Best Village Competition: Judges’ Welcome

Welcome Village of the Year Judges

Dear Village of the Year Judges,

Welcome to helmdon.com, we hope you enjoy your visit!

There are probably much nicer looking village web sites around than ours, but I am certain there are no others that have the depth of content we do, and, even though our site has not been designed by professionals, it is still easy to get around and find whatever you are looking for.

This web site started life in 2000, so we are celebrating 5 years on line in November. What better way of marking the occasion than to be able to talk about our Calor Village of the Year successes! Originally this page was going to be about why I think the Helmdon web site is the greatest – but then I’m bound to be biased – so I thought I’d let a small selection of our users tell it in their own words!!

Nice to have you!

Danny.
Helmdon Webmaster.

My congratulations, to all concerned, on the great positive recognition your website has earned and so well deserves. It is definitely one of the best community based sites I have seen on the internet. [Marshall Gibbons, Winnipeg, Canada.]

Since putting an article in the ‘Historical Articles’ section, and my details on the ‘Names being researched’ bit, no less than three people have contacted me for information on the BULL and STEVENS families of Helmdon. In each case I have been able to add to their knowledge of their own family history. Congratulations to the Helmdon Website on providing an excellent and useful (and free!) service. Long may you continue to improve. [David Bennett, Brough, East Yorkshire, England.]

First and foremost praises to such a well documented web site. I have recently become addicted to Genealogy and my list of ancestors grew in leaps and bounds when I logged on to your web site recently. [Sue Donaldson, Southampton, Hampshire.]

I have only just come back online after more than a year without a computer and my first port of call was the Helmdon website. [Christine Skinner (nee Russell), Welsh Hook, West Wales.]

Thanks to the Helmdon Website I have traced back to my Great Great Grandfather & Grandmother James & Sophie Bull, who were the people of The Cock & Magpie pub. Many thanks for filling in the blanks. [Anji Bull, Middlesex, England.]

Great website and obviously a great close community. Good luck to all Helmdon folk! [David Newton, Swalwell, N E England.]

Just to say how much you deserve the award (UK Villages Online Web Site of the Year 2003). It really is a super site. As a village site webmaster myself, I know what a labour of love it is keeping them up to date, vibrant, and attractive. You have succeeded superbly. Just be aware that many of us are going to be stealing some of your ideas to improve our own sites. [Steve White, Highcliffe On Sea, England.]

Sunday afternoon surfing … so I thought I’d type in ‘Helmdon’ and found your great site which brought back a load of happy memories. I lived in the village back in 1976 ish for a couple of years in the last house before you head out to Astwell along the Wappenham Rd. Looking back at some of the archived messages a few names ring a bell. I’d just like to say hi to anybody who may remember me, and congratulate you on your award-winning site – keep up the good work! [Rob Tootell, Lympne, Kent.]

This is a small selection, there are lots more messages with this sort of sentiment on the message board. Receiving these message of support and encouragement makes all the effort worthwhile.

Thank you for your time judging our web site, and good luck to all the contestants!