On 14 June the Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre ran a very successful community event at Manchester Central library. Ian Johns, local photographer and director of FotoGraFix, showed over 200 of his wonderful photographs of Moss Side and Hulme, taken over the last three decades. These included photographs of buildings such as the old Hulme Crescents; community groups, including Chrysilis and Abisindi; protests, demonstrations; performances and celebrations. Lots of local people had been captured in the photographs and the audience delighted in naming individuals, while also cringing at images of themselves.

Jacqui Carroll, creative director of REELmcr then showed a film previewing an excerpt of a poem being written for their ‘Hulme, sweet, Hulme’ project. Local people have been working with poet Tony Walsh (aka Longfella, writer of ‘This is the place’), sharing their memories, experiences and feelings about Hulme, past and present. An event will be held later in the year, celebrating the creation of the full poem.

The atmosphere at the event was friendly and the audience were eager to speak to Ian afterwards, hoping for photography tips and to reminisce. There was also lots of discussion as to how Ian’s photographs can be saved for future generations to enjoy and to ensure an accurate record of the community and era is preserved. The Ahmed Iqbal Ullah Race Relations Resource Centre will be storing Ian’s powerpoint presentation, which included the digital images and, like the audience, they would welcome the creation of a publication, to showcase and disseminate this unique collection.

Please contact rrarchive@manchester.ac.uk if you would like to see Ian’s powerpoint or the REELmcr film excerpt.