The Hampshire Family Historian | Vol.49 No.1 | June 2022

Chairman’s Report

Message from the Chairman

At the first meeting in January 1974 Michael Walcot’s advice was: ‘Get as much information from older relatives; never believe implicitly in printed or old pedigrees; always prepare fully before visiting record offices; and, finally, never think you have finished!’ Here we are, nearly 50 years later, and, despite all the advanced technology and know-how, we would do well to still remember this advice. Now having reached the middle of 2022, I hope you all are starting to get back to normal. In Hampshire many of the groups are started to hold physical meetings again. Some groups have experimented with hybrid meetings, which have allowed members outside of Hampshire to join. Conversely, many groups have found physical attendance has dropped off, with previous attendees joining via Zoom. I hope this is just a blip and that members will feel confident to return. Local groups have to be sustainable. However, if necessary, we may have to close or merge groups. Zoom is a useful tool that can be used during the dark and cold evenings when our older members are reluctant to venture out, but is no substitute for face to face meetings. Our newly formed National Group however has been successful and has a very large attendance over Zoom. Later this month we will hold our 2022 AGM and Conference Day. We have three excellent speakers, so if you haven’t already purchased

your ticket, please do it quickly as it is a bargain at £15 including lunch. In the past I have been encouraging our post holders to

produce Job Descriptions and Role Procedures as part of our Succession

Planning. Over the past few months several post holders had to resign their role or reduce their involvement due to ill-health. Elaine Boyes after several enthusiastic years has had to resign as Bookstall Manager and Trustee due to ill-health. Elaine brought both ‘bounce’ and ‘youth’ to the society. She will be hard to replace. It is a shame this has coincided with the commencement of several events the HGS would attend following lockdown. Attending these events not only shows what the HGS is, but has always been a source for increased membership. If you think you would like to do this role which means holding the stock and conveying it to the event, please contact me or one of the committee. We have a ‘Dream Team’ of volunteers that assist at the events. We are still looking for a Minute Secretary to

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