Huddersfield FH fair

Following on from our visit to the Hampshire Family History fair earlier in the year, we joined our Yorkshire cousins for the Huddersfield Family History fair in late October. As a confirmed red rose girl there was much jollity on social media about passports and vaccinations but we were warmly welcomed by the organisers. We were in a room with the Huddersfield Local History Society, FACHARS, the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, The Quaker Family History Society and others and there was much sharing of ideas, resources and sweets. Huddersfield FH Society took their responsibilities seriously so we were suitably close to the coffee.

Our stand included a list of Yorkshire-based studies which generated much discussion and some plans for collaboration. We also had printed summaries of some sample studies which illustrated the range of options including studies dating back to Roman times (Fishbourne), those looking at topics within a place (Dunster’s Ag Labs) and Liz’s study on the Temple Mount Home for Inebriate Women. The initial response was often mirth followed by sympathy for the women involved and good discussion of alternative study areas.

It was great to meet so many people interested in one-place studies, from those who were doing an OPS without realising it through those who ‘must really start soon’ to those who weren’t really aware of the concept previously but could see how it would help their genealogical researches or just be interesting. It was also great to meet with members old and new and catch up on where our studies were heading. If you joined the Society after this event – welcome! We look forward to hearing about how you get on.

Particular thanks to Jane Morgan for covering the stand for a while during the day – you were fab!