Month Standing Their Ground History Winners In the last issue of Gypsy, Roma and Traveller History Month magazine we looked at our contribution to sports and arts. In this one, we remember two individuals who stood their ground to provide a better future for us all.
Sylvia Dunn In September, Sylvia Dunn, founder of the National Association of Gypsy Women, passed away after a long battle with illness. This is how some of her many friends remember her. Kay Beard and Rachel Francis of the UK Association of Gypsy Women write: “She was the first woman who took up the banner for the Romany Gypsy women in the UK, a ‘Rebel with a Cause’ and what a trail she blazed for a half a century. Without a shadow of a doubt Sylvi was our ‘Emily Pankhurst’. She cleared and smoothed the way for us lesser mortals who could only hope to walk in her shadow. Furthermore, she not only fought for justice and equality for her own community, Sylvi was also very mindful and an ardent campaigner for the Irish Traveller Community.” Thomas Acton, Professor of Romani Studies, University of Greenwich writes:
“She was an inspirational figure who was radicalised by the struggle for her own ground, and formed the first Romani Women’s association in Britain.” Sylvia Dunn, Gypsy civil rights campaigner, Born 31st December 1931, died 21st September 2008. She is survived by her two children Donna and Tucker.
He mistrusted academics within the “Gypsy industry”, who he believed worked with Travellers only to further their own careers, and he was equally intolerant of corruption within Gypsy organisations. This attitude led to his involvement in a bitter libel suit with the National Gypsy Council, which he eventually won in 1997. Eli helped hundreds of Romani families fight the local planning regulations that stopped them
Just a few of the many, varied entries
Activity: Poem
• Devonnie McCoy Hillcrest Primary School Leeds • Nsimba Pedro, Salford EMTES
Activity: Story
• Nsimba Pedro, Salford EMTES
Activity: Shelters/Dens Activity: Photographs
Eli Frankham, who died in 2000, was the founder and president of the National Romany Rights Association (NRRA) and a political leader of Britain’s 300,000-strong Romany community.
Eli was born in a horse-drawn Romany vardo at Chanctonbury Ring in Sussex. For much of his young life, he travelled in southern England, until his family bought land in the Hampshire village of Horndean, where he was sent to school. Unlike many of his generation, he learnt to read and write, although he also experienced the racism that he was to spend a lifetime fighting. “I was the only Gypsy in that school,” he recalled years later. “They’d call out ‘Gippo, Gippo’. I had a rough time, so I started to fight and play hookey.”
Congratulations to all the winners listed below. Prizes and certificates are on the way to you all!
• Hareesa , Cristiano and Devontie; all from the Hillcrest Primary School
Eli Frankham
A former professional boxer, and a wise countryman, musician and storyteller, he was known and respected by ordinary travellers across Britain and Europe.
The June edition of this magazine featured an Activity Competition with numerous categories, but all celebrating Gypsy, Roma and Traveller culture. It was was open to everyone wherever they lived and drew entries from all over the world. Samples of the entries can be seen on our website www.GRTHM.co.uk
from settling in caravans on their own land. As a result, thousands of Romani children have gained access to education, healthcare and sanitation. Working voluntarily, he won huge respect from his people, and spent thousands of pounds pursuing his goals. He never received any official recognition. Eli was both modern and traditional. He believed that education was crucial to Romani emancipation, but he also valued Romani tradition. He both kept and traded horses all his life, recorded old Romani stories and songs, and would not be seen in public without a diklo, or Romani scarf, around his neck. Unlike other, more commercially-minded Travellers, who have exploited the myth of the Gypsy King, Eli never claimed any title, but if any man could have filled that position it would have been him. He had the charisma and the intelligence; most of all, he had the love of his people. Eli Frankham, Romani poet and civil rights leader, born November 26th 1928; died December 3rd 2000. At the time of his death Eli was survived by his wife, Gert, and six children.
• Marta Kotlarska and Malgorzata Mirga and the Traditional Romani settlement in Poland - Zawisza Czarny - Nowy Sacz
Activity: Artwork
• Jamee Mul, Robert Lewis, Samiya and Samantha (motor and trailer); all from the Hillcrest Primary School
Activity: Music
• Silvester Balaz, Abbey Wood School, London SE2 9AJ • Isaac Lee
Activity: Songs
• Nsimba Pedro , Salford EMTES • Year 5 pupils, St. Andrew’s Lane Primary School, Hertfordshire • Mambu Manaka, Hillcrest Primary School
Activity: Who do we think we are? • Mary Harber, Eagles Farm, Kent • Sanchez Tamara Williams, Hillcrest Primary School • Simona Slepcik, Hillcrest Primary School
Activity: Re-cycling • Fahreen and Areep; Hillcrest Primary School
Activity: Fairground Ride or Circus Act • Alima Ali, David Vosockis and Aquan; all from the Hillcrest Primary School
Activity: Portfolio
• Kingsway Playroup and Pre-school Centre, Heysham
www.grthm.co.uk
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