Description
Living in a Kenner – My New Forest Romani Gypsy Family by Heather Cooper 9781916484641
Living in a Kenner
My New Forest
Romani Gypsy Family
by Heather Cooper
ISBN: 978-1-9164846-4-1
Heather and Peter (Burt) Cooper, with granddaughter, Marnie.
I wrote this book to remember Mum and Dad and the stories they told us.
Mum (Harriet Witcher, née Saunders) was born on Shave Green compound in 1926. It was the year when the compounds were established and Romani/Romany Gypsies in the New Forest were no longer permitted to wander around the Forest and move from place to place to find work, food and shelter that suited the season.
On the compounds they were not allowed to lay down a floor or put up a shack, and so they lived in bender tents made of bent hazel sticks with tarpaulin stretched over the top. The nearest water tap was a mile away.
My dad’s name was Alfred (Alf) Witcher. He also grew up on Shave Green, and in WW2 he was sent to India and Burma where he served for 3 1/2 years.
After the war, Dad returned to Shave Green and my mum and him built their lives together. A few years later, the authorities started to move everyone out of the compounds. Mum and Dad, along with my older brothers and sister, were moved to a Nissen hut on Setley Plain, and then later to a house (a kenner) where I was born.
I’ve lived in caravans, a mobile home and house with my husband, Burt. We like to keep the traditional Romani ways alive and share them with others. This book is one way of doing that and I hope people will enjoy reading it and learning about our history.
A photo taken on Shave Green compound, probably 1932/1933. Left to right: Dosha (Theodosha, my granny), little girl Harriet (my mum), taller boy Billy (my uncle), and Priscilla Wells (my great granny Priss).
Steve Fogden –
I’ve just finished reading Heather Cooper’s book and found it a fascinating and poignant read. I especially liked her poetry, which accompanies and supplements the stories and text so well. Heather has quite a talent there. The New Forest is such a beautiful natural resource and one of my favourite places to visit, so to learn more about the Romani history of the area was most interesting indeed. A wonderful book.
Sarah Smith –
Brought this book for my father to read, being a gypsy ourselves he said a lot of the things in this book resognated with his life. He enjoyed it and couldnt put it down. It was very good.
Chloe Amber (verified owner) –
I don’t know Heather Cooper personally, but I thoroughly enjoyed reading Living in a Kenner. Her story is heartfelt, and sad at times, whilst also sharing warmth and humour through her memories. The book reflects the lives of those who experienced profound and lasting systemic change and is written honestly throughout.
Heather writes about my own grandfather, who was her uncle, who I did not have the privilege to meet. This created a deeply personal connection for me. Thank you, Heather.
LittleKnollPress –
Best book around on the history of New Forest Romani Gypsy people.