Susan Ing
My name is Susan Ing.
I have been volunteering with the Mills Archive since 2015, (slight break in 2020-1) which feels quite surreal as the time has just flown by! I started volunteering after I graduated from Reading University with a degree in Ancient History and Archaeology. After discovering that the digging side of archaeology was not really for me, and discovered historical records probably was, I went in search of finding other areas within researching the past. Initially I started looking through the French and Spanish literature in the Mills Archive library to provide a summary translation for each of the books and articles. I learned a lot along the way in terms of the world of milling and all its quirks and often over-looked elements, such as social history. I also improved my French and Spanish as I learned many new terms, many of which I did not know in English either. It was fascinating to learn about the different types of mills from all over the world and finding similarities with those in Britain.
I also catalogued collections including a fascinating series of The Quarterly, a series of journals on all things associated with paper, particularly its production over the years. I wrote a couple of articles on topics I found fascinating, such as the tale of a man rowing down the River Thames in a brown paper boat, and Oscar Wilde’s apparent dislike for vegetable parchment!
Most recently I have been focusing on renewable energy by looking through WindPower Monthly, a series of magazines on all things related to windpower, from its beginning in 1985 mostly concerning Danish and American wind turbines, to the worldwide appeal of wind turbines. I have been putting together a document of, arguably, the most interesting and relevant articles. I have also begun looking through a series of newsletters, a group formed by the Open University in the 1970s, called the Network for Alternative Technology and Technology Assessment, or, NATTA, which looks closely at all forms of alternative technology for generating power and conserving energy, from renewables to nuclear power, looking at the pros and cons as the different technologies developed.
I love volunteering here at the Mills Archive as I get to pursue my interests in learning about the often-hidden bits of history and how it all connects with the future. It has helped me in so many ways to develop more confidence, in a relaxed atmosphere with a lovely team of friendly and supportive people.
Jamie Roberts
I have always had an interest in historical records and history, studying history and archaeology at the University of Winchester. In order to pursue my interest in the subject and gain experience needed for a career in records, I was keen to find volunteer roles to help gain this experience. Having tried to find local volunteering opportunities local to Winchester or Southampton, I decided to expand my search and found a site online listing volunteer projects, of which the Mills Archive Trust was one. I have been volunteering here since January of this year and have been involved in cataloguing and adding entries onto the online database of the Alan Stoyel collection which I have enjoyed immensely.