Explore the life of deaf Romany, Bill Lock, at Shrewsbury Museum and Art Gallery

“In conversation with the past”, a film portrait of Clun’s famous ‘character’ Bill Lock by artist filmmaker Nicola Lane, will be shown at Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery on Sunday 12 July at 2pm. Entry is free.

Bill Lock was born deaf in 1910 into a well-known Romany family who travelled throughout the Borders and Shropshire. The Lock family settled in Clun in the 1950s and Bill became an important part of the community.

Bill Lock outside his caravan

To discover Bill’s world, disabled artist Nicola Lane interviewed some of the many people who remember him – including 92-year-old Clunton farmer Harry Collins who employed Bill and knew him well. Memories of Bill are still strong but, as Mr Collins says, it will be ‘all gone’ after his generation have passed. Nicola’s film aims to celebrate Bill’s long life and the vanished world in which he lived and worked.

Mike Layward, Artistic Director at DASH said:

“I’m really glad that we can show the film again in Shrewsbury, so many people have been calling us to find out where they can watch it.”

Over 140 people saw the premiere of the film at Clun Memorial Hall on 16 May 2015.  One audience member said:

“She (Nicola Lane) has shown Bill just as he really was, and also how Clun was at that time – we really need to capture these things that are so special to the area, for others to see”.

Nicola Lane and an audience member look at photographs of Bill at the Clun premiere.

Free tickets for the free 12 July screening of the film Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery can be obtained in advance from the Visitor Information Centre in The Square, Shrewsbury.

Please book ahead to avoid disappointment by phoning 01743 258888 or calling in at the VIC between 10am and 5pm daily.

Further information

•  Bill died in 2000 and is buried at St. George’s Church in Clun. Clun Museum has a bronze bust of Bill by artist Jemma Pearson, and the Lock family caravan is an important part of Hartlebury Museum’s collection.
• In April 2014 DASH (Disability Arts in Shropshire) in partnership with Shrewsbury Museum & Art Gallery commissioned Nicola Lane to explore Bill’s life. As a disabled artist herself, Nicola is happy to be part of DASH’s ‘IN’ programme of projects committed to deaf & disabled artists working with museums & galleries in the mainstream. DASH is a disability arts development organisation which works locally, nationally and internationally with disabled people in partnership with arts and cultural organisations to develop Disability Arts practice.
• About the artist: Born in San Francisco in 1949, Nicola lived in seven countries before the age of 16. She has worked continuously as a fine artist since 1972, her practice evolving from painting into sculpture, installation and film-making.