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Uttlesford Local History Recorders

Chairman's Report 2002
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CHAIRMAN’S REPORT 2002

The Uttlesford group of Recorders has been in existence now for 5 years, although the Recorders scheme actually goes back to the 1970s. We feel it is now established. As a result of discussions, we now have proposals to set before you, then to have more detailed discussion in committee. We would then come back to you next year with more definite plans and, if you endorse them, will apply for funding to enable us to produce a district database for Recorders.

Why do this? The Recorders have a vital role. If we don’t record what is happening now, then future villagers and historians will have no record of what happened in the 21st century; if we turn a blind eye to the destruction or disappearance of documents and objects from the past, then again there will be nothing to pass on to future generations. Many villages acquire ever-growing collections of material but there is little knowledge of it outside their own village. It would be far more useful if it was listed and that list would be more useful still if it linked with lists from other villages and was searchable. Even if only half a dozen villages joined up their catalogues, it would provide a good resource. The more who join, the better it will be.

So tonight we are going to explain a possible approach to this challenge, invite you to make comments and ask for your mandate to take it forward. I commend it to you because:

  1. It will make village collections more accessible now to answer queries.
  2. It offers evidence which might attract funding for improved storage of material.
  3. It provides a means of passing on information to future villagers & others.
  4. It enables you to organise an ever-growing resource.
  5. From the ULHR point of view, the co-ordinator then knows what exists locally and can ensure it gets passed on when Recorders retire, move or die.

It may be said that such material should be in the ERO or a Museum anyway – but very often it includes things that they do not require, but is still of interest locally. It also includes copies of material kept in distant repositories, thus making the information more accessible locally. It offers a resource for presentations, exhibitions etc. Photographs can be scanned and documents photocopied so easily nowadays and the Recorders need now to take advantage of modern technology to ensure this material survives and that people know what is there.

In order to promote this idea, the ULHR needs to pay for professional assistance – therefore we need funding. In order to apply for funding we need to become a fully constituted body, hence tonight’s meeting.

Jacqueline Cooper


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