Waltham Forest Oral History Workshop began as an adult education class in 1983. After learning our basic technique from Ken Worpole, the noted East London writer and historian, we became an independent group later that year.

The 1980s were a period of expansion for oral history in London with encouragement from the Greater London Council, “The Making of Modern London” oral history series on television and a growing awareness of the value of the movement.  WFOHW won several prizes in London Weekend Television’s annual oral history competition linked to the series.

Our work has grown tremendously since then, increasing the number of recordings to more than five hundred and publications to eleven.

As well as the unincorporated association, WFOHW formed a community interest company limited by guarantee in 2009, the details of which are:

Waltham Forest Oral History Workshop CIC
Company registered in England, number 06811906
Registered office: 44 Grove Hill, London, E18 2JG
Directors:  J Bowstead, N Hayes, K Finch, A Mackay, N Munoz, R Wilkinson