A Big Dingle Reunion is happening for anyone connected to the area over the past century

A Big Dingle Reunion is being planned for later this year and organisers are keen to get anyone connected with the area involved.

Coinciding with The Florrie’s 135^th anniversary, there’s going to be a huge celebration of Dingle over the past century.

That will include not only a good old birthday shindig, but there are also plans for a new short film and exhibition charting the history of one of Liverpool’s best-loved communities.

To make that happen, the organisers are asking for people to share their stories, memories, photos and videos, maybe of their time at school in Dingle, as part of a local football team or boxing club or even just family snaps from past generations. 

Tony Caveney, a fundraiser at The Florrie who’s lived in Dingle his whole life, explains:

“We want to highlight and preserve the real lives of our community, from the seemingly mundane to the extraordinary stories hidden within.

“It’s about the memories people have so we don’t just want a photo of a classroom, we want to know the background, what people remember and what they’re doing now.

“Although we’re tying it in with The Florrie’s birthday, this isn’t only about The Florrie, it’s anything about Dingle and people’s links to the area, whether they’re current residents, they now live in other parts of the city or the country or they’re ex-pats who’ve moved to live abroad.

“We want to create this network so people look at it and spot their nan or their mum or their neighbour or someone they went to school with; anyone they remember.”

Tony says the appeal only went on social media and already they’ve had lots of donations and offers of memorabilia.

“The interest has been amazing,” he adds. “In the first hour after we put it out, I was given two photos which we’ve never seen before – one was from 1920 and it was taken from down Mill Street, and The Florrie was on it showing how the outside used to be, so I think we’re going to be getting some great stuff.

“We’re asking people to bring their photos to The Florrie which we’ll itemise and securely store to look after them until we give them back and we want to digitally enhance them to make them look as good as possible.

“It’s telling the story of the area and we want to do it well and really do it justice.

“We’re also going to get people in to record their stories in our radio room so they’re archived for posterity as well. 

“Years ago, even in the 60s and 70s, people didn’t really have cameras as much, so older people’s spoken word is like a camera, it’s their way of passing down memories and we want to preserve those.”

Tony says they’re keen to document every aspect of life in Dingle, including sport, music, schools, and especially housing and the people who make the area.

“I’m 54 now and I went to The Florrie as a kid, I played footy and did my YTS here, and now I work in here.

“Like a lot of people, I feel very proud of our area and I have a strong sense of loyalty and protection towards it. 

“Everywhere I go in this city I come across people who have some link to Dingle, maybe going back to their great-grandad or nan who lived here. Even people who’ve moved out generations ago still feel that connection and pride. 

“What we’re doing is a celebration of our amazing area for people of all ages with any connection to The Dingle, to preserve our history for future generations.”

The Big Reunion event will happen on September 7, but Tony and the team at The Florrie are already collecting stories, photos and videos. Anyone who’s got anything to share can drop in or get in touch via email on info@theflorrie.org. 

Get more history for Liverpool HERE.