I'm delighted to have been awarded the Fred Markwell Memorial Award for 2013, by the Birmingham & Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry (BMSGH). The award is presented each year to a member, not on the Executive Committee, who has made an outstanding contribution to the Society.

My award was in recognition of the research and writing of the book The Birmingham and Midland Society for Genealogy & Heraldry: A 50th Anniversary History, published earlier this year to mark 50 years of the BMSGH. Bernie McLean, BMSGH Chairman, made the presentation at the Bromsgrove Branch's Christmas Meeting on 10th December.

Fred Markwell was Honorary Secretary of the BMSGH from 1970-80, a period of explosive growth and rapid change for the Society. Previous recipients of the Award are listed in my book, which can be purchased from the Society's e-Shop at http://bmsgh-shop.org.uk/.