Over the summer I decided I wanted to volunteer for the charity Magic Me and get involved with one of their projects ‘Cocktails in care homes’. I really enjoy spending time and working with older people and this project seemed right up my street. As the project title suggests – we do just that drink cocktails with the residents in care homes. This is often followed by lots of laughter, a bit of shoulder dancing and the handing out of quite a few mini cheddars. Sometimes we sit in silence or have a good chat about family, the soaps or indulge in a bit of care home gossip. Magic Me encourage people to bring in things that might stimulate conversation with the older people with this in mind I specifically chose care homes in Stepney Green with the idea that I could speak to people about Old Flo.

I had a great evening at Hawthorn Green (Which is situated just near where Old Flo was located). I took in some photographs of Old Flo by the Ewhurst tower block and one of her as she currently sits in Yorkshire sculpture park. It was really insightful to get to talk to a group of people who have such specific memories of her one lady recalled how her and her brother use to go and visit Old Flo for something to do. She spoke with a genuine fondness of the sculpture as did quite a few people from the care home. After listening to their stories about the demolition of the estate I started to get a more clear idea about the circumstances of the re-location of Old Flo and the communities state of being at that time.

I am going to be going back to Hawthorn Green care home with the drawings I am currently making and I’m looking forward to talking to the residents some more about this.