Well, until October 2009, that was me!

In July 2009 I had asked if it would be possible for students to get involved and, at the second attempt, my request was granted. So, in October 2009 I was joined by two year 12 lads for whom I invented the (obvious) title of Student Archivist. It will look good on their university applications. Their availability determines which morning of the week I work in the Archive Centre, currently Mondays. They soon cleared the backlog of cataloguing work that had built up, and have since been working on projects to improve and modernise the catalogue, mainly by computerising it. But, much more important, they brought to the job an irrepressible sense of humour, so we have had some laughs while getting valuable work done.

They will be leaving Aston in May 2011, so two more year 12 guys have been recruited to replace them. Here we all are, at our 2010 Christmas party:

The crazy world of 'child protection' means that it is inadvisable for me to identify them!

With such expanded numbers, it seemed sensible to reorganise. So we created three departments: collecting, cataloguing and conserving. The veterans, who are now in year 13, became Heads of Collecting (Jesse) and Cataloguing (Giles), and the two year 12 lads their juniors! I took responsibility for conservation work, training and general supervision. Just like in industry!

While the cataloguing backlog was cleared, I became conscious that we weren't collecting material of current activities. This is amazingly difficult, because no-one ever thinks to send us copies of their play or concert programmes, photographs of their field trips etc. So, we have to chase the organisers, just as Colin Tyson used to do in my day. But the new Student Archivist (Collections), Tom, is really getting to grips with this, and is already making a very effective contribution. Although new to the school as a Sixth Form entrant, his opposite number in Cataloguing, Patrick, is using his contacts in other areas to similarly good effect.

Reading this page prompted a fifth student to come forward in January 2011. Here he is:

Everybody else at Aston has their name on an honours board, or so it seems. As a result the school is running out of wall space. For additional honours boards they will soon have to build a new wall down the middle of what used to be Frederick Road. Meanwhile, we are going to have our own little 'honours board' here:

And here is the next 'team' photograph:

Back row (L. to R.): Ammar Thair, Hashim Iqbal
Front row (L. to R.): Gary Fisher, Bradley Badhan, Saqib Hussain

(Last updated December, 2011)