And the winners are...

Gloucestershire Archives is celebrating yet another award. It is becoming a bit of a habit! We are pleased to report that two dedicated volunteers, Mags and Terri, have been awarded the prestigious Volunteer of the Year Award by the Institute of Conservation (Icon). This award is sponsored by the National Trust and given for outstanding volunteer working in conservation, carrying out vital work to protect and preserve cultural heritage.   

Having started volunteering at Gloucestershire Archives in 2009, Mags and Terri have completely transformed the condition of several significant collections over the last 15 years. Their work in reducing the risk of damage and deterioration to records has ensured that thousands of important historic documents remain accessible for generations to come. 

The Awards Ceremony took place in London on 6th November. A member of the Icon team said of Mags and Terri: “The panel were incredibly impressed with their work at the Gloucestershire Archives, their commitment to the care of collections you hold, and the substantial difference they've made! Not to mention the length of their volunteering tenure, two truly special individuals indeed!” 

The team here at Gloucestershire Archives is hugely appreciative of the work conducted by our volunteers, and we are thrilled that Mags and Terri, two long-standing volunteers, have been recognised on a national level with this well-deserved award.  

           Mags and Terri , our award winning volunteers

Water, water, everywhere...

A key aim of Gloucestershire Archives' recent Green Pledge Project was to catalogue some larger deposits of environmental records already held here but in need of specialist attention. For many months, Jenny Rutland, the Green Pledge Project Archivist was partially obscured by boxes and boxes of rolled plans, drawings and other associated records from Severn Trent Water Authority and its many and varied predecessors. Some of these records were quite technical in nature but Jenny patiently wade her way through them and they are now open for all to see for the very first time. This is a major achievement!  

Please take a look at Jenny's fascinating blog about this aspect of the project, available here