An innovative combined arts project centred around independent greyhound racing, or ‘flapping,’ in County Durham, has launched and is calling for people to share their stories.
The project is inviting anyone with memories they would like to share to a community recording session at The Annexe of Spennymoor Settlement between 11am-2pm on Saturday 9th December.
DOGPEOPLE is bringing together the independent greyhound racing community to co-create a wide array of cultural outputs, including a podcast series, a Story Trail, a Community Exhibition, and a non-fiction book proposal.
The project is spearheaded by award-winning writer, licensed greyhound trainer, and an integral member of the independent greyhound racing community, Dr Louise Powell.
Dr Powell has created a variety of work about flapping in County Durham, including BBC Radio 4 Extra audio drama, The Pitmen Flappers, art films and prose essays.
She is also a Finalist for the Writer of the Year Award at the North East Culture Awards 2023.
The work, carried out by Dr Powell and esteemed audio editor Bridget Hamilton, will explore a variety of flapping tracks that once thrived within the boundaries of pre-1974 County Durham.
These tracks range from those that now lie derelict to tracks now licensed by the Greyhound Board of Great Britain.
To capture the true essence of these historic venues, Louise is eager to interview individuals who attended the following tracks and cherish memories associated with them: Spennymoor; Coundon; Belmont; Easington; Hartlepool; Pelaw; Stanley; Stockton (Belle Vue); Sunderland; Thornley and Wheatley Hill.
Memories and experiences are key to preserving the legacy of greyhound racing in County Durham, and DOGPEOPLE is calling upon people to share their stories.
If you want to contribute memories, please contact Dr. Louise Powell at dogpeoplepodcast[@]gmail[.]com or connect with her on Twitter at
@louise__powell.
Spennymoor's local community newspaper.
