It’s not very often that you get to see five generations of mothers and daughters together, and even rarer to see them modelling for striking portrait photography. As part of his Generations portrait photography project, Oliver Doran set out to capture these women in a way that highlights the similarities and traits passed down through families. Alongside the portraits, he produced a short-form, unedited video interview as a keepsake for the family – something they could pass down to future generations.
“The kids were so excited for the photoshoot,” said Jade, “and we just thought it would be such a nice thing for them to look back on. It isn’t often that you get five generations together in a photoshoot, and the 45-minute video recording we did with Oliver afterward was amazing. He asked my great-grandma, Barbara, lots of questions about her life, which will be so nice for the kids to watch in twenty years or so.”
“Barbara was evacuated from Jersey during the war, and it’s a time in her life we didn’t know much about. That’s why it was so special that she shared some of it in the interview – it’s family history that we want to pass down through the generations.”
Jersey has changed a lot since Barbara’s early years on the island. Jade told me that when she was young, the street next to the new government building used to be completely paved over, with markets held there every Saturday. “They used to bake cakes and sell them at their stall every weekend. People would queue up to buy their rock cakes and other baked goods – these are recipes that have been passed down through our family.”
“Barbara taught Joan how to bake, and then Joan taught Mum, and so on,” she added. “Even last week, Joan was showing my daughter, Amelia, how to make cakes. It’s something we’ve always done and enjoyed.”
Baking and family recipes aren’t the only things this family has inherited. “There’s a massive creative streak in our family,” Jade said. “Barbara loved crochet, Joan does a lot of knitting, Mum makes tapestries, and I love to draw and paint. Even Amelia, who is four, is already obsessed with colouring.”
When I asked if any other traits had been passed down through the family, Sarah was quick to reply: “Stubbornness. We are a family of stubborn people.” Jade laughed, adding, “The day we had the photos taken with Oliver Doran at his studio in Colomberie, we went for afternoon tea at the Radisson afterward. Barbara was 99 at the time and insisted on walking there, even though the rest of us were driving. She refused to get in the car, and we passed her at Liberty Wharf, looking absolutely exhausted – but she still insisted on walking all the way.”
“That kind of goes hand-in-hand with her advice to keep moving,” Jade said. “She always said, ‘I don’t want to be an old person who just sits in a chair.’ And she stayed true to that – getting up and going for a walk around town every single day. That’s how she stayed active and fit.”
WISDOM
What’s your favourite thing to do with your family?
Amelia: I like to spend time with my family and playing with them. I love my family.
What is something that you’ve learned from your grandparents/parents, and how does it affect your life today?
Jade: I’ve learnt that the most important thing in life is a healthy work/life balance. It’s great to focus on a career, but you will never get the time back with your family and it’s the memories that the children will remember.
Do you have any family folklore/interesting stories/traditions that have been passed down through generations in your family?
Sarah: We have family recipes that have been passed down, such as oat crunchies, which are a biscuit, and various cakes. These have been made by the family for generations, with the recipe passing down the line to the next generation, along with other recipes.
What’s a moment with your family that you wish you could relive?
Joan: I miss going on cruises with my mum. We have made lots of fantastic memories whilst travelling by cruise. I would love to relive a cruise with my mum.
If you could give one piece of advice to future generations, what would it be?
Barbara: Keep moving and stay active. Live in the moment and enjoy the time you have with your family.
