Highly Commended

I have just heard that I have been awarded a Highly Commended in the 2013 Elizabeth Simpson Award for the best genealogical journal run by the The Federation of Family History Societies.  This is for Hertfordshire People, the journal of Hertfordshire Family History Society.

Me at home in the Study.

It is great to hear that all the hard work that goes into producing the journal, all 48 pages of it, has been recognised.  I could not do it without the regular contributors and the members who send in their queries and articles for publication.

Aims and objectives

The aim of my blog is to record what I do on a day to day basis, my hobbies and interests and to advertise what I may be able to do for you on a professional basis.

 

By profession I am a Chartered Librarian and Genealogist and also tutor in Family History in the community and on a more academic footing via distance learning with American students.

 

My qualifications are in Librarianship and Information Studies [BA (Hons)], Local and Regional History [MSt Cantab] and Genealogy [Diploma in Genealogy -  IHGS]

 

My hobbies are genealogy, heraldry, royal families, history, books and many esoteric subjects like the paranormal, Knights Templars, Arthurian, Ancient Egypt, Biblical etc etc.  It amazes me how many of these subjects intersperse with each other.  I am also a member of my local amateur operatic society where I sing first soprano in choral works and also occasionally appear on stage in the chorus and in cameo character roles.  I also enjoy the history and performance of Old Time Music Hall  - my interest being sparked by my ancestors involvement with this genre in the nineteenth and twentieth century.

 

I am a member of many genealogical and heraldic societies but my main work is with the Hertfordshire Family History Society where I serve on the Committee and edit their quarterly member's journal, Hertfordshire People, and with The Heraldry Society where I am the Hon. Librarian and Bookshop Manager and organise the biennial Heraldic Congresses with my husband John.  This year we are off to Leicester, staying in the University of Leicester Oadby Campus with 3 days of lectures on Ricardian Heraldry and a trip to the Bosworth Battlefield Heritage Centre, fittingly enough on 22nd August, the anniversary of the Battle.

 

My days are filled with my day job at North Hertfordshire College where I am a Customer Experience Champion and when I get home I start again with my hobby jobs.  I assist my husband with his genealogical and heraldic work and assist him in an administrative role for all of his interests, hobbies and professional occupations.

 

In this blog I shall hope to share my research into my own family history, observations, thoughts and celebrations on jobs well done, be they work or hobby.

 

I am a busy person but I enjoy what I do and strive to be the best possible in all that I do.

 

We share our home with a lovely black cat called Bess, who is, we think, about 18-19.  We adopted her from Wood Green when she was 8 (or was it 3?).  She is a very active old girl, always inquisitive and makes a bee-line for any plate that may have had food on it!