Exhibition looks at how way we work has changed
LAST 60 YEARS
THE changing world of work – seen through the lens of Ladybird Books – is explored in a new exhibition.
People at Work: Earning a Living in a Ladybird World, at Charnwood Museum, in Loughborough, takes its inspiration from the series which began in 1962, with titles including The Policeman, The Postman, The Nurse and The Fireman.
The books, printed in Loughborough, depicted popular jobs of the day.
Some of the books, illustrated by John Berry, were updated in the 1980s, under the title People Who Help Us, using photos of real people carrying out their occupations – many of them in Leicestershire.
People at Work runs until October 1 and is free to visit.
The exhibition features original illustrations from the books – on loan from the Ladybird Books Archive held at the University of Reading – as well as objects and uniforms from Leicestershire County Council’s museum collections.
Younger visitors can dress up and try hands-on tasks such as cooking in a hotel kitchen, sorting letters and riding in a fire engine cab.
The People at Work exhibition also explores the ways in which occupations and attitudes have changed since the publication of the first titles 60 years ago.
The unique links Leicestershire residents have with the books have been woven into the exhibition to shed a 21st century light on the professions and to challenge some of the practices of the time – for example, police officers, firefighters and postal workers being all male, nursing being strictly for women, and a lack of diversity.
Contributions include Cailin-Jo Tyler, a firefighter based in Shepshed, nurses Daniel Sularz and Dominic Purnell, and Superintendent Manjit Atwal, the first female Punjabi police officer in Leicestershire.
Councillor Christine Radford, cabinet member for heritage, leisure and arts, said: “This is a fascinating exhibition.
“The original illustrations, the use of objects and uniforms from our collections and the stories from people involved in these professions today come together to create an exhibition which is sure to be another big hit for Charnwood Museum.”