I often hear this question as I travel around the UK to speak to local societies or set up BALH’s stall at local or family history events. The length of the answer depends on a quick assessment of the enquirer. Family history is a very popular activity but often one in which people are involved for a short time. Some family historians can be attracted to BALH events or membership by the mention of the ‘media personalities’ speaking at our events. Those involved in local history often have a longer-term interest but may not have joined BALH yet. Many people of course study both local and family history.

Increasing BALH’s membership is a major part of my activity and seems to be successful, despite the ‘global economic downturn’. The membership stood at 1818 just after I joined BALH and now stands at 2007.

This increase is very much a joint effort with, for example, Anne Tarver representing BALH this autumn at the Open the Door conference in Nottingham, Win Stokes at the Northern History Fair, Gateshead, and Jane Howells and Phoebe Merrick at the Bristol VCH/EPE conference. In my ‘one-day-a-week’ role, I cannot represent BALH everywhere but a co-coordinator is needed to ensure BALH materials for stalls are transported around the country to events, and also to the academic conferences and seminars co-sponsored by BALH.

Of course we want even more individuals, local history societies, museums, libraries and students to join BALH. There are some suggestions below on how you can help. We also want to raise BALH’s profile by being seen as an important organisation in representing the views of local historians of all kinds. Part of my role also consists in attending meetings or drafting responses to government consultations on issues affecting us for the Assembly to consider.

Gill Draper development.balh@btinternet.com

 

The first Cambridge History Fair took place on 19 September as part of the Cherry Hinton Festival. Set among the cheerful surroundings of the Festival with its processions, dog show, produce competition and children's activities, was a large marquee devoted to the History Fair. Here BALH had its stall, publications and leaflets together with those of local history societies, field archaeology groups, the Cambridge Record Society and Archives service and the Historical Association, together with more unusual ones such as the Cambridge Time Traveller Group, and a demonstration of flint knapping and arrow making which attracted many young visitors. Outside the marquee the University of Cambridge publicised its local history courses and Cambridgeshire Association for Local History, the organisers, had their stall.

Hundreds of visitors came to the festival and many to the history marquee, giving opportunities to show what BALH does, and to hand out flyers about David Dymond's new book. There was particular interest in this book since David is well known in the county. A new experience for me was to give a short interview to be broadcast on a local radio station.

It was a fine day and visitors were loath to leave when the festival finished at 4 pm (they had not been there setting up at 8.30 am!) but they were gradually encouraged on their way by the swift dismantling of the marquee around us at 5 pm and the slow but insistent approach of a group of pipers. A big thank-you to Michael Farrar, Lyn Brookman of the Landscape and Local History Group, and former BALH award winner, Michelle Bullivant and Ali Klevnäs for minding the BALH stall while I took the odd break and made useful contacts with the other groups.

Gill Draper