Interviewed by Billy Corrigan / photographer Madeline Mulqueen

Billy: How long have you lived in the area?
Veronica: 82 years

Billy: What’s a fond memory you have of living here?
Veronica: Playing by the seafront and the woods. Walking the main street with children and stopping to talk to everyone as it is such a friendly town.

Billy: Have you seen this community come back from hard times before?
Veronica: After the war there was a lot of hardship and poverty- food and fuel rationing, no work, husbands and young men moved to England to send money home. TB was common.

Billy: What sort of things are you doing now to stay connected to your community and family and what does community mean to you?
Veronica: Swapping books with friends, people sending scones, brown bread and apple tart. It’s hard to live without friends and community.

Billy: What message do you want to leave for yourself and this community in 10 years time?
Veronica: Just be kind and friendly to one another and do the best you can.

Pictured below is a socially distance portrait of Billy and Veronica that he did as his creative response to the interview.