Lifetimes

This collective autobiography was published as a set of seven booklets in 1975 with the support of the Manchester Studies department at what was then called Manchester Polytechnic and is now Manchester Metropolitan University.

Community development worker Greg Wilkinson initiated a project in which thirteen working people (aged between 28 and 50 at the time of publication) tell their own stories. They all live in Partington, an overspill estate / small town 10 miles south-west of Manchester city centre. Some of them moved there from inner city areas of Manchester where slum clearance took place. They write about subjects such as their childhoods, life, work, family and relationships. All writer-contributors were interviewed individually, wrote pieces about their own lives and also took part in groups discussions where they talk about all manner of topics, often getting philosophical and political. These autobiographies were the only published work that came out of the the project. Post-Lifetimes, Wilkinson went on to set up a weekly writers workshop which evolved into writing development organisation Commonword which continued the work of developing and publishing writers from Manchester.

•  Jack – a travelling salesman, Tory voter and jack-of-all-trades. Born in Hulme. Married to second wife Elsie.
  
•  Elsie – Born in Ancoats. Ex-machinist and -army wife. Has her own children and is a foster carer. Married to Jack.
  
•  Eric – born in Runcorn. Served in the Navy but had been long-term sick and unemployed. Has eight children with Betty.
•  Betty – born on the Isle of Man. Has eight children with Eric. Brought up by grandparents and left school at 14.
•  John – born in Barbados, but spent most of his adult life in England. Raised nine children with his wife Olive. Ex-welder, was studying to become a youth worker when Lifetimes was published.
•  Sarse – born Catholic in County Tyrone, Northern Ireland. Worked as a tanker driver, but lost several jobs because of his trade union activities.  Married to Sally with four children.
•  Sally  – born just over the border from Sarse in Country Donegal, Republic of Ireland. Worked as a school caretaker then started nursing. Married to Sarse with four children.
•  Mick – a cable engineer. Born into a Durham mining family but attended grammar school. Worked in London before moving to Partington. Married to Val with one child and another on the way.
•  Val – local campaigner and activist. Born into a Durham mining family but left home after her mother died and her father remarried. Worked in London before moving to Partington. Married to Mick with one child and another on the way.
•  Ron – Youth worker, father and mature student. Born in Barrow-in-Furness. Went to grammar school and university in London before moving to Partington. Partner to Hazel.
•  Hazel –  born in Cheetham Hill but spent later childhood in Wythenshawe. Escaped a strict Christian upbringing. Has worked as a foster carer and has one child. Divorced but now partner to Ron.