REMEMBER EDITH CAVELL

Today is the anniversary of the execution in Belgium of WW1 nurse Edith Cavell.

Image created by Dave Roberts which was shown as part of the HLF exhibition at St Martin In The Fields October 2015

Our HLF project BRUSSELS AT DAWN investigated her contribution to nursing and how she ended up in Belgium running a hospital, teaching nursing and why she was arrested for espionage.

Edith Cavell Window at St Olave’s                                            Image by Michael Cheetham

We worked with the Cavell Nurses Trust, The Royal London Hospital, The Florence Nightingale Museum, Belgian Edith Cavell Commemorative Group and the Royal College of Nursing to research this extraordinary woman’s life and her contribution to nursing.

We created a puppet show, exhibitions and have a series of films (including interviews with her descendant Dr Emma Cavell and author Diana Souhami), papers and resources created by both experts and community participants.

Edith Cavell Resources

Every year someone from Unity Arts lays a rose on the Edith Cavell statue in Trafalgar Square on her birthday – 4th December.

We never want her forgotten.

Interview with Dr Emma Cavell

In January 2016 we visited Cardiff University to interview Dr Emma Cavell, a direct descendant of Edith Cavell’s uncle, George.

She is pictured here with her daughter Edith.

Emma Cavell Oral History

 

 

Booklet Available as PDF

The commemorative booklet BRUSSELS AT DAWN is now available as a PDF

Brussels at Dawn Booklet

 

Edith Cavell Birthday

To close the project BRUSSELS AT DAWN we will be meeting at the Edith Cavell Statue on 4 DECEMBER 2015 at 2pm to lay some flowers. Afterwards we will look back over our research, trips and events in an informal meeting in St Martin In The Fields. We will also be distributing copies of the commemorative booklet.

Please email unityarts@hotmail.co.uk if you wish to attend or leave a reply below.

Interview with Phil Manning St Olave’s

An interview about the Edith Cavell window at St Olave’s, Hart Street, London and Phil Manning’s thoughts on the life of Edith Cavell.

Edith Cavell Window

Propaganda Talk 8 November

As part of the installation at St Mary’s there will be a short talk within the exhibition using the propaganda references to illustrate how Edith Cavell’s execution was used as a propaganda tool.

BRUSSELS AT DAWN Exhibition – Stoke Newington

BRUSSELS AT DAWN is being hosted by St Mary’s Church, Stoke Newington Church Street, N16 9ES 2 – 12 November to coincide with Remembrance events.

The installation will be a selection of the pieces previously exhibited at St Martin In The Fields. It is fitting that the community bring their work back to St Mary’s in Hackney as for many of our group it is their local church.

 

 

100th Anniversary Commemorations

We attended the wreath laying ceremony at Trafalgar Square. Some of our researchers dressed in WW1 nurses’ uniforms each laid a single white rose at the statue. Taking these Live Exhibits outside meant that many of the public who did not know what was going on could understand why so many had gathered to commemorate Edith Cavell.

Some attended the Cavell Nurses’ Trust event in St Martin’s Hall and we also presented the puppet show BRUSSELS AT DAWN – Jack’s Story and gave away many, many copies of our booklets.

It was a very moving day and we felt we did Edith Cavell’s memory proud.

Diana Souhami Interview

A team visited Diana Souhami in her home this month. She kindly gave us a succession of interviews and allowed us to film and photograph the process. We will be posting the full interview here on the website.

Trip to Brussels to Interview Belgian Experts

As part of our research we are gathering interviews about  Edith Cavell’s life from the Belgian perspective. Edith Cavell is venerated in Brussels and the Belgian Ambassador in London is a supporter at many Cavell Nurses’ Trust Events.

We have secured the help of Andrew Brown from the Belgian Edith Cavell Commemorative Group to investigate Cavell’s time in Brussels more deeply and also to interview him as a resource for our website. We will also be interviewing other experts from  the Universatie Catolique De Louvain and the Royal Military Museum Brussels