Catcher Media, has received a National Lottery grant of £328,300 from the Heritage Lottery Fund (HLF) for a countywide major new three-year project, which has received funding support from Ross Town Council.

Working in partnership with Herefordshire Council’s Libraries, Archive and Learning and Achievement Services, the project, entitled: ‘Herefordshire Life Through a Lens’ has been made possible by money raised by National Lottery players. The project will bring the work of local photographer Derek Evans out of the archives and straight into the community.

This project, from the local film-makers of ‘Chewing The Cud: Memories from Hereford’s old livestock market’, will bring an exciting mix of heritage, media and training opportunities to the county.

About the archive: The extensive Derek Evans archive contains some 200,000 negatives, 729 exhibition prints and 10 daily log books. A 2009 independent report stated it had: ‘valuable historical, social and cultural significance’.

Derek’s work was highly respected and wide ranging. He was a popular and well-known character, involved in local politics with a great love of sport and jazz, as well as being a jobbing photo-journalist for national and regional newspapers and TV companies. He even produced award-winning entries for magazines and international exhibitions.

Focusing on the 1950s-1980s, the project will uncover photographs (some never-before-seen, and many others unseen for over 50 years) and record oral histories which recount nostalgic tales of Hop-picking; revel in Hereford Football Club’s moments of glory; stroll down memory lane with Fownhope’s Heart of Oak annual walk and explore the Derek Evans Studio itself.

Thanks to National Lottery funding, the project will deliver many activities: negatives will be digitised and made available on the website, www.herefordshirehistory.org.uk; filmed oral histories of people’s memories will be made; newly-produced heritage films and photographic exhibitions will tour the county; schools films; training and volunteer opportunities; out-reach work with hard-to-reach groups and older people - to name just some of the elements of this ambitious project.

Rick Goldsmith, Creative Director at Catcher Media, commented: “In keeping with Derek’s legacy of giving many other photographers a helping hand, our project will foster talent and offer fantastic opportunities through training, paid internships and employment. We want to celebrate the recent history of the county and help people to show they really value it.”

Julia Goldsmith, Project Manager at Catcher, added: “We’re really glad to have secured the funding, it’s taken a long time but we feel it’s worth it. We’re happy to be working with lots of local organisations like our partners and Creative Ageing, SHYPP, Borderlines, Flicks In The Sticks to offer something really special. Watch this space as there’ll be plenty of chances to get involved in the coming months.”

There will be an open afternoon at the Records and Archive Centre, Fir Tree Lane, Rotherwas on June 6th, from 2pm-6pm. Meet the team and find out about volunteering and training opportunities (including digitising negatives, research, oral history, film-making and photography).

For more information, visit the website: www.herefordshirelifethroughalens.org.uk or call 01432 277424.