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Above: A small selection of the bespoke map bags made by West Wycombe DFASRight: Memorial in St John the Baptist Church, BishopstoneTop right: Blockley DFAS volunteer caring for Hart archive materialSpotlight on volunteeringUncovering the secrets of Earl’s Howe’s legacy, caring for a valuable archive and unravelling an age-old mystery are among the NADFAS volunteer projects that will benefi t others for years to come ÒWithout the help of these enthusiastic volunteers, this collection would still be dusty and dirty. The Earl Howe Collection will now be available for future generations of researchersÓ SAM JOINER COUNTY HALL COLLECTION CARE AND CONSERVATION OFFICERF or 30 years, a huge deposit of deeds and papers belonging to the Earl Howe of Penn sat untouched at County Hall in Aylesbury, Buckinghamshire. Delicate parchments with fragile wax seals, damaged by rodents, water and time, were left in boxes from the late 1970s. Then, in 2007, a small team of determined volunteers from West Wycombe DFAS stepped in to begin the marathon task of conserving their local heritage for the benefi t of future generations.A major project loomed ahead of the volunteers. As they were taught how to clean and preserve the papers, they learned increasingly more about Earl Howe’s vast estates across the UK and as far abroad as Barbados, dating back to the 14th century. Over time, other volunteers joined the team, meeting twice a month for fi ve hours per session. The project picked up speed until fi nally in May 2015 it was complete. Some 152 boxes containing almost 9,000 items had been checked, cleaned and repackaged, much to the appreciation and gratitude of Sam Joiner, Collection Care and Conservation Offi cer: “Without the help of these enthusiastic volunteers, this collection would still be dusty and dirty. The Earl Howe Collection will now be available for future generations of researchers.”But the tale doesn’t end there. The team recently prepared the Archdeaconry Wills for digitisation and are currently packaging material from the Buckinghamshire Parish Records. They have wrapped the Poor Rate Books, using special paper that combats acid decay, while a sub-team are creating bespoke map bags. To do this they have cut and sewn unbleached calico in order to fi t maps varying in size from 20ft down to just 15in long. An impressive 1,000 bags have been made so far, with more in the pipeline.Trish Wright from West Wycombe DFAS noted the team’s pride in having “completed something which we feel will be protected for use by future researchers” and ensuring a lasting connection between West Wycombe DFAS and The Centre for Buckinghamshire Studies.The Society recently celebrated its 40th anniversary. Seven past Chairmen and three founder members were among those who gathered for a champagne tea party at the Horse Trust in Speen. President Ginnie Brudenell cut an impressive cake that was decorated with an edible painting of the West Wycombe Church Tower with its Golden Ball – the Society’s logo. ■58 NADFAS REVIEW / SUMMER 2016 www.nadfas.org.ukVOLUNTEERING