Family History and Working-Life Stories

The Norfolk and Norwich Family History society is a long established group which produces a fascinating quarterly magazine “The Norfolk Ancestor” . It meets regularly in its headquarters at Kirby Hall in Norwich and has a global membership.

WISEArchive was invited to speak to them on May 11^th about how we can know and understand more about our ancestors by having an insight into how they earned their living.  We enjoyed a lively discussion on the interface between family history and working-life stories. It was a receptive audience and we hope to meet more contributors as a result.

Help WISEArchive every time you shop on-line

Raise funds for WISEArchive the easy way with no added cost to yourself!  Every time you shop on-line you can help us with a click.  Hundreds of big firms support charities on easyfundraising: including Amazon, Laterooms, M&S, Sainsbury’s, Aviva and Wilkinsons. Just register as a WISEArchive supporter on www.easyfundraising.org and off you go.

WISEArchive thanks Localgiving.com

Last year WISEArchive joined Localgiving.com, the online giving portal founded by social entrepreneur and ‘Secret Millionaire’ Marcelle Speller and co-owned by the Community Foundation Network. 

Thanks to the Norfolk Community Foundation for their advice and assistance and to everyone who has given so far.

Click on the logo to find news about us and how you can help. Looking forward to hearing from you.

http://localgiving.com/charity/wisearchive.

Norfolk County Pensioners Retired Members’ event

Photo: NCC

This annual event brings together people from the myriad jobs and professions that come under the umbrella of the Norfolk County Council for a good get-together and information session. We attended the meetings in Norwich and Great Yarmouth. This year we were very pleased with the enthusiastic response from the pensioners, many of whose stories we hope to collect over the next few months. It was also an opportunity for us to make contact with the other groups and charities who exhibit and learn about their work. Not least, we thank the Norfolk Pension Fund event organisers for their warm welcome and excellent lunches!

WISEArchive at Gressenhall this summer

Photo: WISEArchive

This is going to be an exciting summer with the Jubilee and Olympic celebrations. Were you already working in 1952? What changes have you seen over the years? Have you worked in the sports area – maybe you sold sports equipment or looked after a sports ground. Whatever your working-life background, we’d love to talk to you. E-mail us at wisearchive.co.uk, or even better, meet us at one of the events at the Gressenhall Farm and Workhouse Museum near Dereham.

Sunday 03 June 2012 at the Norfolk History event celebrate the Diamond Jubilee and step back in time to the 1950s. Meet historical re-enactors and local history enthusiasts from across the county.

Sunday 9^th September discover the farm, workhouse and museum for free at the Heritage Open Day.

Friday 21^st September Remember When… - a day with a difference. Take a trip down memory lane, share stories and get help and advice. All for a special low admission price for the over 55s.

 For more about events at Gressenhall phone 01362 860563 gressenhall.museum@norfolk.gov.uk.

Thank you for your support

WISEArchive is happy to announce the award of £1000 from the Sport Relief funding, distributed by the Evening News and the Norfolk Community Foundation supporting community organisations and charities working with people in Norwich.  We’re very proud of this, and are working on a project to bring together younger and older people in Norwich.

We would also like to thank the Fitzmaurice Trust in Norwich for their kind donation towards the “very interesting work of WISEArchive”. The Trust has been a valued supporter of WISEArchive for several years.

Finally, thanks to the Norfolk Family History Society for their donation. Pauline and Olwen gave a talk to the Society about WISEArchive and enjoyed a lively discussion on family history and working-life stories. We look forward to more interaction with the NFHS in the future.

Have fun with us at the Taverham Fayre

This year’s Taverham Village Fayre at Taverham Village Hall near Norwich has an Olympic theme. Join us there Saturday July 7^th .  Everyone loves a tombola and ours is a great one. Also find bric-a-brac and jewellery at keen prices. Entrance is free and a fun day will be had by all.

The Craftsman Plumber

Our newest contribution is from Peter, who began as an apprentice plumber and, after National Service in the RAF, spent most of his working life in the trade. Post-war development opened up opportunities in the building trade – commercial, industrial, as well as domestic so there was a whole gamut of trade. “Norwich was being renovated then.” As central heating became the norm, plumbing changed from being concentrated on lead-work and pipes to heating and anything pertaining to water, domestic or commercial. Lead was replaced by iron, iron pipe by copper and copper by plastic.  “There was the desire to be the best plumber in the City – the aspiration was there for anyone who went in as a craftsman.”

Find Peter’s story on www.wisearchive.co.uk/projects/construction/253/ The Craftsman Plumber

Alan Cohen

 Alan Cohen, who died recently, was a social worker for forty years, five of which were spent working for Family Service Units (FSU). He also worked as a lecturer in social work at Trent Polytechnic and in the department of Applied Social Science at the University of Lancaster from 1966 to 1984. He then returned to field social work, practising in the Learning Disability Service of Lancashire Social Services Department until his retirement. In 1998 he published a book called The revolution in Post-war Family Casework: The story of Pacifist Service Units and Family Units 1940-1959 (Lancaster University Centre for North-West Regional Studies, 1998). This was a collection of interviews with people who had been involved in the establishment of Family Service Units.

In the 1980s Alan planned a similar study using twenty-six interviews he undertook with key social workers whose journey in many cases replicated the fundamental change taking place in social work and in society itself at that time. Though the interviews took place, Alan was unfortunately unable to develop the book he was planning.

He passed the material and copyright to WISEArchive. Our volunteers have since spent many hours digitally transcribing the interviews. We are now finally preparing them for publication.

Remembering Brenda

WiseArchive was represented at the funeral of Brenda Coldrick on April 11th in Fakenham Parish Church. This was especially sad for us as she had been an early supporter, and a constant friend. Brenda had been an activist in the most positive use of the word, being involved in many other organisations on which she left her very personal mark. She brought a sharp intelligence softened by a jolly extrovert manner to all situations. We shall miss her greatly.

Brenda Coldrick