Scaled down Gypsy caravan taking shape at Hartlebury

8:24am Thursday 6th August 2009

AN 80-year-old volunteer is building a scale model of a Gypsy caravan - with a little help from a teenage friend.

Ced Lewis has been working at Hartlebury Castle’s County Museum on the two-thirds-size bow top wagon for more than a year.

He has been supported by Aaron Bannister, 16, a member of the traveller community, who attends Baxter College in Kidderminster.

The main structure of Bita Rawni, which, in the Romani language means "little lady", has been built and it is expected to be finished in about six months.

When completed, it will be open to visitors, including schoolchildren, so they can experience the feeling of living in a Gypsy wagon.

Mr Lewis, who has been travelling from his Wolverhampton home twice a week for more than 18 years to volunteer at the museum, said: “Kids love the caravans. There’s so much history about them and they are so attractive.

“Everybody who comes here is fascinated by them.”

Mr Lewis said he enjoyed working at the museum, as it was like a “fairy land” to him.

He explained: “The opportunity to build and restore horse-drawn vehicles has been great. It’s been a fantastic 18 years because it’s opened up a whole new world to me.”

Aaron wants to pursue a career in woodwork and has already made a model of a traditional Gypsy wagon himself.

A full-sized wagon owned and lived in by Aaron’s grandfather is also currently on display at the museum, run by Worcestershire County Council.

Collection of Romany Gypsy wagons to be auctioned

One of the largest exhibitions of Romany Gypsy wagons in the country, held at Paultons Park in the New Forest, Hampshire, is being auctioned. The collection was put together by the museum's owners in the early 80s to preserve and remember the New Forest Romany culture. However, due to a steady decline of visitors to the exhibition, the items will go under the hammer at Paultons Park on Wednesday.

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Film a celebration of Gypsy music and culture

By Margaret Smith
GateHouse News Service
Posted Jan 20, 2009 @ 06:22 PM
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Acton, Mass. —

Exuberant violins and brass, the soaring passions and aching sorrows of flamenco echo across the same stage as a compelling drum beat from northern India -- rhythms from which these and many other sounds sprang.

These far-flung music styles came together in the Gypsy Caravan tour, chronicled in “When The Road Bends: Tales of A Gypsy Caravan,” which follows the artists, technicians and producers on a very noisy bus traveling to elite concert halls throughout North America.

The film is a dramatized documentary following the tour -- a dazzling survey of Gypsy music in its many forms, which included a Boston area stop -- and reaches into the inner lives of the artists and staff , both on stage and off.

Enthusiastic audiences greet them everywhere. With shots of the musicians’ encounters with devoted fans on sidewalks and during shows, the film slyly records how “right now” Gypsy music has become, even as Gypsy people continue to suffer discrimination and sometimes differ over how to chart a course for a better future.

Despite a common origin, the Gypsy communities represented on the tour have to work to find common ground, overcoming barriers of geography, language and cultural differences.

Interspersed with dazzling performance segments are segments of the performers’ friendships and occasional clashes on the bus and in hotel rooms, and glimpses into their lives back home.

These postcards from their native lands – forming a trail of the Gypsy diaspora, from India to the United States – are often sad, but not without silent victories.

In their homelands, even the most celebrated musicians can face struggles despite their celebrity status. Esma Redžepova, a celebrated Macedonian singer, recalls the plight of the influx of refugees from Kosovo.

The Romanian ensemble, Taraf De Haidouks, became stars through concerts and film appearances, with Johnny Depp – who appears briefly – among their fans and collaborators. But, band members support an entire, impoverished Gypsy village, where their large extended families live. Juana la del Pipa, matriarch of a flamenco family, speaks from her apartment in Spain about helping loved ones overcome drug addiction.

Extras include more concert footage, vintage footage and scenes of Gypsy life in various locales, an interview with Depp that rambles and provides little added insight.

Rich with history, stories, music and dance, “Gypsy Caravan” is a rare, candid insight into an intensely private people, with musicians – as they so often are – ambassadors -- shuttling between worlds in the hopes of bringing them together.

