Fest’ Oie (Goose Festival – Sarlat)
- February 19, 2014
Eve Hostettler, 72 is the saviour of Isle of Dogs history. She keeps the story of people, docks and ships through images of the past alive. The life of people was dramatically changed by the blitz in World War II.
Eve, who did her BA and MA degrees in Essex University in history, talks about her passion to rediscover the spirit of a working class community which was the main hub and gateway to the city of London. She sacrificed her PhD and her life in Lincolnshire Countryside 32 years ago to enter into a new challenging life in a deserted ghost-like town.
“I was working on my research project in 1980 when one day my tutor showed me a job advert for a community project in London which changed my life” says Eve. She describes her first visit to the area: “I travelled by a bus to London and then look around the Island. There were a lot of trees and council housing blocks, and not many old buildings. It was not beautiful and seemed like an abandoned place, but I knew it is my place and I have to be here.”
Eve, who looks younger than her age has married twice and has 2 children and 4 grandchildren, works in Island-Trust with the same energy and enthusiasm as she started 32 years ago. She draws a salary but spends a lot of her time doing volunteering work. Eve is a proud writer who has been fascinated about the history of the Island which led her to write her two books about the history of Isle of Dogs from 1066 to 1980. She also publishes a bio-monthly news bulletin which keeps the spirit of Island alive.
Eve got used to the area very quickly and although she did not know anyone, she managed to build her personal life and tried to learn and communicate with local people. She says: “I only knew my fellow worker Bernett. We did not know anyone and anything about the Island. We got a couple of bikes and cycled around the island to get an overall view of the area. It was empty and very quiet.”
They decided to drop leaflets in people’s houses to invite them to tell their stories and send their old pictures. Out of 1000 leaflets, only Ada Price responded who became a great volunteer. Her tremendous knowledge of the area helped them a lot.
“I started history classes in George Green School. The local people were very keen to know about the past history and wanted to relate to it. One day one of the participants brought along a photo showing Islanders from the 1930s. It was amazing and a great starting point” says Eve.
The photo was a turning point in Eve’s oral history project which consequently concluded an archive of over 5000 images mainly provided by local residents. She enlarged the image and placed it at shop windows which attracted a lot of attention. “It was just like bees in a honey pot. People started talking about it. They recognised the relative or friends and found some kind of connection with it. The people who were grown up in 30s and their childhoods had been blown apart by the war” Says Eve.
Eve talks emotionally: “Their homes and schools had been bombed, their whole lives had been turned upside down and after that they lost touch with people. The photo restored their connections and the idea grew in popularity. Our project brought people together to share their memories and tell their stories.”
Eve continues: “The people still say it was a lovely place to live despite poverty”. It was a warm and vibrant community with deep integration. The people lived there and worked in docks or factories in walking distance and used to join in pubs in the evening. Eve’s photo archive project enabled people to rediscover their childhood memories.
The collection was digitised in 1990s and may become available online soon. Following her work which started in 1980, the project became a registered charity in 1985. It is run by local trustees and funded partly by subscriptions and donations. The Islands historical asset is kept in two little-known offices in Dockland Settlement Centre.
Eve’s best memory of Island is when she walked everyday through the garden roses to get into her job next to Christ Church and she never regretted to leave her PhD research. Her worst memory has always been lack of funding and her anxiety to keep the project going.
The dramatic story of Island never ends and nothing stops Eve’s work while she is fit to do so.
I watched part of the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee river pageant celebration on TV on Sunday 3rd June. As a keen photographer, I felt that it was a shooting opportunity I should notmiss. The weather was not encouraging though. I continued watching the program on TV and followed the flotilla pass in front of the Queen and head towards Tower Bridge. I was not sure whether to go or carry on watching it on TV. It was after 3:30pm that I eventually decided to go, along with my wife, despite the bad weather.
I approached Tower Bridge, seeing the crowd standing and waving their different coloured umbrellas, watching the big screen while access to the bridge was closed to the public.
The place was very crowded, wet, slippery and uncomfortable. It was not easy to move around without knocking someone’s umbrella. I returned and tried to approach the river through a side road. But it was closed. I quickly decided to go through St. Katherine’s Dock and Tower Hotel. It was an easier route than I expected. I passed through the hotel entrance and got into the east side of the bridge. There was a crowd of people with British flags, painted faces and some dressed from head to toe in the colours of the Union. I had to use my camera over people’s shoulders to capture the scenery. I was getting very annoyed and the rain was getting heavier.
