During the summer of 2014, artist Rebecca Lee visited six villages across South Holland, exploring the sound and sense of place with the people living in each of these communities. All local people were invited to take part, and in response to the conversations she had during these summer months, Rebecca created a series of audio documentaries.

Rebecca Lee is a musician and sound artist who has been visiting community groups and events collecting hundreds of sounds which reveal something of the history, personalities, unusual facts and life of these communities. Rebecca has visited Sutton St James, Holbeach St Johns, Moulton Chapel, Moulton Seas End, Quadring and Bicker during the summer months of 2014  and has met with over 400 people who have given their voice, told a story or made a recording! From youth groups, to gardening groups, local history talent competitions, these ‘quiet’ villages are full of noises!

The project, called Outside Broadcast, aimed to broadcast the voices and sounds that are not usually heard in public – they are outside what we normally hear on the radio. Rebecca has recorded over 40 hours of sounds across the project which have been edited to create six audio documentaries, one for each of the villages she visited! Throughout November and December last year Tulip FM, South Holland’s very own community radio station, broadcast the audio documentaries for everyone to hear! The documentaries have made a postive impact on each of the villages plus the wider community, with over 100 listens online alone.

Annie P, Holbeach St Johns resident, has said; ‘Just heard my voice on #TulipRadio! A great documentary, I learnt a few things about my village!’

Rebecca has consulted with over 400 people for the Outside Broadcast project. Image shows her speaking with employees at Bucks Farm in Moulton Seas End. Image taken by Rebecca Lee.

Now the project has come to an end, each of the participants have been handed their very own CD copy of the broadcasts so they can listen again at home! 90 CDs have gone out in total to the villages, with groups and individuals receiving their personal copies. Holbeach St John is now planning to put a copy of the CD into this year’s time capsule.

Roffe’s Butchers in Sutton St James were very pleased to receive their copy of the Outside Broadcast CD. Image taken by Rebecca Lee.

If you would like to listen to the audio documentaries, they are available online through the Outside Broadcast blog.

Image: David Severn