Dave Walker, our Local Studies Librarian, writes:
The Who do you think you are live show at Olympia is a big three day event in the world of genealogical and historical research for both the amateur and professional researchers and the information providers and for the first time staff and volunteers from all three Archives / Local Studies departments attended (Westminster, Hammersmith & Fulham and Kensington).
As you can see the historic exhibition hall at Olympia was heaving with enthusiasts. It has to be admitted that we weren’t actually in the centre of the action. Our stall is almost invisible under the balcony in the distance of this picture. But close up you can see we got plenty of attention.
This is the stall on Saturday where Alex from Westminster Archives, who also works at Hammersmith and Fulham Archives, is visible, along with two of H&F’s volunteers. Here they are again:
Eagle-eyed readers will note that the organisers have spelt Westminster incorrectly on the banner.
Other staff who spent time on the stall were myself, Tim Reid (K&C) Kim Smith (Westminster but soon to work at K&C as well), Maggie Tyler (volunteer at K&C), Alison Kenney and Adrian Autton (both from Westminster). Standing around all day is tiring work, but the stall got more than 300 visitors each day so my sore feet were worth it.
I did get the chance to wander around with a camera on Saturday.
That’s the Find my Past stand featuring a refugee from the Napoleonic wars, Myko Clelland.
And one of his colleagues in Regency dress. Or possibly a time traveller.
Below, the British Library Newspaper archive:
Upstairs on the balcony there were a number of military related stands such as this one:
And what’s this?
Promoting the Spirit of Remembrance stand a pair of genuine, if slightly surreal, battlefield angels.
Clare and Maria, who kindly let me take a picture of them. Their costumes are based on images from actual propaganda posters of WW1.
I think the event could have been enhanced with a lot more historical costumes. Maybe we should try it next year. An 18th century man gentleman? A Victorian undertaker? A WW2 fighter pilot? And that’s just me.
Of course my favourite stand was this one:
They serve a fine venison sausage with mustard that cleared my sinuses.
We spoke to hundreds of people and encouraged them to visit the three Local Studies/Archives departments, we sold a lot of publications and I successfully answered an enquiry about Westminster, which was a first for me. Thanks to Adrian Autton of Westminster for organising the stand and all the staff and volunteers who attended.
Oh but how I wish I was there. The pictures are great. To me it looks like a great time.
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