A GROUP of enthusiasts from Wythall who take pride in working with the past will now be helped out by the latest technology.

The Wythall History Society successfully bid for lottery money and as a result, will be able to help people wishing to trace their family trees using a new computer system.

The society was started in June 1993 by Val Lewis, a television and newspaper journalist and lecturer who had been researching the village's history for many years.

After giving a talk on ghost stories of the area, Mrs Lewis found a number of like-minded people who were keen to find out more about the village's history and formed the society.

Since then, group vice-chairman, Mike Fisher has compiled the Wythall Index, a record of everyone born in the village since 1750.

And a photographic survey has been in progress for some time, using the Tythe Map from 1838.

The Enclosures List from 1772 is also on computer. This involves pin-pointing buildings on the map of that time and photographing what is there now, interviewing people who live in these properties and making a photographic archive.

These photographs are being converted to slides, an operation which has been financed by Wythall Parish Council.

They are now available for use in slide presentations.

The photographs are also being scanned and details of each property printed for a book, a copy of which will be placed in Wythall Library.

Mrs Lewis also records interviews with villagers to capture memories of Wythall life.

The amount of information increased so much that its sheer volume led to the society applying for a grant to buy a computer so that everything could be catalogued more efficiently.

The secretary has also, for some time now, been receiving requests by telephone and by letter for help in tracing information so a website is planned for the new year.

Mrs Lewis said: We're really looking forward to the launch of our website.

It's exciting because we'll be able to help people but hopefully we'll also receive interesting stories from former villagers.

Ours is an informal group. Everybody's welcome to meetings for a fee of £1.50 and there's no pressure to become a member.

People are fascinated by tracing their family's history. I want to focus on researching my own as one of my father's ancestors was the architect who worked on the White House in America.

"As this is the first year I won't be returning to lecturing in September. I'm going to take the time to do my research and also start writing the books. I've simply not found the time to start before now.

People discover all sorts of wonderful things once they start looking back through generations, you become totally immersed in the details you uncover.

The society is asking for help from people who own any old photographs, drawings or maps of Wythall which could be lent to the secretary for copying. All items will be returned.

For more details on the society, call Mrs Lewis on 01564 822483 or e-mail Wythall.historysoc@btinternet.com