In the past few months the Mass Observation team have been saddened to hear of the passing of three long-serving members of our writing panel.
Writer C3603 began writing for the archive in 2005, and sent in his last Directive in August 2023. In that time he provided insight into his views on the NHS, using the internet and documenting the Millennium, among many others.
F218 began writing for MO in 1982, and her last response arrived at the archive in May 2024. F218 was an avid writer for the archive, amassing a large number of submissions across her time as a member of the writing panel.
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Arguably with one of our longest standing writers, B2710 first joined Mass Observation in 1947 when he was 17, writing until he was 21. He later wrote as part at the revived Mass Observation Project in the 1980s. His last submission, responding to the directive on the Cost of Living crisis and everyday ritual was received in Spring 2023.
We are grateful to any writer that volunteers their time to write for the archive, no matter how long they write for. However, those writers who volunteer their time to write for the panel over several years, or decades, create an invaluable resources. Their writing allows researchers and the public to see how people’s lives and experiences change over time, providing incredible insights into personal stories and memories for current and future generations.