Some relevant reading

Our Publications

We have also produced publications ourselves: Gypsies and Travellers in Their Own Words and the Traveller Post magazine. There are still some copies of "In Their Own Words" available order a copy from us. You can download copies of Traveller Post.

Gypsies and Travellers in their own words

Own Words Cover Gypsies and Travellers in their own words compiled by the Travellers Education Service is a fantastic read, and gives amazing insights into the lives and times of Travellers in this country.

This book was produced by the Travellers Education Service (TES). It is a labour of love that was years in the making. In it Gypsies and Travellers from several generations describe, in their own words, their lives from early in this century to the present day.

These are personal histories and viewpoints, but collectively they create a vivid picture of life within the Gypsy and Traveller communities and the radical changes experienced by them over the past century.

Buying a copy of Gypsies and Travellers

The limited edition book, is unique. It tells Travellers' own stories in their own words and photographs.

It can be bought from Leeds TES for £15 plus £5 package and postage.

Please send cheques payable to Leeds City Council to:

Gypsies and Travellers in their own words,
West Park Centre,
Spen Lane,
Leeds LS16 5BE.

0113 274 8050

Read reviews and read samples from the book

Tommy's Story

Tommy I was born in Dublin by accident, not by choice. My mother went up there and I was born in 1937. On my Register of Birth it says – "Caravan, so-and-so". Funny thing is that I was born in Dublin and never, ever lived there. My father always stuck to the North of Ireland.

Annie's Story

Annie I think it was much better when I was a child than it is now, really. You hadn't as much money or anything, but things were cheap and stopping was good. You could stop on a roadside for forty-eight hours and they couldn't shift yer, with having horses and wagons – but now they shift you any time.

Tilly's Story

Tilly There are differences in the culture and the beliefs and in the way we live. Well me brother's married to someone who was brought up in a house, a girl from Leeds and he lives in a house. More boys seem to marry out than girls. You only hear of a very very odd Travelling girl marrying out but I know an awful lot of men that are married outside. I think it's because Travelling people have got their own ways.

Traveller Post

Traveller Post Magazine The Gypsy Roma Traveller Achievement Service produced the magazine Traveller Post a few years ago before the advent of this website. It's lively mix of content includes news and features but its key content is from the Travellers themselves, including stories and photographs with plenty of contributions from Travelling Children.

Find out more

Dragonory Story CD

An audio CD of seven stories called Dragonory has been specially prepared by Jess for the Travellers Storytelling Project.

Listen to one of the stories here to whet your appetite. It's the first story from the CD, coincidently, called Dragonory.

The CD is available to buy from the Gypsy Roma Traveller Achievement Service. Details are on the page linked to above.

Published by Another TEMS Worker

Karen Taylor is a teacher who works for the TEMS Team in Cheshire (Traveller Education and Minorities Support) and publishes resources independently. The following publications will be of interest to anyone working with or involved with Traveller children.

Swapping Tommy - Karen Taylor

20 page A5 book with full colour illustrations. Set around an old Gypsy Wagon. Tommy can't keep anything for long. When will Tommy's swapping habits come to an end? Sooner than he thinks! Early reader.

Reading Recovery level 8 Band 3 yellow.

Colletta Goes To School - Karen Taylor

20 page A5 book with full colour photographs. Colletta tells us about some of the things she has enjoyed in her first year at school. Providing positive imagers of early years education for Traveller families.

The Tadpole Trailer - Karen Taylor

20 page 175 x 250mm book with full colour illustrations. A humorous rhyming fantasy tale. No animals are allowed in the trailer. When will John stop bringing creatures in? Sooner than he thinks!

Band 9/Gold

Books are available by contacting Karen.

Handsome Prints,
Durrows,
Quarry Lane,
Kelsall,
Cheshire CW6 0PD

01829 751097

Download pdf with more images and an order form.

Download

Books

Books It's by no means a complete list, but on this page in the Culture Section you'll find some books that we feel we can recommend for more in depth study or interest.

Reviews of Gypsies and Travellers

Own Words The collection of stories and personal histories in this rich volume creates a vivid picture of life within the Gypsy and Traveller communities.