where we've been
The Generator: Stories & Memories
The Generator: Stories and Memories An oral history project supported by The National Lottery Heritage Fund
The project captures the voices, recollections and experiences of those who studied, worked and created in the historic Packe Street building over the decades. Through these personal stories, we are preserving the building’s rich creative legacy while sharing it with new generations as The Generator begins its next chapter as a vibrant community arts venue. With thanks to Institute Loughborough for their continued generous support and for providing the filming location. Click on any picture below to read or watch the full interview.
From Student to Ceramics Market Pioneer: David Salisbury's Generator Journey
David Salisbury embodies the ripple effect of arts education. A sculpture student at The Generator from 1972-1975, he's now a successful ceramicist who founded Ceramics in Charnwood – a market that brings 90 potters to Loughborough annually. His story traces a direct line from those formative years in the building's industrial spaces to a lifelong commitment to nurturing creative community.
"He Wouldn't Take No for an Answer": Ernie Miller on Schofield and The Generator's Origins
Ernie Miller has spent decades piecing together the history of Loughborough's educational institutions. As a former associate director of staff training at the university and passionate local historian, he knows the stories that official records often miss. When we asked him about The Generator building, he had tales that sound almost too incredible to be true – German submarine engines, midnight power outages, and a man who got his own American car serviced as part of "training on production."
From Greenham Common to The Generator: Evelyn Silver's Art of Resistance
Evelyn Silver is living proof that the most powerful art comes from the margins. A self-taught performance artist whose work spans from the peace camps of Greenham Common to the mezzanine of The Generator, she's now having a moment of recognition that's decades overdue. Her feminist anti-nuclear posters from 1981 are currently touring with Tate Britain's "Women in Revolt" exhibition – work that emerged from streets and protest camps, not art schools.
"Bloody Hell, Come On, Get In Here!" Nenagh Watson on Art, space and Keeping It Real
Nenagh Watson doesn't mince words. A puppeteer and multimedia artist who spent 30 years pushing boundaries in Manchester, she's exactly the kind of creative The Generator was designed to serve. When the project was still in its consultation phase, Nenagh was one of the voices championing space for local artists – and she's got some strong opinions about what the venue should become.
Cranes, Clocks and Creative Chaos: The Glory Days
In the heart of Loughborough stands The Generator – a 1930s Art Deco building that once powered much of Loughborough College. But from 1998 to 2006, it became something even more electrifying: home to Artspace Loughborough, a collective that had a lasting impact on the town's cultural landscape.
Engineering Education and German U-Boat Engines: Colin's Memories of the Generator
Colin Salsbury. joined Loughborough Technical College in 1963, teaching engineering subjects to apprentices from local firms. In this interview, he shares his memories of teaching at the Frederick Street building during a time of industrial growth in Loughborough, and offers fascinating insights about the German U-boat engines that once powered the Generator.
From Art Foundation to running away to the Circus: Sarah Smith's Creative Journey
Sarah Smith's creative journey has taken her from the top floor of the Generator building in Loughborough to the vibrant circus and festival scenes. In this interview, she reflects on her Foundation Art experience in 1994, her subsequent education at Cardiff Art College, and her current roles managing performances at major festivals. Sarah shares how her early art education shaped her thinking and career path, and her vision for what the Generator could become.
Art, Family, and Vision: Frances Ryan's Connection to the Generator
Frances Ryan, a painter and former educator, shares her personal connections to the Generator building, from her own pattern-cutting course in the late 1990s to her family's deep involvement with the arts centre's development. Frances offers unique insights into the vision of her late husband Kev Ryan, whose passion for creating a community arts space in Loughborough helped spark what would become the Generator project.
From Student to Professional Artist
In this interview, professional artist Jenny shares her formative experiences studying at the Frederick Street art college building from 1995-1997. Now a successful mixed media artist, Jenny reflects on how those early educational experiences at what is now becoming the Generator arts centre shaped her artistic journey.
From Fine Art to Final Vice Principal: Pete Wheeler's Generator Journey
Pete Wheeler, former Head of Fine Art and Vice Principal of Loughborough College of Art and Design, shares his memories of the Frederick Street building and the Generator Gallery in this illuminating conversation. With a career spanning from 1971 to 2000, Pete witnessed the evolution of art education in Loughborough and the transformation of historic buildings that now form part of the Generator cultural center.
