The Way We Were: Late-sixties Life for a Goldsmiths Student

From 1967 to 1971, David Bracher captured life at Goldsmiths College, New Cross and South-East London. During the period, he took almost a thousand photos though most went unprinted as, in his words, “spare money was saved for petrol, tobacco and beer.” After presenting a selection at a reunion in 2008, he compiled a collection for his book ‘The Way We Were’, some of which are presented here.

Alongside these photos, we’ve gathered distinctive dresses donated by alumni, as well as work from students of the time. Together, this collection captures the spirit of an era renowned for its art, fashion, activism, and music, and is a testament to the stories people tell of the late 60s. Whilst the area has changed drastically, the buildings remain instantly recognisable to the people we see here. Although the pubs may have new names, the memories still endure. Goldsmiths students continue to walk these same halls, streets, and parks, and will hopefully look back on their time here and recall the same joy we see in this exhibition.