This evening I've chosen to look though my collection of random Milton Keynes stuff, the first piece of paper I pulled out was a leaflet from 1980 providing inforamtion about the 'new' shopping building. 'Welcome to Central MIlton Keynes where everything has been designed to provide you with shipping as it should be' - This is the opening line on the leaflet, and what a bold opening statement. It then goes on to boast that there are over 6000 free car parking spaces, all at ground level and all within a short walk of the main building. Futher reading provides information on the 'Design Centre Showhouse' on North Elventh Street, where the contents of the house have been selected from the Design Index and many of the goods are on sale in the shopping centre. Looking back at the list of shops, it clear to see that our shopping 'high street' have clearly changed. Opposite Mcdonalds there was once the City Duck (Public House) and not far along was Jemimahs (Wine Bar).. Also gone are George Ort (Bakers), Gerrards (Greengrocers) and Goddens (Butchers). And of course there was a section of specalist retailers, where the public loos are now located. It's nice to see some independent names that are still present, including Stephen Conway (Jewllers). Another big change on the map is the now missing 'City Square'. Orginally a large open space this has since become Marks & Spencer, there wasnt really much in the square just a few childrens playpark rides and lots of open space. I think the best way to discribe it would be a mirror image of the area outside the station. Have you ever noticed that the path of the south side of the shopping building has more room than the north? Well this isnt a mistake, the designers of the shopping building knew that the south side would get more sun, they had visions of people sitting outside enjoying the summer evenings. Which is also why all of the food outlets were orignally located on this side. Anyway - Thats enough of the list of stuff which isnt there anymore, now its time for the infamous advert -
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The MK Gallery currently has an exhibition which allows visitors to experience a nostalgic look back at the 'finer' days of Milton Keynes, and celebrates the work undertaken by the Milton Keynes Development Corporation pre-1992. On arrival to the gallery you are welcomed by the faint sound of the Red Balloon advert playing on loop in the cube gallery and display cases full of leaflets, magazine pages and postcards that at one point in history formed the propaganda which encouraged so many to become inhabitants of what was once known as Europe's largest building site. Normally I would make sure I spent an hour or two checking out such an exhibition but this time its a bit different because i've loaned a quite a few items on display. Most have been purchased from eBay with the exception for a couple of items which have been purchased by chance when visiting charity shops. One of my most interesting item has been a VHS tape called 'Milton Keynes Megamix' purchased for 10p from Age Concern in Bletchley. At the time the person behind the till didn't know if it was just a blank tape so was willing to give me it for free. I've since learnt that the tape was produced and given to members of the MKDC when it was wound up in 1992. It's a nostalgic look back across the first 25yrs of the corporation, and contains the three famous TV adverts, television news clips documenting the new towns progression and how it celebrated turning 25, but the most impressive of all is some ariel footage which shows unfinished Milton Keynes. This video started what could only be called an obsession with items about Milton Keynes hence my ever growing collection, i thought if this video could be donated to a charity shop and possibly thrown in the bin what else was going to end up in landfill? As well as the exhibition the MK Gallery put on a number of Events which explored the themes of 'Why we came to Milton Keynes' and 'What Does our Future Look Like?' Attending these events were some prominent people from the early days of MK. One such person is captured below, his name is Derek Walker and was first Chief Architect of the MKDC. He remarked during presentation that he got the job because 'he wanted to build Milton Keynes to be greener than the surrounding countryside'. It was also nice to meet so many other ex-MKDC members and watch them become transfixed to the snippets of the VHS I had saved from the charity shop bin. I think the normal enjoyment I experience from looking at the items on display was considerably eclipsed by hearing the memories which my items triggered in others.
You'd have to be quick to catch the exhibition now as it closes on the 5th January 2014. For more information visit - http://www.mkgallery.org/exhibitions/future_city/ The MK Gallery has used this exhibition to provide a backdrop to reveal its exciting expansion plan, and wants reflect on what has brought us to this point and consider aspects of its future. Its very important to note that not all of the items on display are mine, and credit show also go to - 6a, Milton Keynes City Discovery Centre, The Living Archive, Milton Keynes Council, Buckinghamshire County Museum and The Open University. Pupils from Deanshanger Primary School, Slated Row School and Swallowfield School; Ms Christine Behrendt, Mark Coster, Marjorie Mackintosh, Sue Malleson, Helen Mayes, Dave Quayle, Suzan St Maur and Haili Sun. |