Community Documentary Film: Peterlee 75
Celebrating 75 years of the town of Peterlee in County Durham, this community documentary film captures the spirit, stories, and creativity of local people in one of the UK’s last new towns.
As the filmmaker behind this project, it was a joy to document the wide range of intergenerational activities that formed part of the Peterlee 75 celebrations, from archival exhibitions to school songwriting workshops, and a culminating music and arts festival in the heart of the community.
Launched in 2023, Peterlee 75 marked a significant anniversary for the town, which was established in 1948 as part of the post-war reconstruction effort. Named after trade unionist Peter Lee, the town was designed with social ideals at its core and aimed to provide better living conditions for mining families in the region.
The anniversary celebrations reflected this founding ethos—placing community at the centre of everything. The project began with an opening exhibition, The Place To Be, which offered a compelling narrative about how the town was planned, built, and lived in. This was followed by Living Memory, a call-out for residents to share their stories and photographs. The response was overwhelming, with locals contributing decades-old images and memories that were displayed in the town centre and even sparked impromptu reunions.
“I saw the exhibition while I was shopping in the town centre,” one participant says in the film. “There were photos of the street I grew up on. It made me feel proud—and part of something bigger.”
These visual memories didn’t just stay in the past. They became a springboard for creative activity across Peterlee’s schools. A remarkable team of musicians and artists ran songwriting workshops with pupils, many of whom had never written or performed a song before. The children wrote lyrics about their hometown, their families, and their futures—and performed them live at Festival 75, a community-wide event showcasing both local and professional talent.
As a community documentary filmmaker, I was struck by the joy and confidence these young people gained through the project. One teacher described how songwriting became a gift that flowed into English lessons and beyond: “They started bringing in songs they’d written at home. Suddenly, music was a possibility, a future.”
The impact extended further when acclaimed artist Kathryn Williams donated part of her fee to buy ukuleles for the school, embedding music more deeply into the curriculum. What began as a songwriting workshop blossomed into a long-term transformation. Teachers reported increased enthusiasm in music lessons, greater confidence among pupils, and a ripple effect that extended into English, drama, and even pastoral care. One school now uses the ukuleles as part of its weekly timetable, ensuring that the legacy of Peterlee 75 continues to echo through future classes.
The creative momentum didn’t stop there. It sparked a wave of collaborative activity across the town. Design workshops and environmental exhibitions—particularly the Garden City Futures strand—offered students the chance to reimagine Peterlee’s green spaces with fresh eyes. Working with urban designers and landscape architects, students explored how their local environment could better serve the 21st century. These sessions formed another layer of the community documentary film, revealing how young people were not just participants, but visionaries shaping their town’s future.
The community documentary film includes rich footage from these workshops, performances, and civic events—highlighting not only the stories of Peterlee’s past, but also the creative potential of its future generations. Participants, teachers, and artists reflect on how the project helped build pride, connection, and a deeper understanding of the town’s identity and heritage.
“This school has amazing kids,” one voice says at the end of the film. “If they’re given the opportunity to be creative, they can fly.”
And fly they did—many are already performing beyond Peterlee, taking their talents to stages in Newcastle and beyond. Some are exploring songwriting more seriously, while others are planning future creative careers. The community documentary film captures this turning point with clarity and heart. As one contributor puts it: “Peterlee 76? Bring it on.”
If you’d like to watch more of my work exploring community stories, creative resilience, and diverse subjects across arts, heritage, and the environment, you can explore all my films here.
You can also view more of my heritage-focused films here.
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