What’s your story?

What matters to you about Yeovil’s history and heritage?

What is your story in Yeovil?

Join us to launch the Story of Yeovil at a public forum event on Friday 20 January, 3-5pm at the Johnson Suite, Octagon Theatre Yeovil. An opportunity for everyone to share their knowledge and interest on Yeovil’s history and heritage, or to find out more about Story of Yeovil and the fascinating stories from our partners, including:

Professor Steve Poole, Dr Rose Wallis and Dr Laura Harrison from the Regional History Centre at the University of West of England will be discussing ‘what is heritage?’, and why community heritage matters now.

Local historian Bob Osborn, founder of Yeovil’s Virtual Museum will be sharing his personal journey of collecting and researching the history of Yeovil.

Joseph Lewis from the South Somerset Heritage Collection will tell us more about what’s in store.

This will be an open event for conversation, idea exchange and to share connections. FREE event, all welcome.

To attend, please email us info@yeovilartspace.uk or fill in the booking form below:

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Steve Poole is professor of History and Heritage at UWE, Bristol and Director of the university’s Regional History Centre. He has published on digital applications for heritage and on contested histories and is a member of the Mayor of Bristol’s History Commission. He has many years experience as a teacher of heritage and public history and as a collaborator with community organisations and museums.

Dr Rose Wallis is Associate Professor of British Social History and Associate Director of the Regional History Centre at UWE. She is a collaborative practitioner working with heritage organisations and community partners across the south west. Her practice-led research and teaching focuses on engaging public audiences with historic research in ways that are meaningful in the present.

Dr Laura Harrison is a senior lecturer in history at UWE, Bristol. She is a social and cultural historian specialising in youth and youth culture, urban space, and oral histories. Laura is a core member of the Regional History Centre, and has worked with community organisations in Bristol and Manchester on collaborative heritage projects.

Joseph Lewis is Heritage Co-ordinator of the Accredited South Somerset Heritage Collection, where 30,000 objects and 6,000 photographs range from significant archaeological pieces including a Roman mosaic to a notable costume and fine art collection. Joseph is assisted by the Heritage volunteers and the South West Heritage Trust, arranging new object donations, guided tours and outreach projects with the Community Heritage Officer.

Bob Osborn Yeovil Historian and Author. Since retiring in 2009 Bob has spent almost everyday researching Yeovil and it’s history. In 2014 he created the A-to-Z of Yeovil’s History website, re-branded Yeovil’s Virtual Museum in 2019. Bob has had nine books on Yeovil’s history published and will be talking about the results of his research.