As I walked towards the Fairfield Heritage Center building, I saw Connie charmingly waiting at the entrance to welcome the participants coming to attend the event of the day, she took me through the doors and introduced me to Emma (the Community Heritage Officer at Govan Heritage Trust). Although I have been visiting Govan many times, I have never realised that there was such a history living inside this building. Govan has so many stories to admire and yet to unearth - each conversation with a Govanite (even with those who have embraced it a home now) leads to a story to tell about people, building, ships, people’s struggle for welfare and rights; whilst the present generation of people trying to find or connect members from their family to one or the other such topics.

Within a few moments of introduction, each one around the grand table in the board room (used by those who were making important decisions in the good old days), became so much closer in conversations and heart – sharing stories about life, families and of course the links to Govan. The video presentation on the restoration work by the Govan Heritage Trust, artefacts meticulously preserved there, the guided tour and conversations with Emma evoked a sense of admiration and curiosity among all not only towards the history and the museum but also between each other as we walked and talked about our own lives.

Listening to people, especially the elderly, opens social history - spotlighting events, connections between the past and the present, feelings around them - of course, their life stories give motivation to sail through life with admiration and hope. The pandemic and the lockdown immensely affected people to people connection. Everyone seems to have wanted to meet, talk, laugh, have a cup of tea together - and I felt that the event contributed with another opportunity to reassure that we are not alone, can keep life going and with the hope that we will meet again.

This blog was kindly written Felician, one of our volunteer befrienders and peer supporters. If you are interested in writing a blog for No.1 please get in touch with connie@befriend.org.uk