‘When The Road Bends: Tales of A Gypsy Caravan.’ Directed by Jasmine Dellal. Little Dust Productions. English, with Spanish, Romany, Romanian, Macedonian and Hindi with subtitles. Margaret Smith is Arts and Calendar Editor of GateHouse Media New England's Northwest Unit. E-mail her at msmith@cnc.com.

'Caravan' Puts Light On Gypsy Culture

August 26, 2008

Gypsy Caravan: When the Road Bends (Docurama, 2008) — Director Jasmine Dellal didn't set out to combat racism when she made "Gypsy Caravan." She just wanted to show off the wide variety of Gypsy musical styles seen throughout the world. But the overall message of this concert film is nonetheless racial enlightenment, as it shows members of one of the world's most misunderstood and shunned ethnic groups in a joyful and, more importantly, multidimensional light. These Gypsy musicians are so different, and their cultures so diverse, that at first when they get together to put on their show they don't see eye-to-eye about anything. They gradually warm to each other's differences and put on a lively performance that travels across the United States. In-depth profiles of each Gypsy musician give a fascinating glimpse of Roma life worldwide. Not rated.

Lives of gipsy travellers celebrated by museum

A CELEBRATION of gipsy traveller heritage and culture is being held for one day only at the County Museum.

The special event, called "Gipsies - who are ya!"on Sunday has been put together by the Worcestershire County Council Museum Service and the Worcestershire Gypsy Roma and Traveller Partnership.

Visitors will be able to see one of the country's largest displays of gipsy caravans, meet wagon painters and restorers, watch musical entertainment, displays of dance and demonstrations of traditional crafts.

Sue Pope, the county council's education and outreach officer, said: "This is a really exciting event where we have opened our doors and embraced the wider community and partners to jointly organise something that celebrates the lives and achievements of Worcestershire's gipsy, Roma and travelling communities."

Sergeant Allie Webster, gipsy and traveller diversity adviser for West Mercia police, said: "By working together the force can learn more about the gipsy and traveller communities and can help promote wider tolerance and understanding within non-traveller communities.

The event will take place between 11am and 5pm. Normal admission prices to the museum apply. For more information e-mail Sue Pope at spope@worcestershire.gov.

advertisementuk or telephone the County Museum on 01299 250416.

Gypsy caravan site may get go-ahead

Nov 14 2007

by simon halewood, Crewe Chronicle

CONTROVERSIAL plans for a Gypsy caravan site at Moston are expected to be given the green light by planning chiefs despite scores of objections.

A site for three Gypsy families, with two transit pitches and hard-standing, is proposed for Horseshoe Farm at Warmingham Lane.

Both Moston and Warmingham Parish Councils have objected to the plans arguing that ‘the Middlewich area is already well supplied with Gypsy sites’.

But supporters say the space is desperately needed to support the area’s growing number of Travellers and to reduce the number of illegal sites across the borough.

In total the council has received 53 letters and e-mails objecting to the plans from local residents.

One argued that ‘the potential overload to the community could be catastrophic’ while another claimed ‘Gypsies are abusive and intimidating to local people.’

A further letter of objection was received from the CW10 Residents’ Community Action Group. It stated: ‘The current public services and facilities within Middlewich are already at breaking point in respect of schools, doctors, dentists and the like.

‘The application is too vague and open to abuse in respect of the amount of caravans which could cover extended families.’

Planning permission is being requested by Rugby-based Philip Brown Associates Ltd on behalf of Oliver Boswell, of Horseshoe Farm.

In a report to the Congleton Borough Council planning committee, a development control manager concluded: ‘Residents refer generally to Gypsies having a lack of respect for other road users, fly tipping, causing disturbance, fighting, stealing and intimidating residents. In my opinion these issues are not of such weight as to sway the determination of this application.

‘The question of need can no longer be substantiated as a reason for refusal and therefore I must recommend approval.’

Borough mayor and representative to the Gypsy Council, Cllr Mike Parsons, believes the site is urgently needed.

