This year is the 50th birthday of Lancaster University’s Regional Heritage Centre, an organisation I’m proud to be involved with – I’ve mentored on their excellent FutureLearn MOOC, Lancaster Castle: the View from the Stronghold; I teach on their PGCert course; and of course I published John Balshaw through them a couple of years ago. Last Friday, the university celebrated the RHC at an event held in the university library.

It opened with some words of congratulation from the Vice Chancellor, Andy Schofield, who thanked the RHC patrons, contributors, administrators and various steering committees. Next to speak was Angus Winchester, one of the previous heads of the RHC, who gave a lovely rundown of the RHC’s history. He outlined its origins in the Regional Studies Panel, which produced a thrice yearly bulletin, followed by the first mention of the Regional Studies Centre at the university, in 1973. As it began to focus on the past, there were three major strands to its work: publications, teaching, and its public programme. Between 2012 and 2014, it was revitalised as the Regional Heritage Centre, and relocated in the history department as part of the university’s strategic plan. He also noted the role of women as leaders and champions of the centre.

The final speaker was Fiona Edmonds, the centre director, who noted that she was aware of the centre as a child, when because of her interest in local history, she was given Centre for North West Regional Studies publications as presents! She commented that with the global pandemic, recent years had been challenging, but the MOOC, PGCert and programme of events demonstrated just how strong the RHC is.

The evening finished with tiny cakes, a toast to the RHC’s next 50 years, and local music in the library from Harp and a Monkey, just to reinforce the party atmosphere.