CHAIR’S REPORT 2020/2021 by Brenda Burtenshaw

 

AGM 27th SEPTEMBER 2021

 

The Benhall and Sternfield History Group has not been able to meet during the last year and a half due to Covid and the lockdowns but we did manage to move premises just before it happened. We are still in the same vicinity but have transferred to a different building known as “The Little Barn” which was renovated for us by Reggie Oliver to whom we are most grateful.

 When we commence meeting again, which we plan to in October, we will be continuing with our archiving activities as there is still quite a lot of work to be done in terms of preparing a database, a great many photographs to be sorted and research activities.  We will also pick up on the work we had been doing with the School archives. We have not been totally idle during this period as there have been queries from the public that we have been dealing with.

 We did have a stand at the annual Benhall and Sternfield Flower Show where we featured a variety of photographs and a lovely book “Benhall and Sternfield - Past and Present” which Jane kindly put together.  Jane also displayed Family History information which was most helpful if one wished to explore one’s ancestry, she is also very willing to help anyone who is interested in pursuing this.  There was a great deal of interest in our stand.

 As always we would like to thank the Parish Council for their ongoing support and Derek Chambers for always being so willing to assist us with any advertising material. I would also like to thank Eve for all her support and expertise as Vice Chair, Karen who looks after our secretarial requirements so well and Joan who keeps a record of our financial transactions.

Finally I would like to introduce 2 new members Alice Jacobs and Michael Nickels.  We are very pleased that you wish to join us, Michael has been a Benhall resident all his life and is a fount of knowledge concerning past village life and residents and Alice has also lived in Benhall for many years and been very involved in village life.

 Hopefully now we can pick up where we left off and carry on with no more setbacks and we look forward to getting together in October.