We have been donated some amazing old photos of the village and members of the Cherry Hinton Archives group have been busy getting them scanned in and uploaded to our CCAN site. We have also got a brilliant set of cine films which show various parts of Cambridge and Cherry Hinton in the 1960’s which we are having transferred to DVD. More news on that as we progress.

Here's just a couple of those pictures:

We, like many of the counties CCAN groups still have lots and lots of photos and stories to upload and continue to build a fantastic community record of life and history in our villages. If you have any memories, stories, pictures, photos and/or ephemera to share we’d love to hear from you. We don’t just want old photos though, all CCAN groups are also a ‘living memory’ and we record current history too. Things like changes to buildings, local events, news and updates on our areas. We also carry out voice recordings, oral history, make pod-casts, videos, DVD’s, books and much more!

Most CCAN groups have regular open meetings that you can attend and bring along your contributions. You don’t have to part with your pictures if you don’t want to either as all groups will scan in you items and give them back to you if you wish. To find out more or to get involved Contact Me or visit www.ccan.co.uk

Last week I visited the Soham CCAN (Cambridge Community Archives Network). They are a very active lot with their history in Soham! They are several history related groups and even the museum which will soon have a home and all the groups are linked one way or another. The Soham CCAN group have been working on some great research projects such as the evacuees, the Jewish School and they have been busy collecting and recording oral history around the town. I really enjoyed my visit to the group as not only were they a lovely bunch but I also used to live in Soham and I always enjoy my visits back there :)

A New Start 2011

It’s a new year now and for many of us this brings the joy of a new start. We can think back on all the lovely happy things that have happened and all we have achieved over the last year and we can also put behind us the negative experiences and people who do not deserve to be part of our lives. I am so grateful to have such amazing friends, family and colleagues who have helped me and stood by me through everything over the past year. You have all been brilliant and I am very lucky to have you all in my life.

Now to look forward and see what wonderful things 2011 has in store for us.

Most people make some kind of New Years resolutions and I suppose mine aren’t that different to many peoples. I am definitely going to try and completely give us smoking though and instead of worrying and focusing on weight and body image I just want to get more fit and healthy – by focusing on that the other will follow :)

I made a good start by taking Charlotte Ice-skating on Parker’s Piece, Cambridge on new Years Day – blimey those skates don’t half make your feet ache! We usually have to go up to Peterbourgh to the ice-rink there and we only manage that about once a year but the temporary rink at Parker’s Piece was ok – I really hope they do get a permanent one for Cambridge sometime soon though.

Lot’s of exciting things planned for this year already and which I’ll post news and more details of soon but include:

Cambridgeshire Association for Local History’s Diamond Jubilee Year for which we’ll be hosting many various events and celebrations. (www.calh.org.uk)

Cambridgeshire Community Archives growing and new groups joining, new FREE events which include training and oral history recording, video, pod casts and much, much more (www.ccan.co.uk)

Mobile Makeup Artist – I am now looking to recruit several new people to my team and will be growing my business across East Anglia, if you’re feeling the squeeze of January and would like to earn some extra cash, learn a new skill and have amazing fun then please do get in touch and I will give you more info – also please do check out my career opportunities page on here :)

And watch this space for news of my new publications along with the launch of the Cambridge Local History Book Shop!

Michelle xxx

I had a lovely time meeting up with one of our Cambridgeshire Community Archives Network (CCAN) archive groups this week. The Romany Archive is run through the Romany Theatre Group and they are going to be adding some more great stuff - as with all our CCAN groups and people who want to get involved with CCAN - Cambridgeshire largest community run archives website- we give free training, advice and care - from audio training, how to do oral history, publishing archives and written work, looking after old photos etc. etc.
As of 2011 we will continue to come and visit groups and people interested, for free, but we will also be running regular free workshops where you can come along with your memories, interest and old photos and find out more - Look out for news, dates and locations coming soon!!!