LOCAL FAMILY HISTORY DAY

24 SEPTEMBER 2011

The above was a first for the History Club. We usually focus on local history, but with all of our publishing up to date, we felt it would be a good idea to concentrate on family history. When planning for the event we felt that we would be lucky if we could persuade half a dozen people to share their family history research! We couldn't have been more wrong! We had 27 local families represented and each of them put on splendid displays, each unique and very interesting.

The event was opened by County Councillor Brian Wilson from Thornley, who started the proceedings by leading a one-minute silence for the recently killed Welsh miners and miners in our area. This was a very poignant and reflective beginning.

Once again the Workingmen's Club in Wheatley Hill provided their facilities for the day and the event was busier than it had been in recent years. The new format proved popular with locals and those who had travelled - one lady from Leeds!! - further afield. The publicity from Chris Lloyd's article in The Northern Echo I am sure, spurred people on to make the trip to Wheatley Hill as well as local advertising and our website.

The Victorian Yesteryear Society from Hartlepool were magnificent in their costumes with Queen Victoria and Mr Brown appearing very real. Alan Kirby with his horse and trap conveyed the old Queen very safely through the village before depositing her at the Club.

Our display of classic vehicles outside the Club proved popular once again with additions of a horse box, tractor, an American Lincoln and a motorbike.

Some comments received from exhibitors:

"It was a great day with lots of contacts".

"This was my first ever visit and I did not know what to expect, other than from experience of similar events by other societies. Yours compared more than favourably, not least because of the immense friendliness of the local people and the obvious enthusiasm engendered by the society. It was well set up, efficiently organised and the refreshment team put on a splendid job".

"Thank you for inviting me to take part in what was a most enjoyable and interesting morning".

Must start planning for next year ...