sherel

andIgotocollege.

Me aged 3

Aunt Mary

Great Grandad

Me with some of my

family


MynameisSherelandIam

11yearsold.Ialsoliveatthe

TravellerssiteinOswestry.Ihave

threebrotherswhoarecalledBilly,

HarryandLeviandnosisters.My

mumisNicolaandmydadisBill.

Aswellasmymum,dadandbrothers,myNanandgrandad

!"#$%"&'(%$)%*+(%#&*(,%-%+!'(%"$*#%$.%/$0#&)#1%!0)2(#%!)3%0)/"(#%

closebyand,ofcourse,allofmyfriends.

Sherel


Mydad’smamanddadarecalledMizelleandEdmund.They

liveattheOswestrysitetoo,directlyacrossfrommyplot.I

haveanenormousamountoffriendsandfamily,justlikeall

Travellers.

Idon’tgotoschoolbecauseIprefertostayathomeand

helpmymamdothehousework,likecleaningtheshed,the

caravan,andtheplot.OnFridaymorningmyfriend,Sherel

andIgotocollege.

Me aged 3

Aunt Mary

Great Grandad

Me with some of my

family


MynameisSherelandIam

11yearsold.Ialsoliveatthe

TravellerssiteinOswestry.Ihave

threebrotherswhoarecalledBilly,

HarryandLeviandnosisters.My

mumisNicolaandmydadisBill.

Aswellasmymum,dadandbrothers,myNanandgrandad

!"#$%"&'(%$)%*+(%#&*(,%-%+!'(%"$*#%$.%/$0#&)#1%!0)2(#%!)3%0)/"(#%

closebyand,ofcourse,allofmyfriends.

Sherel


Ilikedoingmyschoolworkanddrawing.Ihavetwodogs

calledPatchandLady.Mybrotherhastwohorsesandadog

(heloveshisanimals).

OnFridayIgoto

collegeandgoonthe

computertodosome

schoolwork.Most

Travellersdonotgoto

secondaryschoolas

theystayathomeand

gethome‐tutored.Girlshelptheirmumsdo

thecleaningandboysgowiththeirdadstowork.

My Brother with Norbit

My Mum

My Brother


OswestryTravellers’site.

Oswestryisacouncil‐runsite.TheGypsyLiasonOfficerwho

isinvolvedwithusisamancalledRoy.Thereare13plotsand

weareallonebigfamily.Weallworktogether,sharingwhat

wehaveandtakingcareofeachother.Wesupporteach

otherinmanyways.Welearnfromeachotherandarelike

8a9ily‐e:eni8wearenot;loo<rela=:es.


Ilikedoingmyschoolworkanddrawing.Ihavetwodogs

calledPatchandLady.Mybrotherhastwohorsesandadog

(heloveshisanimals).

OnFridayIgoto

collegeandgoonthe

computertodosome

schoolwork.Most

Travellersdonotgoto

secondaryschoolas

theystayathomeand

gethome‐tutored.Girlshelptheirmumsdo

thecleaningandboysgowiththeirdadstowork.

My Brother with Norbit

My Mum

My Brother


OswestryTravellers’site.

Oswestryisacouncil‐runsite.TheGypsyLiasonOfficerwho

isinvolvedwithusisamancalledRoy.Thereare13plotsand

weareallonebigfamily.Weallworktogether,sharingwhat

wehaveandtakingcareofeachother.Wesupporteach

otherinmanyways.Welearnfromeachotherandarelike

8a9ily‐e:eni8wearenot;loo<rela=:es.


OldTravellersareverydifferenttoTravellersthesedays.Old

Travellerslearnedthehardway.Theymadetheirlivingsby

sellingcharms,tellingfortunes,makingpegs,buyingand

selling,tradingandwhateverothermanualworktheycame

across.

Nowadayshowever,someofourrightshavebeentaken

awayandwehavehadtoadapttoadifferentwayoflife.

67aw8ing:isillegalandtherearenoteno;ghsta<csites

forfamiliestostayon.Asaresult,theseoldskillshavehad

tobereplacedwithotherjobs,forexample,plasteringand

pain<nganddecora<ng.


