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A brief history, and acknowledgments:
- The FreeCEN project was initiated in July, 1999. One of the main instigators was
Brian Randell (GenUKI, Devon and Newcastle University), with considerable
support from Bob Muchamore (AUS), and later by Peter Cox (NZ; additional software).
- Agreement was reached with the
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS)
for the use of microform loaned to the Project, and where Geoffrey Mawlam has provided invaluable help.
- The 1891 Devon transcription was instigated as the pilot project, followed in mid-2000 by the
1891 Cornwall transcription. By the end of 2000, four other counties had been initiated, and
more ensued.
- In 2000, Brian Randell became Project Co-ordinator
(Devon)
- Brian took over General Co-ordination of the Project in
August, 2001
- Brian relinquished this role in October 2002
- On-line Database facilities were developed by Dave Mayall of the core FreeUKGEN technical team, and the FreeCEN search engine was launched in July 2003
- Ongoing technical support and Enhancements to the online facilities are being provided by Dave Mayall
- At present, the FreeCEN Executive Board membership is as follows:
- Brenda Bowers (Chairman, External Relations, Project Manager, Software Support,List Admin
and Web Pages) ,
- Michael Borrill (Vice Chairman)
- Jenny Anderton (Recruitement)
- David Robertson (Scotland Coordinator with Rena Mitchell)
Apart from the above the rest of the support team comprises:-
- Dave Mayall (tech stuff, programming, County PARMS setup and FreeUKGEN liasion) ,
- Graham Hart (Trustee of FreeBMD and technical support and programmer).
- Ben Laurie (Trustee of FreeBMD and a programmer)
- Nick Barratt (Executive Director)
- Terry Waters-Marsh (England Co-ordinator).
- Rena Mitchell (Scotland Co-ordinator: Non Exec)
- Brenda Bowers (Wales Co-ordinator).
- Bev Howlett (Recruitment).
- Considerable aid to the Project has also been given by the late Roy Conibear (CAN),
the co-ordinators and regional co-ordinators listed in the main Project page, and all the transcribers
and checkers who have so enthusiastically involved themselves at their expense and who are too
numerous to list here, but whose efforts are non-the-less substantial.
- Lastly (but not least!), many thanks to all of the core FreeUKGEN team
headed by Ben Laurie.
- The FreeCEN project was the subject of an article in May, 2001's edition of the
Family Tree Magazine.
Those Remembered
Roy Conibear - Passed away at his home in Ottawa, Canada on 25th Feb. 2001, aged 71. With North Devon ancestry, Roy was a stalwart contributor to the Devon cause and contributed much to the Rootsweb Devon list over several years. He was also a right-hand man to Dennis Radford in the North American FreeCEN (Devon) organisation and achieved many transcriptions on his own. A knowledgeable gentleman, who has been sadly missed.
Bob Muchamore - Passed away suddenly at his home in South Australia on 5th Sep. 2004, aged 70. Born in Taunton, Somerset in 1934, Bob was one of the pioneers of the FreeCEN project, from the very earliest days, both as a stalwart of the Devon Project and as king-pin of the overall project management. Bob served on the FreeCEN Exec through some of its most difficult times, only stepping down a mere 5 months before he died. Throughout his time with the project, even after his "retirement", Bob was utterly tireless in offering freely of his encyclopaedic knowledge of all things FreeCEN to those in need of help. His contribution to the project cannot be overstated, and he will be hugely missed.
Dave Newbury - Passed away after a long illness December 2010.He was the Chairman of FreeCEN for thelast few years and a pioneer of the FreeREG Project.
Last updated 12th April 2011
