Magical memories of Colne Muni form new app

Pendle Leisure Trust received funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund for this exciting project, which has been made possible through money raised by National Lottery players.

To explore the heritage of the Muni and find out what it means to the people of Colne, local residents and users of the Edwardian theatre were asked to look back on their earliest memories.

And the conclusion was that the town centre theatre is full of happy and wonderful memories, is an asset to the local community, is recognised as a core part of the heritage of the area and one that will hopefully still be accessible for years to come!

From the findings, an A-Z of memories has been created, which includes everything from Amazing Acoustics, Famous Faces and Festivals to Peter Kay, Plays and Parties.

The wealth and breadth of memories is as diverse and far reaching as the range of events that have taken place at The Muni over its incredible history.

The Trust’s Grant Funding Manager, Kathy Titterton, said: “To our knowledge there is no comprehensive history of the Muni, so it was important to capture people’s memories before they are lost forever. It proved to be a fascinating exercise and it was wonderful to hear all the memories from a wide range of staff, performers and customers.

“This initial project gathered information to create a report and an activity plan for an in-depth creative public engagement programme that will be woven through a larger project to help the Trust secure a future for this important heritage.

“The Memory Map A-Z of the Muni involves individual stories and memories and what has become evident is the important role the building has played in the stories we’ve heard; its high communal and historical value and the fact it is still a requirement of the town today.

“The stories captured will be shared with the community, as well as submitted to the Lancashire Archives for posterity.”

Research was carried out between October 2019 and January 2020 by The Evaluator, through telephone conversations, face-to-face meetings, focus groups, emails, interviews and social media chats.