The winner of the 2009 Stephen Matthews Prize for the best article by a new writer in this year's edition of Cheshire History, is Bill Thacker for 'Vauxhall comes to the Port: the story of the development of Hooton airfield into Vauxhall Motors Ellesmere Port Plant'. Well done Bill!

We have now provided complete indexes to past editions of our journal Cheshire History. The indexes to all forty-nine volumes will be by subject and by author. We hope to include a subject index too. Check out the link to the 'Cheshire History Journal' above.

The first formal meeting of the Ellesmere Port Local and Family History Society will be held at The National Waterways Museum, Ellesmere Port, on Tuesday 1 December, commencing 7:30 p.m. (doors open 7 p.m.). Gavin Hunter will speak on ‘The History of Wirral’s Mersey Coast’ – an illustrated talk looking at the history of life and times of Wirral’s Mersey coastline. There will also be a brief talk about the set-up of the new society with a chance to network on all and everything to do with local and family history. Admission £3; membership £10 a year.

This year’s History Day at Northwich Memorial Hall was held on Saturday 31 October at the Northwich memorial Hall and was on the theme of Cheshire's working rivers. This was one of the best attended days with over 300 people attending. In addition to the programme of speakers, around the hall there were about twenty stalls with exhibits from various local history societies, local organisations and book sellers. A date for next year's diary is Saturday 30 October 2010 for the next 'History Day'.

Produced as joint venture with Cheshire Record Office, Cheshire Sheaf CD (2CD set) is available to everyone at the price of £35 (plus £3 p&p on orders up to £50, then £5 on orders above £50). Cheques payable to Cheshire County Council to be sent to Cheshire County record Office, Duke Street, Chester. CH1 1RL.