6 – Coming Together Safely

A Digital Community Exhibition – July 2020

Together with the rest of the UK, Wycombe Museum went into lockdown on 23 March due to the Coronavirus pandemic.

Museum staff worked from home to begin with, then most were furloughed. Keeping in touch with our volunteers, one of them suggested we do an exhibition of local experiences of lockdown. This became possible with funding from Arts Council England, and we appealed for photos of lockdown through social media.

The images we received divided into sections, reflecting the main themes of lockdown:

1 – Staying Home

2 – Supporting the NHS

3 – Making and Growing

4 – Connecting Remotely

5 – Once a Day Outdoors

6 – Coming Together Safely

7 – Lifting Lockdown

Section 6 – Coming Together Safely

Mothers’ Day, Easter and Eid were all celebrated remotely this year, as was the 75th anniversary of VE Day, and a large number of birthdays. As lockdown lifted slightly, many of us could come together at a safe distance for celebrations and for a peaceful and safe Black Lives Matter protest in Marlow.

By Tony Green, taken in High Wycombe "The 75th anniversary of VE Day took place on the 8th May. Many events were planned to celebrate this anniversary. Sadly, these all had to be cancelled. Buckinghamshire Council illuminated some of their buildings in red, white and blue to mark the occasion. This shows the former District Council offices in Queen Victoria Road."

By Sumit Srivastava, taken in Downley Socially distanced VE day celebration in Hithercroft Road, Downley

By Sian Griffiths, taken in High Wycombe "The social distancing party that took place on 10/05/20 on Pimms Grove for Colin Moore’s 80th birthday. Colin is the one with his hand in the air. Everyone brought their own drink, toasted Colin and sang happy birthday. Colin was chuffed."

By Michael New, taken in Marlow "Peaceful protest in Higginson Park to support the Black Lives Matter movement."

'My 50th Socially Distant Greetings' by Jo Dimmock, taken in Stokenchurch "My friend and her children chalked on the road outside."

By Hilary Payne, taken in White Close, Downley "I took this and was pleased to see it had all the elements of a lockdown party: the unnatural spaced-out stances of my husband and our neighbours. The box of free plants for people to take home. The ubiquitous bunting. Our social distanced picnic tables. The three balloons of orange, white and green were to represent my Irish husband, the more traditional red, white and blue are out of shot."

By Heather Green, taken in High Wycombe "VE Day celebrations at Hughenden Garden Village retirement apartments. Balconies were decorated with bunting and residents participated in 2 minutes silence at 11.00 am."

By Heather Green, taken in High Wycombe "All residents at Hughenden Garden Village were fortunate enough to enjoy entertainment watched from apartment balconies. Entertainers who are also staff sang to us from the car park. Being on the fifth floor, whilst the sound was magnificent, the performers looked extremely small as this picture taken on 15th April 2020 shows."

By A. Davidson, taken in Downley "08-05-20 Red Arrows fly past my back garden! With thanks to my brother for his text to warn me that they were coming my way, from Bracknell then on to Milton Keynes. His ETA for High Wycombe was spot-on. A few thrilling minutes kept me buzzing all day."