RetroHerts 50s & 60s day

May 2010

By Fiona MacDonald

On 15th May 2010 Hertfordshire Archives and Local Studies (HALS) at County Hall in Hertford opened its doors to the public for a celebration of all thing 50s and 60s. Months of preparation had gone into all the exhibits on show and the day was a great success.

There were two live bands playing in the Archive Reading Room (normally a quiet study area where you can only whisper) and the staff and volunteers dressed up in the fashions from the era and danced along to the rock n roll.

In the car park outside were at least a dozen lovely old classic cars, bikes and mopeds, and every room inside was choc full of different exhibitions. Hoddesdon Model Railway Club had a large display and there were many old photos and original archive material on view. I had a go on the Scalectrix set and reminisced about the other vintage toys there. One room was set up as a 1950s living room with record players and home furnishings from the decade. Students at West Herts College had made some gorgeous 60s-inspired dresses.

Staff and volunteer editors who work on this website (me being one of them) were kept very busy demonstrating the site, taking down people's memories of Hertfordshire and scanning in photos to be added to the site, preserving them for posterity.

Some of the comments we received on the day:

'Brilliant exhibition, lots to see. Cars were great and the pictures of Hertfordshire in the 50s and 60s really interesting. Enjoyed the music and atmosphere really good thanks.'

'What a great day, didn't know you could come and do research'

'Marvellous event - wonderful memories'

'Excellent nostalgia, took me back to my teenage years'

'A retro show that really brought back my 60s childhood' 

Click on the thumbmails below to view a gallery of photos from the event.