There are tales of lifelong careers that began on the packing line, of friendships and romances sparked in the social club, and of the sense of pride that came with seeing a Shippam’s jar on supermarket shelves. Just as importantly, there are reflections on what it meant when the factory finally closed its doors in 2002, and why the brand’s legacy continues today.
For us, it was a privilege to capture these voices on screen and ensure that they’re preserved for future generations. Film has a unique ability to hold onto those moments of memory and emotion and we’re delighted that our work plays a part in telling this important local story.
We were lucky enough to join the opening of the exhibition, with our production team Lauren and Louis, editor Scarlet, and lead animator Fern all attending the launch. It was an incredible moment to see the film playing within the exhibition space, surrounded by objects, images and stories that brought the world of Shippam’s vividly to life.
What made it even more special was watching the reactions of visitors as they stopped to listen. Smiles, nods of recognition, and the occasional burst of laughter at a remembered jingle reminded us exactly why projects like this matter. Storytelling comes full circle when the community sees itself reflected back on screen.
Although our film is just one element of this ambitious exhibition, it represents what we love most about storytelling through film: preserving voices, capturing emotion, and helping communities reconnect with their shared history.
The story of Shippam’s is now being celebrated in Hurrah for Shippams - an exhibition at the Novium Museum in Chichester, West Sussex. The exhibition brings together quirky packaging, rarely-seen adverts, oral histories, and artefacts from the factory floor.
Nestled within it all is something we are particularly proud of here at Millstream - a 12 minute documentary we created for the exhibition.
We’d encourage anyone to visit the Novium Museum and step inside the world of Shippam’s. And if you can’t make it in person, watch the documentary. A small slice of history, captured for everyone to see.