OldTravellerslivedinold‐fashionedwagonsthatweremade

fromwood.Inside,theyhadaQueenAnnestovewhere

theywould+urnoldro.enwood/ro.enwoodwas+e.er

becauseitwaseasiertocollectandquickertoburn).There

wasonebedatthebackandthetopofthewagonwas

coveredoverwithagreensheettomakeitwater‐proof.

OldTravellersweretreatedverydifferently.Theycouldstop

wherevertheywantedandpeoplewouldta:enono;ce.<t

ismorecommonnowadaysforpeopletohatetheTraveller

community.ThisisanotherreasonwhyTravellersdon’ttravel

around=uchany=ore.O>en?co==uni;es@ustwonAtlet

themstay.

Bduca;onwasno=a.ertotheoldTravellers+ecausethe

teachersdidnotwanttheTravellerstoa.endtheirschools


OldTravellersareverydifferenttoTravellersthesedays.Old

Travellerslearnedthehardway.Theymadetheirlivingsby

sellingcharms,tellingfortunes,makingpegs,buyingand

selling,tradingandwhateverothermanualworktheycame

across.

Nowadayshowever,someofourrightshavebeentaken

awayandwehavehadtoadapttoadifferentwayoflife.

67aw8ing:isillegalandtherearenoteno;ghsta<csites

forfamiliestostayon.Asaresult,theseoldskillshavehad

tobereplacedwithotherjobs,forexample,plasteringand

pain<nganddecora<ng.


OldTravellerslivedinold‐fashionedwagonsthatweremade

fromwood.Inside,theyhadaQueenAnnestovewhere

theywould+urnoldro.enwood/ro.enwoodwas+e.er

becauseitwaseasiertocollectandquickertoburn).There

wasonebedatthebackandthetopofthewagonwas

coveredoverwithagreensheettomakeitwater‐proof.

OldTravellersweretreatedverydifferently.Theycouldstop

wherevertheywantedandpeoplewouldta:enono;ce.<t

ismorecommonnowadaysforpeopletohatetheTraveller

community.ThisisanotherreasonwhyTravellersdon’ttravel

around=uchany=ore.O>en?co==uni;es@ustwonAtlet

themstay.

Bduca;onwasno=a.ertotheoldTravellers+ecausethe

teachersdidnotwanttheTravellerstoa.endtheirschools


!"#$%&'()$%)!#(*$+"!,$-.(,,-$'!)"%$%&'/$!$#'0'"%$,(1("23$$4+-%$

modernTravellersdogotoschoolnowbecause,inmodern

-+0('%56$%&')'$(-$!$,+%$+7$0+/8'*$*$+"$7+)$9+:-$!"#$/+"'5$!"#$

youneedtoreadtogeton.

YoungTravellersalwayshearstoriesfromtheoldendays

andknowtheirhistory.Theyknowalltheplacesthattheir

7!/(,('-$%)!1',,'#$%+$:'7+)'$-';$,("2$+"$%&'$-%!*$0$-(%'-3$$$$$


Ourmumsdothesejobseveryday:

• Washesup

• Cleanseverythinginsidethetrailer

• Cleansthewashroom,kitchenandbathroom

• Washestheslab

• Doesthewashing

• Ironing

• Cooks

• Takesthechildrentoandfromschool

• Goestotheshops

ItisreallyimportantforTravellerstokeepeverything

spotless.Tobecleanishighpriority.


!"#$%&'()$%)!#(*$+"!,$-.(,,-$'!)"%$%&'/$!$#'0'"%$,(1("23$$4+-%$

modernTravellersdogotoschoolnowbecause,inmodern

-+0('%56$%&')'$(-$!$,+%$+7$0+/8'*$*$+"$7+)$9+:-$!"#$/+"'5$!"#$

youneedtoreadtogeton.

YoungTravellersalwayshearstoriesfromtheoldendays

andknowtheirhistory.Theyknowalltheplacesthattheir

7!/(,('-$%)!1',,'#$%+$:'7+)'$-';$,("2$+"$%&'$-%!*$0$-(%'-3$$$$$


Ourmumsdothesejobseveryday:

• Washesup

• Cleanseverythinginsidethetrailer

• Cleansthewashroom,kitchenandbathroom

• Washestheslab

• Doesthewashing

• Ironing

• Cooks

• Takesthechildrentoandfromschool

• Goestotheshops

ItisreallyimportantforTravellerstokeepeverything

spotless.Tobecleanishighpriority.


