SNOW IN SOUTHWARK
'Human instruments' is a phrase in the theme of these windows. They are forged in families; and the Snows are a Southwark family. The window spans four generations. A Snow at work in the 1980s served as soldier, magistrate and surveyor. His father was the civil engineer to whose inspiration we owe the Unilever and UAC International buildings astride the Thames at Blackfriars. The grandfather was, not untypically for this area, in 'the print'. The great-grandfather cobbled shoes.
Note in this window the emphasis on male jobs. It marks an era in which new recognition was arising of those on whom everyone relied heavily but barely acknowledged in their contribution. A place is perceived for those who sustained the domestic economy from which all other rises. It indicates a shift in roles gathering momentum at this time among men and women. Like shifts were occurring for ethnic minorities, for the disabled and others previously ignored or even exploited.
As with all 'human instruments', the people of this family are both typical and exceptional. They provide a window which records their own history and also typifies the history of many with local roots and expanding influence.
Symbolised here is the importance of boundaries within which people can be nurtured and mature; so that they can then have confidence to reach into other spheres.
