My Ancestors were French is devised and managed by Richard and Louise Duffy-Howard and presented by the My Ancestors were French Team.

Louise Duffy-Howard – Project Lead, Concept, Web Master, Workshop Facilitator and Musician Louise’s projects include Wilberforce 2007 – Hull’s year long commemoration of the bicentenary of the abolition of the slave trade; Sankofa Sunsplash; Hull700 – celebrating the past, pioneering the future; Grassroots annual free festival of music and art, and Winterlude music festival. Currently one half of Rich & Lou’s Loudhailer, Louise is the Auricula Suite songwriter and former Red Guitar, Planet Wilson resident and Hull Sea Dragon Gamelan facilitator.

Richard Duffy-Howard – Project Facilitator, Concept, Photographer and Musician One half of Rich and Lou’s Loudhailer, poet, photographer, gardener and Primula auricula enthusiast (because every team needs one of these, right?). Sorted the logistics, stage management and operational side of the Grassroots festivals, inter alia. Worked with Dilzar Shanga in sourcing and translating the original quotes for the Wilberforce 2007 project: ‘Seeking Asylum in Hull – Responses from the Rock against Racism poster exhibition’.  Recently bought a new guitar, yes!

Quentin Budworth – Film Maker and Musician Quentin Budworth is a multi-award winning film maker trained by the UK Film Council. He has several broadcast credits to his name notably ‘Sticky’ and ‘Show and Spell’, which regularly appears on the BBC. Quentin is also a film educator and producer working in schools, galleries and museums. As a musician Quentin put together the legendary Celtarabia and has played hurdy gurdy with the Suns of Arqa and recorded sessions for Radio 1’s John Peel & Andy Kershaw.

Amanda Lowe – Workshop Facilitator and Musician Educator and musician, Amanda developed her unique style of hammer dulcimer playing as a street entertainer and toured internationally as a medieval musician with the Masters of Cymbalom in Eastern Europe. She performed at three International Hackbrett Festivals and for the World Cymbalom Association; she has recorded a solo dulcimer album and several albums with Celtarabia and the Rootsman.

Opher Goodwin – Project Chair Traveller, writer and musicologist, Opher Goodwin: “The East Riding, containing one of Britain’s major historical international ports, is an area rich in history and a melting pot of the world’s traditions. This story, presented with the innovative use of music, narration, photography, art and horticulture, is just one of the many fascinating threads forming the weave of our colourful heritage. It is a story that has been bursting to be told. We are thrilled to be enabled to tell it.”

Dilzar Shanga Dilzar  was born in 1983 in Hewler city, northern Kurdistan. He is a music writer, singer, musician and sound engineer. He is trying to find freedom and equality in his unique style of music. In 2000, he moved to the United Kingdom with some other members of his family. Since then, he has been involved in music more than anything else in his life, and he has sung and played all over the UK to bring more excitement into Kurdish events and introduce Kurdish culture to the rest of the world.

Abby Wright – Project Illustrator Abby recently graduated with First Class Honours in Illustration. Specialising in fashion and portrait illustration, we are delighted to have her on board as project illustrator.

Liz Goodwin – Project Board Member We are delighted to have former teacher Liz on board the team as project learning adviser.