There are eleven active Church Recording groups in the Area. During the last 12 months three records have been presented (by North Powys, Stafford and Stratford-upon-Avon).

Area training days are well attended, and they save the expense in time and money of going to London. Social contact with other Church recorders is also important.

WEST MIDLANDS METALWORK STUDY DAY FOR CHURCH RECORDERS

Bob Burdett, a member of the Royal Leamington Spa DFAS Church Recorders group and a retired metallurgist, led an excellent Metalwork Study Day on 10 May at Stoneleigh Village Hall.
Recorders present from the West and East Midlands were shown how to identify the various metals, how to read and interpret hallmarks and generally helped with their church recording problems.
Thanks are due to David Brass from Stafford who organized the Day in his usual efficient style.

The ladies of the RLSDFAS Church Recorders group were the hosts and provided hot drinks and excellent biscuits from Barford Village Shop (free plug for this community shop!).

David Brass organised an excellent Study Day on Heraldry on 24 October 2011. Twenty three church recorders, including three from the East Midlands, attended the day at Donington, which was hosted by Wrekin and Wolverhampton Church Recorders' Group.

The tutor, John York, was an expert who communicated his knowledge and enthusiasm for his subject. He gave a very well thought out, hands on workshop, with detailed handouts on heraldry, practical exercises and problems, followed by comprehensive answers. It was an interesting, entertaining and enjoyable day and all agreed that it was one of the best WM NADFAS Study Days ever.

The photograph shows the group who attended the Heraldry Study Day outside St Cuthbert's, Donington, with tutor John York (centre of front row). [photo]

The next Study Day will be a repeat of the successful day on Metalwork given by Bob Burdett of Royal Leamington Spa, originally given in 2007.