Many of us have free time, some of us don’t know what to do with it or just haven’t had our eyes opened to what is out there. That afternoon you wasted away last week watching Television? It could of been spent, as Vintagerose has suggested, building your muscle and self- worth at a local re-homing centre or how about your local history group? Now, i’m not scared of getting down and dirty, i’ve hand-reared and rescued many an animal in my time. Its so rewarding to see all your hard work go on to live a happy healthy existance.
My life, however, took a different path. I got involved with my local Heritage Group when my daughter grew up and out of her baby phase. I found myself with some spare time and whilst browsing the stalls at the Attleborough Summer Carnival came across the Attleborough Heritage Group. I took one of their quizzes and I had a brilliant time answering their questions on old Attleborough. For example, one of the questions I remember was “A building that is sharp” We worked it out to be “Point House” My mum and I answered all the questions and went off to find The Attleborough Heritage Centre, which we hadn’t heard of before, to hand in our entry. Once we’d found it, I was hooked. The old postcards, the old sale particulars, maps and deeds. It was amazing.
Heritage Groups and Historical Societies always have a multitude of projects and events going on, which need raw man (or woman!) power to run efficiently. Such projects include the cataloguing of documents, the digitizing of postcard collections, typing up of Parish Registers and Trade Directories etc. Also the organization of talks, coffee mornings and various other fundraisers.
You may be thinking “That sounds like something my Nan would be into. No thanks” Firstly, please don’t be ageist. Secondly, there’s alot of things that the older generation rely on us young ‘uns to do. Don’t get me wrong though, our parents and grandparents are far from incapable!!
For example, they’ve only been teaching ICT in schools for the last 20 years. In this modern age, you can do amazing things with technology. Maybe you could show off your skills whilst helping your local history group? Typing is another skill that is invaluble to a heritage group. Creating a database full of 100% searchable content is an incredibly rewarding experience.
If you are studying social history, wish to get ahead in journalism, have a spiked interest into what your ancestors were doing 200 years ago or just simply want to be able to help preserve your local history for many more generations then do look into joining your local history group. Maybe even go along to their meeting place and ask if they’d be able to help you get a little experience on your CV or how you could get involved with some local projects.
Be a part of history.
Sherbet Liquorice 