THE Welney Archive and Social History Committee of the Welney Parish Council is delighted to announce that it has been successful in obtaining a grant of £3,090 from Awards for All, part of the Big Lottery Fund. The committee was set up at the beginning

THE Welney Archive and Social History Committee of the Welney Parish Council is delighted to announce that it has been successful in obtaining a grant of £3,090 from Awards for All, part of the Big Lottery Fund.

The committee was set up at the beginning of 2006 in order to collect as much material as possible, including photographs, stories and information, so that an archive could be formed which would be informative and useful to future generations. It was feared that as the elder residents passed away the history and stories relating to the village would be lost. The committee comprises members of the Parish Council as well as village residents, and a local teenager has been appointed as archivist.

However in order to carry out the archiving, equipment would be required, and the application was made in order to provide a laptop computer, scanner, colour printer, IT visual projector and screen, digital camera, dictaphone, DVD player, portable external hard drive, and CDs, DVDs, Paper and Ink Cartridges etc. The Committee was delighted when the total sum they applied for was granted.

A great deal of material has already been donated to the committee and an open day will be held on Saturday October 21 from 1-4pm in the Parish Hall, Welney, when it is hoped to have a display of material, together with a chance to see and use the equipment which has been purchased. If anyone in the surrounding villages and towns has any news cuttings or photographs that they would be prepared for the Committee to copy, these would be most appreciated.

The committee is also arranging an evening meeting on November 10, with a speaker who will talk about local history of the area. This will again be held in the Parish Hall, and doors will open at 7.30pm with the speaker at 8pm.