Ice cream, Bridgerton and a Barbadian slave song! This year’s Heritage Conference Day for Year 12s

What a fantastic day was had by all! Students from various schools and colleges across Gloucestershire enjoyed a day packed with all things history at this year’s Heritage Conference Day on the 28 June. Held at the impressive Business School at the University of Gloucestershire, the day included a series of talks and workshops.

 Melita Thomas, Author of 1000 Tudors, headlined the event with a fascinating compendium of Tudor peoples. We were amazed by the breadth and interests of the 16th century individuals discussed by Melita, who donned a fabulous Elizabethan costume.

The day opened with a panel of local artists and historians discussing ‘What is heritage now?’ Thanks to Michael Gorley for his capable chairing of the panel. Students also attended two out of eight offered workshops which aimed to both enrich and consolidate their historical understanding. There was a distinctly local flavour though more international areas were also covered. Who knew that millions of Magnum ice creams were made in Gloucester every year? Or that one of the earliest slave songs can be found here in the county? Great fun was had in the Fake News workshop looking at the historical accuracy of programmes such as Bridgerton! And the Forgotten Aviation workshop gave pupils the opportunity to learn all about aeroplane machinery from the experts.

 Thanks to everyone involved, either as a participant or in providing such a terrific programme of historic subjects.

 The Heritage Conference Day was run by Voices Gloucester with funding from Historic England. It will be taking place again next year so please watch this space…