The Copper Family, Sussex’s folk singing dynasty, are celebrated in a new exhibition at the Library in partnership with Sussex Retold, a project led by Margaretta Jolly with the support of Sam Carroll, which explores the histories, heritage and landscapes of the Sussex regions.

The free exhibition runs in the Library until 28 April 2025. It showcases recordings of speech and song, photos of local shepherds, sketches of pub drinkers and the Copper Family’s 1971 box set vinyl LP A Song for Every Season, titled after Bob Copper’s memoir. They help tell a land-working and singing history of Rottingdean and Sussex Downland, which he represented as part of life-long learning for ‘Scholars of Simplicity’. As well as the exhibition, you can explore the Scholars of Simplicity online – including hearing oral history recordings and songs from the inimitable Bob Copper.

The exhibition launched with a special event with a welcome by the Deputy Director of the Library, Fiona Courage, and Sussex Traditions chair Mike Tristram. Songs from Bob Copper’s son John and daughter Jill and her husband John Dudley followed. The large audience was in fine voice, too, joining in for their final song, ‘Thousands or More’.

Many attendees shared how refreshing it was to have local, rural and working-class heritage honoured by the University. These views were echoed by Robin Banerjee, Pro-Vice Chancellor for Global and Civic Engagement, who added that “The sense of community and human connection as everyone sang, walked, reminisced, and danced was palpable. The memorable evening underscored the importance and power of celebrating our local heritage together.”

Lantern-lit singing followed the launch walk from the Library to The Swan Inn in Falmer village for an evening of traditional music, song and dance with Laura Hockenhull, Ben Paley, Sam Carroll, Tom Evans and the Scan Tester Fan Club. The event evolved organically into a traditional sing-around, with many audience members taking the floor for a ballad and Tom leading an impromptu workshop on step dancing. 

The launch event and exhibition were supported by the University of Sussex Library, namely Kevin Bacon, Sean Goddard and Nadia Pattenden, created in collaboration with the Centre for Life History and Life Writing Research's research project. Sussex Retold works with local cultural, council, and land organisations to investigate how sounds, sites and stories can express how people have lived on and with the region. Find more details about this exciting MAH-based project via the Centre's webpage.