The 23rd SAFHS Annual Conference & Fair was held on Saturday 21st April at the University of Dundee, hosted jointly by Tay Valley and Fife Family History Societies. We acknowledge the assistance and support received from so many people which contributed to success of the event.

The “festivities” started on the evening of Friday 20th with a Civic Reception held in the Dundee City Council Chambers. This was hosted by the Depute Lord Provost, Baillie Ian Borthwick who also formally opened the Conference on Saturday morning. Our thanks go to Baillie Borthwick and to the Lord Provost’s office.

The Conference was held throughout Saturday in the D‘Arcy Thomson Lecture Theatre. Thanks must go to the speakers and to the local archivists who took part in the forum. They provoked much thought and discussion over their various topics. So very interesting!

A large number of tables were set up for the book fair in the Bonar Hall building. Stall holders, some having travelled quite some distance, trooped into the halls laden with boxes and cheerfully manned their tables throughout the day. With a steady stream of visitors passing through the halls in the course of the day, there was quite a bustling air about the place. At the end of the day, the exhibitors had to pack all their boxes up again and depart – still smiling – back home!   We really appreciated your participation.

SAFHS chairman Bruce Bishop closed the Conference, and invited all to attend the 24th SAFHS Annual Conference. It will take place on Saturday, 11th May, 2013, within the Scottish Borders Campus, Nether Road, Galashiels. The hosts are Borders FHS and the topic is “Comings and Goings”. Please keep a note of this date for your diary next year.

Thanks go to various local organisations who provided support and, in some cases, sponsorship to Tay Valley Society. We must make special mention of the European Regional Development Fund (who sponsored one of our speakers), Dundee & Angus Convention Bureau, the City of Dundee, the staff of Bonar Halls and the University of Dundee. Thanks must definitely go to Kirsty MacDonald and her staff from our caterers, Bonne Amies, who provided the soup and sandwich lunch to keep us going through the afternoon!

Archie Lumsden, chair of Fife FHS, and Murray Nicoll, chair of Tay Valley FHS, agree that they greatly appreciate the support of members of their Societies, and all the hard work that went into the project. Both say a big thank you to all concerned.

We have now handed over the “baton” to Borders Society, and look forward to seeing everyone again next year.

27 April 2012