Beginnings
In 2004 old friends attending the 50th reunion of former pupils of Belle Vale School began reminiscing about old times and the days they all lived in the Belle Vale prefab community. A few of the ex-pupils recalled their idyllic childhood and it was felt that this extraordinary time in their lives was far too important to be forgotten. They did not envision from this conversation that the Belle Vale Prefab Project would be formed with the intention of bringing together former neighbours and friends. Nor did they realise that a book would follow.
Letters were sent out and leaflets distributed and posted in the local shops and library calling upon anyone who had lived in the Belle Vale Prefabs to attend a meeting in the Millennium centre, which stood on the site of the old Labour Club. Following this first and subsequent meeting the Belle Vale Prefab Project was established and a Project Committee was set up to raise funding and to gather memories and old photographs about life in the Prefabs. The Project was also fortunate to secure the services of Sir Terry Leahy to act as President of our Project. Many will recall that Terry, as a young child, lived in Endbrook Road on the prefab estate.
The First Project
Funding for a book was obtained through various local organisations and contributions were received from both Project members and from others who had emigrated to other parts of the world. They were all linked by a common interest and love of the history of a small but unique community. Their individual enthusiasm and interest is reflected throughout the book and enabled each to express this and to ensure that they all felt a part of this gathering of information No one person has written this book, it is an accumulation of each individuals memories, all working together for one goal to produce a factual and sometimes humorous account of life in the prefabs.
“Prefab Days – A Community Remembers” was published in December 2006 after a hectic 15 months. Inevitably a certain degree of repetition may have occurred, this has been necessary to ensure continuity within each chapter and some of the facts may have become blurred by the passage of time. The book can never be truly finished, new facts are being brought to light as the group continues to grow. We hope it will inspire others to record and pass on their own record of history to produce a sequel and both books will in time become a community’s legacy to future generations.
Going Forward
There are regular meetings for members to be reunited with old friends and neighbours and the group has continued to grow and interact with other local organisations. The Prefab Project has taken part in two exhibitions set up by the Liverpool Museums. The Heroes Project was created to celebrate heroes from local communities and Dick Squires MBE, a former resident of Charlwood Avenue, was honoured for his bravery during his war time services both by this country and Russia. The second project, “Four Corners of Liverpool” our exhibit was a post war prefab, intended to recall memories and aspirations in a time of change and transition.
Get Involved
If you were a resident of Belle Vale Prefabs and wish to be involved with the group why not register to the site and come along to the meetings. On the other hand you may wish to record your memories of life in the community for possible inclusion in the sequel to “Prefab Days”. Do you have old photographs which you want to share with the Project on the web site or do you recognise anyone in the photographs which have so far not been attributed. If so read the following page and start posting your pictures and memories.