Hidden stories of Warwickshire: Celebrating Gypsy Roma Traveller (GRT) History Month

On Thursday 20 June, an engagement event took place at Leek Wootton, where Warwickshire Police and key partners from the GRT engagement working group came together to celebrate Gypsy Roma Traveller History Month.

Warwickshire Libraries, in partnership with Romany Gypsy artist Gemma Lees, delivered a series of free community roadshow events last week, visiting five libraries across the county and culminating in this celebratory event.

Gemma Lees, who is a Romany Gypsy, disabled and neurodiverse artist, performance poet, facilitator, and journalist, said: “I have been so privileged to work with the Gypsy and Traveller Year 5 pupils and their classmates at Wolvey CofE School. This school educates 25% of all GRT children in Warwickshire, and, in the run up to GRT History Month in June, they have been carrying out various arts and crafts projects to celebrate Gypsy and Traveller culture, language, heritage crafts and our histories in Warwickshire.

“This project means a lot to me as I have been able to serve as both a positive influence to the Gypsy and Traveller children - showing them a different side to Gypsies, the side that is not reported by the mainstream media - and to teach them about their classmate’s lives, histories and language, hopefully creating a better understanding between them all.”

Gemma visited the extensive archives at the Warwickshire Record Office as well as the Local Studies collection at Nuneaton Library to look into Wolvey CofE School’s registration records. Going back 100 years, she explored many documents in order to create a resource on GRT people and their histories in Warwickshire, which is available to read here: bit.ly/GRTHistory.

Since 2008, every June people from across the UK have celebrated Gypsy, Roma, and Traveller History Month. Through celebration, education and raising awareness, the month aims to tackle prejudice, challenge myths and to amplify the voices of Gypsies, Roma and Travellers in wider society.

The Warwickshire GRT engagement working group was established in 2020 and consists of a collection of professionals and support services along with several schools. Partners include representation from the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner, Warwickshire County Council, EMTAS, Community Safety, Equip, and a variety of other established service providers. The group’s focus is around positive engagement, access to services and education.

This year, the working group created a challenge for primary schools in Warwickshire, encouraging them to create pieces of art linked to this year’s GRT history month theme of 'What does family mean to you?’, with a focus on the meaning of family, and the different shapes and sizes they can be. Nine schools from across the county participated in the project, creating a variety of pieces of artwork.

The artwork was displayed at Leek Wootton, with some of the participating schoolchildren from Wolvey CofE School invited to attend the event. Further creative activities took place on the day including the creation of a Romany stone wheel and the building of a bender tent. The artwork and a video featuring images from the event will now be taken on a roadshow throughout Warwickshire, with the aim of trying to increase a better understanding within communities, improve cohesion and dispel some of the stereotypical myths regarding GRT communities.

Warwickshire Gypsy and Traveller Tactical Advisor Martin Rone-Clarke, who co-ordinated the event, said: “It is so important that we celebrate all histories and cultures that exist in our very diverse communities. Identities, history, and culture must never be hidden for fear of discrimination.

“It has been so uplifting to see children from all communities working together to create some wonderful artwork to celebrate GRT History Month and the enthusiasm from both children and teachers in learning and expressing their discoveries. I am sure that this year’s celebration in Warwickshire will encourage others to get involved in the future and that will help to provide a better understanding and education in the wider community around this rich colourful culture and long history.”

“It’s only through understanding and acceptance that we can build stronger, more inclusive communities. The artwork produced by the children is an important part of building that understanding and it was great to see their colourful contributions. I’m pleased that their work will be going on display around the county and I hope the children will all be very proud of their achievements.”

Assistant Chief Constable Ben Smith, who spoke at the event, added: “Thank you to the children who have used their creative ability to produce pieces of wonderful art that bring to life GRT culture and history around the themes of 'Hidden Stories' and 'Family'.

"GRT History month is a time to celebrate the richness that Gypsy, Roma and Traveller communities bring to people’s everyday lives here in the UK, and the many and varied contributions they have made to British society for many years. Today gives us the chance to join in with this celebration."