On Friday 17th January Regather were pleased to take part in the first Sheffield Heritage Jamboree at St Mary’s Church and Conference Centre. The event was organised by Researching Community Heritage at the University of Sheffield. They have been working with groups across South Yorkshire to develop Heritage Lottery Fund All Our Stories projects. Resulting projects have covered topics including social life in Heeley, Sheffield’s football history, and Victorian philanthropists in Wincobank.

Transmitting Musical Heritage, an AHRC funded project at the University of Sheffield also showcased their research, including a musical performance by Arts on the Run. Regather ran a display stall demonstrating the history of the area around Club Garden Road, the story of Hill Brothers and the Horn Handle Works and information about what the the co-operative does and hopes to do in the future. Brian Holmshaw, who attended the event on behalf of Regather, put together a handling collection for visitors using hand tools and both complete and part-made horn artefacts. These were objects originally used by the little mesters at the Horn Handle Works and which are currently stored at the Hawley Collection at Kelham Island Museum.

Thanks must go to Ken Hawley for allowing us to borrow these for the day. Brian Holmshaw said “The range of activities and events was excellent. We are particularly proud of the work we have done already restoring the Horn Handle Works. The Jamboree was a great opportunity to highlight this to local history groups, professional researchers, and to mix with musician, performers and drop-in visitors on the day. We would certainly do it again”.