!"#$%&#'$((%")*+#,-#./0-#0-&+#*&/1)2#$"/3#&$3-45##6.-#(-"#

goouttoworkandthewomenandgirlsstayathometodo

*.-#.$%4-,$&7#/"1#3$$7#/8#-&#*.-#'.)31&-"5


Travellersliketo

buyandcollect

goodqualitychina,

glassandjewellery.

CrownDerbyisvery

precioustoTravellersand

wecollectittodecorateourhomes.

Atthefairstherearemanydifferentexamplestoaddtoour

collec;onsortradefordifferentitems.Wesaveitandsellit

tootherTravellersifweneedtomakemoremoney.

WaterfordCrystalisalsoverypopularandweareproudof

ourcollec;ons.

Travellerscollect

WaterfordCrystalin

thesamewaythatthey

collectCrownDerby.

Theysellitortheyswap

itforanotherpiece.


!"#$%&#'$((%")*+#,-#./0-#0-&+#*&/1)2#$"/3#&$3-45##6.-#(-"#

goouttoworkandthewomenandgirlsstayathometodo

*.-#.$%4-,$&7#/"1#3$$7#/8#-&#*.-#'.)31&-"5


Travellersliketo

buyandcollect

goodqualitychina,

glassandjewellery.

CrownDerbyisvery

precioustoTravellersand

wecollectittodecorateourhomes.

Atthefairstherearemanydifferentexamplestoaddtoour

collec;onsortradefordifferentitems.Wesaveitandsellit

tootherTravellersifweneedtomakemoremoney.

WaterfordCrystalisalsoverypopularandweareproudof

ourcollec;ons.

Travellerscollect

WaterfordCrystalin

thesamewaythatthey

collectCrownDerby.

Theysellitortheyswap

itforanotherpiece.


ManyTravellershavedifferentskills.

Historically,Travellershavebeenvery

344dath5n6n3.They5sedala78t4see

inthenightandofcoursetheyhadto

haveadoglikeagreyhound,terrier,or

awhippet.Snaresweremade

touseonthefenssowhen

therabbitswentthrough

theywerecaught.Thisisnot

commonnowadays.

Also,Travellersliketocut

andcarve.Thisskillwas

5sed4ri3inallyt47aketheir9a34ns74rede:4ra6ve9ith

:arvedse:64nsandiss6ll5sedt4day4n9a34nsthata88ear


atApplebyandStow.Travellersarealsoskilledincarving

slingshots.

!"#$%%&'#(")#*+$,-..-+/#$+-#(0#-"#1&21.3#/4&..-%#&"#

horsemanshipandliketorace.Theyputtheirbesthorsesin

/5--%#6$+7/#$"%#+$6-#/(8-'#8-/#9(+#-"(+8(:/#$8(:"7/#(9#

money.Whoeverwinstakesthelot!


ManyTravellershavedifferentskills.

Historically,Travellershavebeenvery

344dath5n6n3.They5sedala78t4see

inthenightandofcoursetheyhadto

haveadoglikeagreyhound,terrier,or

awhippet.Snaresweremade

touseonthefenssowhen

therabbitswentthrough

theywerecaught.Thisisnot

commonnowadays.

Also,Travellersliketocut

andcarve.Thisskillwas

5sed4ri3inallyt47aketheir9a34ns74rede:4ra6ve9ith

:arvedse:64nsandiss6ll5sedt4day4n9a34nsthata88ear


atApplebyandStow.Travellersarealsoskilledincarving

slingshots.

!"#$%%&'#(")#*+$,-..-+/#$+-#(0#-"#1&21.3#/4&..-%#&"#

horsemanshipandliketorace.Theyputtheirbesthorsesin

/5--%#6$+7/#$"%#+$6-#/(8-'#8-/#9(+#-"(+8(:/#$8(:"7/#(9#

money.Whoeverwinstakesthelot!


ApplebyFairhastobethebiggesthorsefairinTravellers’

history.

