First of all welcome to the New Year. How many of you made resolutions and have already given up. I know I have. I decided I was not going to let the winter bugs get me this year. Wrong – but all is well just a head cold thankfully. I have also made a resolution to spend a little more time on my own family history (I have the most frustrating brickwall and DNA has not thrown up any new clues – I wouldn’t mind if this wall was one from the 1700s or so but it is only from 1914-1943!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!). Although I am going to put some time into my mystery don’t worry I will still be working stolidly for the website and the OPC Project as my mystery is a crossover as it is a Wiltshire brick wall.
I am still not sure if there will be a meet up this year for our team and anyway who wants to join us. The last in 2022 was not that well attended due to differing circumstances. We did not make a formal meet up for 2023 but both John Pope and myself met up with a few members on separate occasions during the room. All the visits we made were fruitful – John with his camera and myself with a visit to the WHSC in Chippenham. My friend and sister also spent time with me in churchyards and cemeteries taking photos too. A big thank you to all of them.
The other day I had a delivery of the final edition of the BT Phone Book for my area in Scotland. If anyone has copies of any old phone books for Wiltshire please let me know either via the website contact us facility or on the Facebook page and perhaps I could get them from you before they are thrown away. It doesn’t matter the age of them probably the older the better. I will be willing to cover the cost of postage. I have been sent one copy already for the 2023-2024 for the Swindon & North Wilts area. I shall mark it up for transcription at some point.
The other thing I would bring your attention to – there is a petition online for you all to sign (UK) only to try and stop the Government from destroying wills after 25 years. For family historians personally I feel this is like someone saying we have digital copies of the Mona Lisa so why do we need to conserve and keep the original (I know a bit over the top thinking there). Follow this link to sign the petition if your a eligibly to do so.
As to website business we still have hundreds of documents and photographs to add to the website. We are still in need of people to join our team to help with the backlog and workload. A list of available tasks and parishes for adoption can be had from myself – please be assured your available time does not need to be overwhelming – even a few minutes a day will make a difference and could free up more time for myself or other admins to concentrate on more productive items. We are online so anyone, anywhere in the world could help out if they wanted to. Also if anyone wishes to share items they have researched with us then please get in touch am sure someone else may be interested to hear your stories.
Please take a few moments to think about helping us keep the website online, updated and interesting. All contributions will be gratefully received whether donations of material, time or financial donation no matter how small.
As we head for February please remember to stay safe, keep yourself well and keep knocking down those brick walls. Until next time – most of all Have Fun.