Finally, I managed to get to the front of the railings and not have anyone in front of me. However, I had a short girl standing next to me and the rain slid down the side of her umbrella and poured over my jacket. I was getting really irritated. My wife was holding the umbrella for me, but it kept moving away and the rain was getting over my camera. I was feeling cold and wet and my wife was also nagging me to go home. However, I continued and became more engaged in taking photos of the boats and ships, which passed through the opened bridge and by the Queen’s ship which was to my left. I could see some people’s backs on the royal ship but could not recognize them. I took a lot of pictures of the people, the bridge, the buildings and boats around me.
As the orchestra brought the pageant to an end, I slowed down and focused on taking pictures of the people who moved across the bridge in the far distance and the crowd around me. Despite very bad weather conditions, it was a cheerful day to see a large crowd by the River Thames celebrating a national day. I was also very pleased to have the opportunity to capture a historical moment.
When I checked my images of the event later in the evening, I noticed that I had actually captured shots of the Queen and the Royal family, but unfortunately from behind and side view.
GET ME THERE
Frejus is a little town situated between the hills of the Masif des Maures and Esterel, in Provence, south of France. Julius Caesar founded the historic Roman town in 49 BC. It functioned as an important port in the beginning of the Christian era. Today, Frejus, which merges with nearby St Raphael has a small marina port and a fine narrow sandy beachside strip. It has preserved its architectural heritage, famous for its amphitheatres, pillars and arches.
The old town and its surroundings offer plenty of interests to visitors with its mild weather all year round.
HOW TO GET THERE
The most convenient way to get to Frejus is to fly to Nice and then hire a car. BA (08444930787,www.ba.com) flies direct from City Airport, Heathrow and Gatwick from £100 return. Easyjet (08431045000,www.easyjet.com) departs from Gatwick and Stansted as well as Luton from £75.00 return. Airfrance (08716633777,www.airfrance.com) runs indirect flight from Heathrow and City Airport from £200 return.
Frejus is only 36 miles from Nice airport. If you are interested in sightseeing, it is useful to hire a car to drive around the French Riviera’s 
coastlines and countryside. Avis (08445810147,www.avis.com) offer competitive rates starting at £20 per day.
WHERE TO STAY
The cheapest option is to stay in a nearby holiday park. La baume and Green are 4-star holiday parks which have a wide range of facilities. You can book your accommodation or tent pitch from Keycamp (0844406200,www.keycamp.co.uk) or Eurocamp (08444060402, www.eurocamp.co.uk). They have several economy and luxury units in the French Riviera offering very good rates in low season from £18 per night.
If you are looking for a low budget accommodation, but wish to stay closer to the old town and beach, Atoll Hotel (0033494515377,www.atollhotel.fr) which is just 100 metres from the marina in the heart of Fréjus is another good choice. Free on-site parking is provided, and the attractions are easily accessible on foot.
WHERE TO EAT
Grand Cafe de l’Esterel (0033494515050) is a convenient and popular brasserie which offers a single menu at rock-bottom prices renewed every day to satisfy your appetite at lunch time.
Les Micocouliers (0033494521652) is a nice restaurant with a most appealing summer terrace (heated in the winter) set up on the square opposite the Groupe Espiscopal church.
SHOPPING
There are a variety of markets in Frejus. The Provencal markets are a bit of a tourist trap. However on Saturday morning there is an Arab Market held for locals by the Roman Theatre in Frejus old town.
If you’re staying for several days or weeks, a trip to do your grocery shopping in the Geant Casino superstore is a must. It’s also good to look in souvenir shops for affordable gifts for friends and family back home.
SIGHTSEEING PLACES
The best nearby attractions include an extraordinary Sudanese Mosque in red stone built by sailors from Mali based at Frejus in the 1920s. There is also the L’Esterel Safari Park, a zoo which can be visited by car. You can also find Aquatica, a huge water park in the west of town.
CALENDER
Beravade Saint-Francois is a traditional religious procession that takes place on the third Sunday after Easter through the historic town centre. It is a very colourful ceremony where locals dress in the medieval Provencal costume and men dress in soldier’s uniforms from Napoleon’s time.
Fete du Raisin is the celebration of the first wine grapes, harvested during the first week in August. Local producers offer wine tasting.
If you travel in the Riviera region in May, you also have an opportunity to visit the Cannes Film Festival and the Monaco Formula1 race.
