“What we did and didn’t know about Soviet history in our happy (?) Soviet childhood?”
A thought-provoking talk and lively historical debate was held on the theme of “Soviet Memories”, organised by Marina Burrell, Lecturer in Russian at Anglia Ruskin University, and presented jointly with Dr John Barber, Senior Lecturer in Politics and International History and Fellow of King’s College, Cambridge.
The Soviet Memories focused around an exhibition of Soviet posters, Soviet-period artefacts and personal souvenirs contributed by people who had lived in or had visited Soviet Russia.
There was a quiz on Soviet history; a competition on the best “Propagandist” reciting popular communist slogans; a blue vodka reception; and singing together “Pust’ vsegda budet solntse” (“Let The Sun Always Be”).
The event was so popular, there was literally standing room only and not enough time for those attending to present their own memories and describe the personal and historical significance of their memorabilia. The follow-up meeting was scheduled for 27th February.
Here are some pictures: Photos of the “Soviet Memories” Event (Part 1), November 2010.
