
A photo album can showcase a treasure trove of memories. But with Sheree Charalampous's textured photo books, the compilation process is just as important.
Ms Charalampous has been working with residents of Jewish Care's Vi and John Rubens (Redbridge) and Clore Manor (Hendon) homes to produce tactile albums as part of the charity's creative arts development programme.
For the residents, involvement in the collation allows them to reminisce about family, career, music and other interests.
And by stimulating memories through touch, those with dementia are helped to recall major life events.
Having studied textile design at Chelsea School of Art, Ms Charalampous is the social co-ordinator at Jewish Care's Sidney Corob House, supporting those with mental health issues.
She became engaged with the charity through volunteering at its Sam Beckman Day Centre, helping people living with dementia and was also involved in a project where Holocaust survivors produced memory quilts that were displayed at the Jewish Museum.
For each album, Ms Charalampous talks to the resident and their close family and they look at old photos together. She says that participants get a lot out of the experience, remembering dresses they made and the dances they wore them to. "Some have sewing skills that have been used in the project.
"Seeing the photos on fabric always fascinates them and makes them nostalgic and sometimes tearful. These books create a lasting legacy."
At Clore Manor, 99-year-old Rose Taylor is flicking through her album with her brother David, having carefully removed it from the fabric bag Ms Charalampous has made to protect the decorative cover.
She worked for 40 years in the rag trade and as well as family photos, her book features images of seamstresses.
"The album is wonderful," she says. "I made five bridesmaid dresses when I was 15 in 1931 and some of those girls wearing them were in the Jewish Chronicle."
For Jack and Betty Pollack, memories recalled include Mr Pollack's wartime days as an RAF mechanic. For his wife, "there's a photo of me in 1952 when I won the Miss North London beauty contest. I won a canteen of cutlery presented to me by a boxer and an actress.
"At the time, Jack's father owned a fashion clothing factory in the East End which they named Lydia's, after Jack's younger sister who still visits Jack regularly.
"I knew Lydia and she introduced us when we were on Brighton beach. Here we are on our wedding day in 1955 at Egerton Road Synagogue [Stamford Hill].
"Jack was a travelling salesman and later became the export director and chairman of the company. He sold clothes on international trips and I sometimes joined him, so we have included maps in the album cover to remind us of our travels."
The oldest album subject is Vi and John Rubens resident Julia Gilbert, who will turn 108 next month. Mrs Gilbert worked as a saleswoman in a stationery shop in Dalston and, after retirement, volunteered at Jewish Care's Stepney community centre for many years. Her photos go as far back as one of her as a baby at the 1908 Olympics in London. There are also images of her sons, who live in Australia.
Fellow resident Shirley Allen has her wedding photo on the front of her book. She still has the wedding dress which was displayed at the home during an exhibition of both the albums and residents' art.
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