Luton exhibition to showcase town's cultural heritage

Sarfraz Manzoor will include a shirt he wore in a photograph taken in 1974 in the new Luton exhibition

People are being asked to contribute items to a new exhibition telling the story of how Luton has changed over the last 50 years.

Film writer Sarfraz Manzoor is curating the show to go on display in May 2024, which coincides with the 50th anniversary of his arrival in Luton.

The exhibition aims to showcase the town's diversity and cultural heritage.

"I have been reflecting on the journey of my life and of my home town," he said.

Sarfraz Manzoor was recently made chancellor of the University of Bedfordshire

"It is this story, the story of Luton, that I want to tell through the personal objects belonging to the people of Luton."

His memoir about living in the town as a British Pakistani teen was adapted for the film Blinded by the Light.

The items should "tell a story", whether that be a sewing machine used by a parent for work, concert tickets or even a teenage diary, he said.

He told BBC Three Counties Radio he would be "fascinated" to see if anybody had any memorabilia from when The Beatles came to Luton.

He would also love to see items donated related to Luton's pink flamingos, which were a feature in the town's Arndale Centre in 1975.

"Even if you've got the architectural designs... things like that that might be interesting," suggested the author.

Safraz Manzoor has said he would like to see items donated related to Luton's flamingo sculpture

Mr Manzoor, who is working with The Culture Trust Luton as its "curator of conversations", is especially interested in items that "have an emotional connection rather than just an academic connection".

He added: "I have a childhood photograph that was taken on my fourth birthday. It was June 1974 and we had arrived into Luton from Pakistan a year earlier. In the photograph I am wearing a pale pink shirt that has a very large seventies style collar.

"That shirt is currently in a cloth bag at the top of my wardrobe in the house in which I now live. It is one of very few links to my childhood and one for this upcoming exhibition I want to display."

People should bring a photo or the item to Wardown House, Museum and Gallery on 3 December, he said.

Two more collection days for objects will be held on 21 January and 21 February 2024.