WSFHS Open Day 2007 Success!

In the current climate of declining attendances at Family History Fairs, WSFHS saw another successful Open Day at Woking Leisure Centre. Approximately 1,000 people visited the wide variety of stalls which included Family History Societies from as far afield as Lancashire, Glamorgan and Kent, genealogy related commercial organisations and local history groups. We hope that if you visited you were able to find something of interest or helpful towards your research and would see the benefit of visiting us again.

More than 300 people visited the Research Hall, where changes to the way people are conducting their research was reflected in the reduced number of microfiche viewers on offer and the increased number of on and off-line computers. Internet access to Ancestry, Findmypast and Origins were available and very popular. Thanks go to Jeanne Bunting, John Hanson, Graham Walter, Cliff Webb, Tim Wilcock, Chris Willis, Sue Turner, Shirley Forster and Keith Sheffield who spent most of the day at their computers giving advice, doing look-ups and aiding people with their research.

This year 10 minute “Taster Talks” were offered for free in the Research Hall. Topics covered were: “Beginning Your Family History”, “Unusual Internet Resources”, “Where There’s a Will…..”, “Hidden Meanings on Certificates” and “Brick Walls”. These proved popular and we will look towards organizing similar talks again at future Open Days.

Help Tables for advice for both beginners and more advanced researchers were provided in the both the Main and Research Halls. In addition, for the first time in the Research Hall, specialist Help Tables were provided by Jessica Freeman on reading old documents, Stephanie Monk on interpreting birth, marriage and death certificates and Brian Swann on DNA in family history research.

We have received many appreciative comments from stallholders, volunteers and visitors on the organisation and friendliness of the event. One gentleman from Canada was very impressed with the broad spectrum of stalls and events on offer, hoping to take home with him ideas for organising a similar event in his home country! All of this would not be possible without the commitment of a raft of volunteers and organisers. Planning starts early in the year to make the Open Day a success, but we must also thank YOU, the supportive public, for making the WSFHS Open Day as popular as it is. Long may this last.

Chris Leech and Maura Sellars

Photographs By Peter Cleaver