Dereham's Mid Norfolk Family History Society is closing

The Mid Norfolk Family History Society, in Dereham, has had to close following a reduction in membership numbers. 

The group was founded in 1994 and meets once a month in the church hall behind Trinity Methodist Church in the market town.

The Mid Norfolk Family History Society is closing (Image: Norfolk-Tours)

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It has helped its members in mid Norfolk by collecting and recording family history information.

Its chairman, Glyn Burrows, said the organisation has "had to close" as a result of "reducing numbers and an aging membership".

The decision to close it was made at an annual general meeting.

Glynn Burrows says he is proud of the work the group has done (Image: Glynn Burrows) READ MORE: Towering church finally set to get its own loos

Mr Burrows also said he is "extremely proud" of the work the group has done over the last three decades. 

He said: "Over the years, we have taken down and indexed the information on most of the gravestones in a ten mile radius of Dereham, transcribed several census and parish registers, published lots of books and collected information about families in the area."

Mr Burrows also said the group will transferring its assets over to the Dereham Heritage Trust.

The group has helped document grave dates within a 10-mile radius of Dereham (Image: Norfolk-Tours) READ MORE: Bid for homes near 'natural haven' thrown out after objections

He said: "Covid really put the last nail in the coffin and, even though it kept going till now, it was obvious that it was just not viable.

"We have donated all our archives and assets to the Dereham Heritage Trust as their aims are very similar to our own and they cover a similar area."

Mr Burrows said the Mid Norfolk Family History Society has served a valuable purpose by keeping historical information available.

It held meetings in the church hall behind the Trinity Methodist Church (Image: Google Maps) He said: "When we get out all of our publications, they contain an amazing amount of information and, especially when we look at the memorial inscriptions, much of it would have been lost due to weathering and the loss of access to the stones.

He added: "We are extremely proud of what we have done and very happy to be handing over to the heritage trust."