Helen Williams Email and Phone Number

To work on the current EU Protected Food Name Scheme Application for the Vale of Clwyd Denbigh Plum; encourage commercial production in the Vale of Clwyd. As part of the Plum committee the role also involves organising this years festival - 4th October 2014.

I have recently set up my business, Connecting Times. Operating as a freelance Historical Researcher.Connecting Times provides Historical Research to a range of clients with diverse requirements. Providing Businesses, Buildings, Communities and People with investigations into the history of their region, town, village, business, event, organisation, building, family or localized product.

Research Project: To investigate the history of the Denbigh Plum. The Denbigh Business Group organize an annual festival which celebrates the local fruit the “Denbigh Plum”. This event has been held for the past five years, yet the history of the fruit remained elusive. My findings form a written report which traces the history of the native plum; uncovers where it was growing during the 18th and 19th centuries and also who was distributing it through the early nursery trade across North Wales. The report provides evidence that this old variety originated locally, in Denbigh. It is the only surviving Native Welsh Plum variety. The local plum is currently under application to become the only Native Welsh Fruit to achieve - Protected Geographical Indication Status.

As part of my undergraduate studies I completed my student placement at Gladstone’s Library in Hawarden, where I gained an understanding of how history is preserved, managed and communicated to a range of audiences. I continued to work at the library following the placement, on a Voluntary basis.This institution developed my appreciation of the vocational aspects of historical study and the importance of heritage sites to both the immediate community and to the National UK tourist industry.Skills developed: Library Procedures Cataloguing on Heritage Book Restoration & Care Library ManagementPublic Relations Archiving and Recording Deciphering Handwriting Special Collections