A takeaway with a difference is taking place in Colchester next weekend.

Made possible by a National Lottery grant from the Heritage Lottery Fund, the project led by Essex-based artist Everton Wright is archiving the voices and stories of local African Caribbean elders from Colchester and the surrounding Essex areas.

Everton says: “The Caribbean take away is an important cultural meeting place in the Caribbean community. A home from home, the kitchen is where meals are prepared, but also where stories are exchanged and shared.

“Going back to African roots, cooking and the Dutch pot or cooking pot was the central place for the family activity. The takeaway has just as much cultural importance as the barbershop and the hairdressing salon for black communities living and working in the UK.”

Which is why he and project manager Ionie Richards are putting together an art and sound installation of stories from Caribbean elders at the S & S Café and Takeaway in St John’s Street, Colchester.

The ten elders who shared their stories live in or have connections to Essex. They are, Alford Gardner, Albertina (Tina) Aparicio, Carlton Darrell, Nelzine (Nell) Green, Don Sydney, Carol Sydney, Lenore Sykes, Alton Watkins, Gloria Whyte and Hamilton Williams.

As well as the Caribbean elders recorded memories, revealing their journeys and the impact of their contribution to British society and their legacy, Everton will also be creating special limited-edition portraits of the participants using photo etching as a medium.

The opening weekend will take place on June 23 to 24 when the takeaway will continue to function as an eatery allowing visitors an opportunity to sample Caribbean cuisine. There will also be programmed spoken word events on the Saturday and visitors will be encouraged to commemorate their own parent’s arrival by adding their names to a memorial wall.

“They can also add their stories to our memory box,” he adds. “It will be a place to takeaway a slice of culture and learn about the lives of Essex Caribbean elders.”

The exhibition will then be on display until July 22.

Everton says: “This will be the first time such an exhibition will be hosted in this unique setting giving a platform to people whose untold stories can be shared with the wider community.”