September is the month of the Gloucester History Festival. This event has grown in recent years under the chairmanship of Gloucester’s MP, supported by a strong committee including the Civic Trust, City Council and Marketing Gloucester.

People regularly tell me that they want us to promote Gloucester’s history and heritage more, and the History Festival is one way in which we are doing this. September starts with Gloucester Day on Saturday 2nd. Gloucester Day celebrates the lifting of the Siege of Gloucester in the Civil War and has been taken on by Town Crier Alan Myatt as a way of celebrating all that is good about Gloucester today. The inauguration of the Mock Mayor of Barton takes place in the morning, followed by a special service at St Mary de Crypt and the main procession in the afternoon. Stalls and activities will fill the gate streets.

One of the best programmes for Heritage Open Days in the whole country
The following weekend is Heritage Open Days, where historic buildings which are not usually accessible to the public throw open their doors. Thanks to the work of the Civic Trust, Gloucester has one of the best programmes for Heritage Open Days in the whole country.

The talks at Blackfriars Priory have grown in size and stature in recent years. This year there is a line-up worthy of a national festival, including Tony Robinson of ‘Blackadder’ and ‘Time Team’ fame, TV historian Dan Snow and former Chancellor Ken Clarke. There is also a conscious effort to reach out to communities through the programme of free “City Voices” events, including a brand new family day on 9th September.

Encouraging everyone to find out more about their own history
The main aim of City Voices is to encourage everyone to find out more about their own history and the city’s. Free activities include courses on how to trace your family history, learning to read old handwriting or finding your street and how it has changed over the years – using digital technology.

For more information please visit www.gloucesterhistoryfestival.co.uk or pick up a copy of the History Festival programme from the Tourist Information Centre in Southgate Street. And if anybody says to you that Gloucester doesn’t promote its history, pick up a copy for them too!