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The Elizabeth Simpson Award
For the Journal making the Best
Contribution to Family History
Winners - 2006
First Place and Winner of the Elizabeth Simpson Award 2006
North Cheshire Family History Society
The North Cheshire Family Historian
(November 2006)
Derek Way, FFHS Liaison Officer of North Cheshire FHS,
receives the trophy from Colin Chapman
And below is David Gilligan, the Editor
Second Place
Suffolk Family History Society
Suffolk Roots
(December 2006)
Tricia Turner, Editor of Suffolk Roots,
receives her award from Colin Chapman
Joint Third Place
Sussex Family History Group
The Sussex Family Historian
(December 2006)
Hertfordshire Family History Society
Hertfordshire People
(March 2006)
Highly Commended
East of London's Cockney Ancestor, Spring Issue
The Norfolk Ancestor, December issue
Northumberland and Durham's journal, Summer issue
Commended
The Essex Family Historian, June issue
Weston-super-Mare's Buckets & Spades, November issue
The New Zealand Genealogist, May/June issue
East Yorkshire's The Banyan Tree, October issue
The Jewish journal Shemot, June issue
Western Australia's Western Ancestor, September issue
The Wakefield Kinsman, November issue
Judging Panel Report for 2006
I was asked to step in as Chairman of the Judges for the 2006 award to fill a gap left by two folk leaving the panel at once. I did get second place for the Tunbridge Wells FHS journal of 2004, and I helped proof read the last few issues of Newsflash. I mention this only because I have been asked how it is that I am the Chairman. I'd like to thank the other judges, Jacqui Simkins and Pat Fawcett, for the time they spent looking at the journals too.
Judging has again been a very difficult task. How do you choose 'the best' from such a variety of journals, from large and small societies, one name and overseas societies; some journals are A5, some A4; some use colour, others are black and white; some are professionally produced, others are produced 'in-house'. I'm sure you will agree that all journal editors work very hard, spend hours on each issue and all deserve a medal.
We had a whopping 44 entries this time, nearly 50% up on last time, and I found one of the bonuses of being a judge was having all this 'free' material handed to me on a plate. A website mentioned in one of the overseas journals led me to find passenger lists of ships which sailed to Canada in the early 1900s, and I found the dates when three of my great uncles left Liverpool - something their offspring had wanted to know for ages.
A general comment about journals is that it would be helpful if names were bold or in capitals to enhance the chances of people spotting links to their own ancestors (journals were not marked down for this). Contacts within societies should be easy to find; a map of the area covered (where applicable) is very helpful; and it is better not to reproduce several articles from elsewhere in the same issue. A house-style and a good proof reader are invaluable. There should be a good balance of news, articles, letters and information, plus clear pictures (either photos or clipart) to help articles look attractive.
Each judge looked at all the entries and ranked them in order of preference. On examining each judge's top 25 we found there were 14 entries which appeared on all three lists. By combining the scores of these 14 we arrived at the final outcome, and so these are the results of the judging panel for the 2006 Elizabeth Simpson Award (see above)
Carol Lewry