A new exhibition celebrating the contributions of Bristol citizens, past and present, to the character and status of the city at home and abroad features a member of a Baptist church.
Jenny Foster, Bristol’s Fairtrade Co-ordinator, is among the 40 people selected as making a major contribution to the city, taking her place alongside the likes of world-famous street artist Banksy, Victorian engineering genius Isambard Kingdom Brunel.
‘You Make Bristol’ opened at the city’s M Shed museum last month and visitors are being invited to find out who has been nominated and to see whether they agree.
Sixty communities across Bristol were invited to nominate people for the display and to make the final selection of 40 individuals or groups. All the captions are written by members of the community or volunteers bringing a fresh and heart-felt approach to the exhibition.
Roger James, regional Oxfam manager, wrote the caption for Jenny, who is pictured in the exhibition with a giant Fairtrade banana.
He wrote ‘Jenny is an inspiration and a beacon for Fairtrade in Bristol and the region. Her leadership and skills have built partnerships across the community, businesses and media. She pioneered the influential Fairtrade Business Awards, Ethical Finance Conferences and the world's largest Fairtrade fashion shows. Bristol is now seen as a leading Fairtrade city with an ethical beating heart, hosting the International Fair Trade Conference in 2015.’
Jenny said she is overwhelmed to be selected alongside such renowned and illustrious people. ‘I’m delighted and proud that Fairtrade is regarded so highly by the people of Bristol. This is particularly significant given our slave trade history – Bristol is now redefined as a fair and ethical place to live and work.’
The exhibition is part of the ‘Our Museum’ programme Bristol Museums service, trialling with eight other UK museums to place communities at the heart of what they do. Sponsored by the Paul Hamlyn Foundation, the museum service is engaging with local communities enablling them to have more of a voice and to exchange and develop skills and ideas.
Other Bristolians featured include Michael Dillon, physician and transgender pioneer, Gareth Chilcott Bath and England rugby prop, Roy Hackett who helped lead the Bristol Bus Company boycott and who was a founder of St Pauls Carnival, Ernest Bevan, the Labour minister, as well as the Aardman animation team, best known for their much-beloved Wallace and Gromit films.