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Volunteering

 

Yesterday, I spent a lovely day on a training course run by the Oral History Society who are part of the British Library. This came about as a result of me responding to a ‘Volunteers Wanted’ request from our village heritage group who have received funding in order to create an oral history project about the village which will be an extension of the work the group have already done. Adderley Heritage, for that is the name of the group, has spent a lot of time creating an archive of historical documents, developing a website and installing a heritage trail around the village, with information boards placed at strategic sites of historical importance. The village can trace its history back to 1065. That’s a LOT of history! 

Anyway, off I went to the training day, not knowing quite what to expect other than the usual bribery of tea, cake and lunch. And I have to say it was a thoroughly fascinating experience. The only hiccup occurred because the training location couldn’t be our own village hall in Adderley, for reasons unexplained. Therefore, as directed, I set off for the next village along, Norton-In-Hales, which is about a ten minute drive away along narrow country lanes. It also happens to be a village or very confusing layout, and do you think I could find the village hall? No, I could not. I phoned the Adderley Heritage group leader who declared the village ‘a rabbit warren’ and provided more directions. It turns out the village hall is on the edge of the village, which seemed most odd. (It’s also not as nice as our village hall - only one ladies toilet, for goodness’ sake! The ladies of Norton-In-Hales must have very well-trained bladders.)

Anyway, I arrived before kick-off time which is good because I hate being late for anything. Plenty of tea and cake to keep the troops sustained and a nice lunch of soup and rolls, cheese and biscuits, and fruit if we were feeling virtuous. And more cake. The trainer lady, Julia, was excellent. Very engaging, wise and full of interesting stories. We learned techniques for gathering oral history interviews from people, how to operate recording equipment, how to go about structuring our own village project, and how to stay the right side of the law regarding data protection and copyright. 

In the afternoon, a lovely couple in their eighties came along to be guinea pigs for us volunteers so we could have a go at using the recording equipment and conducting an interview. The gentleman had grown up in Adderley and was full of stories about the village school, the farms, the railway, the church, the canal and the old local buildings like the manor house where the gentry lived, and the rectory. For such a small place, Adderley has a very rich seam of stories to be tapped. 

I even got a certificate! Who doesn’t love a certificate!? I came home an hour later than anticipated (because it was so interesting and we got caught up in all sorts of chit-chat and exciting plans) feeling very brain-tired but also very pleased I went along. I’ve got a pile of resources to read over and explore, and it looks like I have become one of the Adderley Heritage working party! It’s all good stuff. 


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