ODFHS celebrates 45 years
Ormskirk and District Family History Society was formed in February 1980 as a focus for local and genealogical interests, since then it has gone from strength to strength and we invite you to look back on some of the milestones of the last 45 years as we celebrate both our current achievements and those who have contributed so much towards making ODFHS the well established group it is today.
If you have any photographs, memories or documents which you would like to share, please get in touch.
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12th March 1980 marked the first meeting of ODFHS, 26 members attended.
March 1980 - March 1990 Mr. Ronald D. Janes was the first ODFHS Chairman, he later became Honorary Life President.
By the first AGM in April 1981 there were 79 members.
October 2004
One of the founding members of ODFHS, Mrs. Mary Janes died aged 92.
c. 2009 Tour of Ormskirk Parish Church
We are not sure of the exact date of this tour taking place outside Ormskirk Parish Church, but there are some familiar faces;
Extreme left, former ODFHS Chair, Bill Huyton
Left (behind the lady wearing a white top and light blue cardigan) Don Holt
Extreme right, Colin Scarisbrick
Middle (arms crossed, blue check shirt) Maurice Parry
March 2010 ODFHS Boat Families website is launched
In March 2010 the ODFHS Boat Families website was launched with more than 3000 names of canal workers on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal. The project is the work of Keith Jenkins and the database now contains over 66,000 names.
2010 Bill Huyon advertises ODFHS in his own unique way at an event in Coronation Park, Ormskirk
2015 Winners of the Heritage Society Quiz
Left to right Jean Haikalis, Bill Huyton, Pam Richardson, Kate Hurst, Andrew Scarisbrick, Jean Gidman
c. 2016 Chairman Bill Huyon gave a talk at Ormskirk Libray entitled "A different appreciation of the Somme" which was covered by a local newspaper
As well as describing the horrors faced by soldiers going "over the top", the talk outlined some of the reasons for the battle in northern France which started on 1st July 1916.
Bill also showed photographs of the area as it is now and spoke about his great-uncle who was born in Aughton and died at the battle while serving in the Salford Pals.
Local historian Richard Houghton presented a display of information relating to men from Ormskirk and surrounding areas who fought during the battle which raged for 141 days until November 1916.
2018 Mayor unveils historic court nameplate
The Mayor of West Lancashire, Cllr Neil Furey, along with the mayoress, Mrs. Julie Furey unveiled the newly restored Court 8 sign in May 2018.
Joseph MacDonald age 9, a pupil at Ormskirk Church of England Primary School presented the mayoress with a bouquet of flowers.
The mayor thanked Ormskirk and District Family History Society on behalf of West Lancashire Borough Council for instigating the return of the sign. Chairman Bill Huyton (red sweatshirt) represented ODFHS and was instrumental in organising the renovation.
Court No. 8 in Aughton Street was knocked down during the early 1960s. John Shaw passed the sign on to the society, after his father rescued it from a tip over 50 years ago. For many years it was located on Mr. Shaw's house wall.
Morrison's store, which now occupies the sight were Court No. 8 once stood, funded the renovation and agreed to the sign being sited near its original location on the store's perimeter wall.
March 2022 Jean Gidman
Local author and former ODFHS Librarian, Jean Gidman, signed copies of her book "The Man Who Wasn't There. The Career of Sir Thomas Stanley First Earl of Derby and the War of the Roses" at Lathom Park Trust's Annual General Meeting held at The Stanley Club, Burscough in March 2022.
May 2022 ODFHS stall at the annual Ormskirk Medieval Fair
Sally Dean and Norma Gregson ready for action at the Medieval Fair in Coronation Park, Ormskirk.
January 2023 Visit to Edge Hill University
Pam Richardson and Jean Gidman visit the Edge Hill University Archives to find out more about their availability for family history research.
March 2023 ODFHS Library Open Day, 1st Ormskirk Scout Hut, Wigan Road, Ormskirk
May 2023 AGM
After many sterling years as Treaurer, Sally Dean decided it was time to step down and the role was taken over by Colin MacDonald.
May 2023 - Ormskirk Medieval Festival
ODFHS Chair, Kate Hurst, gets into character for the day.
July 2023 we took delivery of "A Slice of Gingerbread"
"A Slice of Gingerbread" tells the sories of Ormskirk's famous gingerbread sellers, it is one of our best selling publications and was reprinted in 2024.
2023 Sharing People's History of West Lancashire project launch
In 2023 we celebrated the very welcome news that ODFHS had been successful in securing Lancashire County Council funding to match our crowdfunded efforts. This meant we were able to go ahead with the "Sharing People's History of West Lancashire" Project.
Colin MacDonald (Treasurer), Keith Broadbent (Vice-Chair), Julie Broadbent (Publication Group), Pam Richardson (former Secretary and Publication Group), Emma Davison (Committee Member) and Kathryn MacDonald (Librarian and Publication Group) celebrate outside the First Ormskirk Scout Hut, Wigan Road, Ormskirk (home to the ODFHS Archive).
June 2024 - ODFHS Member Teresa Williams donated a copy of her book "Poems for Armistice" to the Research Library
Teresa M. Williams and ODFHS Chair, Kate Hurst
