By Linus Rees, chair of trustees

Pensioners at Fitzrovia Court admiring the finished publication of Ebb and Flow. Photo: Yang Zhou

Yesterday I had the pleasure of attending the launch of our publication Ebb and Flow: Interviews with pensioners in and around Carburton Street, W1.

The event was held at Fitzrovia Court the sheltered housing centre in Carburton Street where some of the the authors of the collection of memories published in this book live. Prior to the launch I had the opportunity to proof-read the publication and review it for Fitzrovia News.

Lunch party: enjoying some food and drink. Photo: Yang Zhou

The launch of this book was the end result of a more than a year’s work of fund-raising, project management, recording interviews, transcribing and translating, and designing. Twenty-two authors contributed to this collection, three people carried out interviews, many, many volunteers gave their time to help in one way or another, and five different organisations gave funding.

Some music and singing to celebrate the publication of Ebb and Flow. Photo: Yang Zhou

I must pay tribute to our development worker Barb Jacobson who had grabbed the project with a passion, made it the success it has been. She did this and juggled her other work at the same time. And the other thing she managed to do was complete and successfully win a large bid to the Big Lottery for three years’ funding to continue the work she has developed.

Copies of Ebb and Flow: Interviews with pensioners in and around Carburton Street, W1, Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Association: London, (2010) 48 pages, are available from the Fitzrovia Neighbourhood Centre, 39 Tottenham Street, London W1T 4RX priced £5