CAT Machynlleth

January 17th sees the launch of a podcast and exhibition about the Centre for Alternative Technology’s oral history project. The Glasu funded project seeks to celebrate, commemorate and investigate 40 years of CAT history in preparation for 40th anniversary celebrations in 2014. 15 volunteers and project organiser Allan Shepherd have together conducted over 70 interviews and some of the results will be available to listen to and see for the first time at two events in Machynlleth on January 17th and 19th.

The events will promote oral history, tell the story of CAT through the voices of those that made it and give people the chance to tell their own story and that of their involvement with CAT in ‘half-hour history’ recordings.

Organiser Allan shepherd says “We’ve interviewed over 70 people for the CAT oral history project so far but these events give people we have not been able to interview a chance to tell their own story, as well as listen to the stories of others. It will also allow anyone who is interested the opportunity to find out more about the history of CAT, talk to us about setting up their own oral history project in the area and find out what oral history is all about. We have all learned a lot from this project and we would like to pass a little of that knowledge on.”

“There will be displays, photos from 40 years ago and we will also launch a podcast that tells the story of how CAT started. The podcast starts and finishes with the voice of local farmer Huw Jones, who saw the arrival of CAT in the Dyfi valley and also includes interviews with some of the first people to live and work at ‘The Quarry’ as it was known then. The interviews have unearthed numerous hidden stories and it will be exciting to make those available to people through this podcast and other projects that will follow, leading up to 40th anniversary celebrations next year.”

The first event will be held at the Quarry Cafe on Thursday 17th January between 4pm and 9pm; the second on Saturday January 19th at the Owain Glyndwr Centre, between 11am and 3pm. Refreshments will be available at both events, entrance is free and you can come at any time. The displays will be in Welsh and English and a bi-lingual leaflet and questionnaire will be available. For those who cannot make either events the podcast will be available on January 17th on CAT’s blog.