Beryl Makkers with a photo of her WW1 seaman father John Freeman who settled in Butetown from Jamaica. 

Black and ethnic minority seamen in ports such as Cardiff and Barry had a huge influence on their communities, often marrying local women and having families. They contributed aspects of their home cultures such as food and music to the communities and set up organisations such as the CIACS (Cardiff Internationals Athletic Club) in Butetown, which went on to produce sportsmen such as Joe Erskine and Billy Boston. The impacts of the race riots following the war in 1919 had long-lasting effects, as did the poverty resulting from unemployment in the docks.

A major part of the U-boat project has been working with communities to uncover local stories from around Wales that are not widely known. People have kindly come forward with photographs, letters, documents and information passed down through families. These treasures are very valuable as they add detail and human stories to the wider picture of Wales and the War at Sea. We believe that there are many more waiting to be discovered and shared.

• Hold a community event in your local hall, library or other easily accessible venue and invite people to bring their information to be recorded using a scanner and/or camera
• Record members of the community telling their stories using either video or just sound
• Visit a residential home or day centre for the elderly to give a talk and record memories and stories
• Carry out your own research into a local story
• Photograph local gravestones and memorials and research the names
• Bring people together to do something creative such as produce a sculpture, painting or poem.

Tip: Advertise your event by putting posters up in shops, libraries & notice boards. Put a notice in the local newspapers and Facebook groups and contact the local radio to make an announcement.

Tip: If you’re recording someone talking it helps to be in a room with lots of soft furnishings, like a living room, to absorb sounds. Record friends or family members talking together, this helps the conversation to flow.

Tip: make notes about what you’ve recorded with a reference number to link your notes with the information recorded, e.g. a scanned photograph would have the same file number as the note saying who brought the photo, what it shows and the date plus any other useful details.

Tip: if you want to use the information online or in an exhibition, make sure you get permission from the owner. You can print a permission form that explains what you intend to use it for so that people can agree to and sign it.