He said: ‘It is a simple fact that we will continue to have problems until there are a sufficient number of sites.

‘People moan when police move them on but this site will provide somewhere Travellers can keep themselves to themselves.’

Congleton has the highest amount of Travellers’ accommodation in the county.

As the Chronicle went to print last night, the planning committee was due to make a decision.

Traditional Gypsy caravans draw a crowd

DOMINIC CHESSUM
18 June 2007 08:29

They may be something from a bygone age but these Gypsy caravans still know how to pull in a crowd.

Two of the immaculate horse drawn wooden vehicles pulled up at the King's Head pub in Heathersett on Saturday.

They are the pride on joy of brothers John and David Leveridge, who met at the pub with their family to celebrate John's birthday.

It had been hoped there would be five caravans in attendance but bad weather meant three were unable to make it to the venue.

Mr Leveridge, a Romany Gypsy, now lives a settled life in a bungalow in Great Metlon, near Hethersett but every year he is still drawn to the travelling lifestyle and takes off in his horse drawn caravan for three or four months.

The caravans have been painstakingly restored by John and his brother who believe it is important to keep up the old gypsy traditions.

The painted wooden caravan has come to symbolise the Gypsy life and traditionally families would live and travel in these colourful vehicles following a seasonal pattern of summer work on the county's farms.

In winter they would pull on to one of the traditional stopping places on the edges of towns or ancient common lands where they would eek out a living as knife sharpeners pot menders and basket and peg makers.

Gypsy Caravan: US Theatrical Release!

Gypsy Caravan (a.k.a.: When the Road Bends...tales of a Gypsy Caravan) launches its U.S. theatrical release in New York City this June! It will screen in over twenty US cities throughout the summer.

Don't miss this dazzling display of the musical world of the Roma, juxtaposed to the real world they live in! Check for screening dates and theaters in a town near you.

For more details contact Little Dust Productions at 212-228-7777 or info@littledust.com
-or-
Karen O'Hara at karenoh@aol.com or 520-326-0813.

More about the film...

This rich feature documentary by Jasmine Dellal (American Gypsy) and shot by Albert Maysles celebrates the luscious music of top international Gypsy performers and interweaves stirring looks at their home life and personal stories.

GYPSY CARAVAN is an uplifting and moving documentary which explores the real lives of the Roma as we travel to their homes in Macedonia, Romania, India and Spain. Meet their families and see what music brings to their lives – a link to an ancient culture, a common language, a traditional career – all of which is a stark and often painful contrast to life on the road.

The personal drama and stories of these characters are interwoven with their performances, reflecting the imagery and emotion of their music. We see love and death and tales of lives that are raw and rich. They make us laugh and cry and laugh again, allowing us to understand and expand on the riches of Romani music and history, and letting us enjoy knowing the people intimately.

GYPSY CARAVAN is currently screening at festivals in Seattle, London and Transilvania. It launched at Tribeca and garnered festival awards from San Francisco to Nashville and Vancouver, and from Korea to the Czech Republic.

Read about the outreach efforts of Gypsy Caravan and the lessons learned about bringing this film to Roma communities and new and unexpected audiences around the world.

• Gypsy Caravan Outreach Journal I by Lucy Kay

•Gypsy Caravan Outreach Journal II by Sara Nolan

•Salon.com summarized it well: "Let me read your thoughts: You're not much interested in Gypsy music, and the historical and cultural stuff might be pretty dry. That's what I thought too: Wrong and wrong. ...a cinematic and musical experience that's absolute magic."

Read the full article.

When the Road Bends...tales of a Gypsy Caravan released by Shadow Distribution

Starts
06/15/2007
Ends
08/11/2007

Issues
Economic Justice, Family & Society, Immigration, International, Politics/Government, Racial Justice, Poverty, Asia, Europe, Middle East, Romany

Homepage
www.GypsyCaravanMovie.com

Contact
info@littledust.com

Posted on June 15, 2007 in Film / Screening by Anayansi