MillionsofTravellersmeetupeveryyeartobuyandsell

horses,birds,CrownDerby,WaterfordCrystal,carpets,and

more.Thehorsesaretakenintotherivertoswimwhichisa

fantas7csi8httosee9

Appleby

BBCCumbria/MarkRobertson


HorsesareveryimportanttoTravellers.Historically,they

pro$idedessen+altransport.0o1adays,theys+llplayan

importantpartinTravellers’livesandaretakentofairs,like

ApplebyandKenilworth,forotherstolookat.

Also,Travellersusehorsesforselling,tradingandbuying.

Therearelotsofdifferenttypesandbreeds,suchasponies,

Shirehorses,Shetlandponies,Irishdraughthorses,mares,

foals,;elshsec+on<

cobsandmanymore.

Youngandold

Travellersputtheir

horsesonawagonor

acart.Thisismainly

doneattheTravellers’

fairs.

=orsesare$eryhard1orktolooka?erbecauseyouha$e

gottoshoethem,givethemfood(likecorn,hayandwater)

exercisethemandmuckthemoutregularly.Also,insummer,

theyneedwashing.


ApplebyFairhastobethebiggesthorsefairinTravellers’

history.

MillionsofTravellersmeetupeveryyeartobuyandsell

horses,birds,CrownDerby,WaterfordCrystal,carpets,and

more.Thehorsesaretakenintotherivertoswimwhichisa

fantas7csi8httosee9

Appleby

BBCCumbria/MarkRobertson


HorsesareveryimportanttoTravellers.Historically,they

pro$idedessen+altransport.0o1adays,theys+llplayan

importantpartinTravellers’livesandaretakentofairs,like

ApplebyandKenilworth,forotherstolookat.

Also,Travellersusehorsesforselling,tradingandbuying.

Therearelotsofdifferenttypesandbreeds,suchasponies,

Shirehorses,Shetlandponies,Irishdraughthorses,mares,

foals,;elshsec+on<

cobsandmanymore.

Youngandold

Travellersputtheir

horsesonawagonor

acart.Thisismainly

doneattheTravellers’

fairs.

=orsesare$eryhard1orktolooka?erbecauseyouha$e

gottoshoethem,givethemfood(likecorn,hayandwater)

exercisethemandmuckthemoutregularly.Also,insummer,

theyneedwashing.


The%rod)c+onof.his1oo2has1eens)%%or.ed1yleadar+s.s6

Mar+nS9i.hand:erry;avies6=i.h.heassis.anceof>ane.Mill=ard6

AdvisoryTeacherforTravellingChildrenWMCSTCSF.


SpeakingRomanyisveryimportanttotheTraveller

community)+tismainlytheoldergenera4onswhospea7it

themost.

RomanyisusedalongsideEnglishandisquitedifficultfor

otherstounderstand(especiallywhenspokenquickly).

Someexamplesofourdifferentwordsare;

Griye‐ahorse

Drum‐road

Varder‐caravan

Jellon‐comeon

Kichama‐thepub

Mawey‐amoth

Yoks‐eyes

Tud–milk

OurlanguageoriginatesfromIndiaandisderivedfrom

Sanskrit.


The%rod)c+onof.his1oo2has1eens)%%or.ed1yleadar+s.s6

Mar+nS9i.hand:erry;avies6=i.h.heassis.anceof>ane.Mill=ard6

AdvisoryTeacherforTravellingChildrenWMCSTCSF.


SpeakingRomanyisveryimportanttotheTraveller

community)+tismainlytheoldergenera4onswhospea7it

themost.

RomanyisusedalongsideEnglishandisquitedifficultfor

otherstounderstand(especiallywhenspokenquickly).

Someexamplesofourdifferentwordsare;

Griye‐ahorse

Drum‐road

Varder‐caravan

Jellon‐comeon

Kichama‐thepub

Mawey‐amoth

Yoks‐eyes

Tud–milk

OurlanguageoriginatesfromIndiaandisderivedfrom

Sanskrit.


!ome%mes,thewordsGypsyandTravellerare6onsideredin

anega%vewaybynon:Travellers.

AsyoungTravellersourselves,wewouldliketoendourbook

byexplainingwhatthesetwowordsmeantous.

Gypsy=

Traveller,Aomany,Ai6hCulture,Family,!haring,Deau%Eul

Language.

Traveller=

FamilyGalues,!trongCommunity,Celebra%ons,An6ient

Culture,ForgiveandForget.

Thomas Adams School


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A Travellers Life