WHITEHILL and Bordon now has a dedicated heritage project officer, thanks to a £10,000 Lottery grant.

The Woolmer Forest Heritage Society has appointed Dr Anne Sassin to help it promote the heritage of Whitehill and Bordon through site visits, training and workshops.

On top of this, Ms Sassin will work with community volunteers and organise heritage days and other events.

Society chairman Chris Wain said: “We are delighted that Dr Anne Sassin has agreed to work for the Woolmer Forest Heritage Society to promote our image so that newcomers to the area will be able to connect with the past and feel a sense of belonging.”

The project is aimed at promoting the town’s heritage during its regeneration.

Ms Sassin said: “The Woolmer Forest has a wealth of heritage from prehistory to the 20th century which needs to be both protected and promoted among the local communities.

“The first step of this process is to raise awareness and appreciation of the unique sites and artefacts, and we hope to work closely with the residents and developers of the Whitehill and Bordon area to achieve this end.”

Stuart McLeod, head of the Heritage Lottery Fund for the South East, said: “Sharing Heritage (a Heritage Lottery Fund grant) is a wonderful opportunity for communities to delve into their local heritage and we are delighted to be able to offer this grant so that To Project Our Heritage Into The Town’s Regeneration (the name of the Heritage Society’s project) can embark on a real journey of discovery.

“Heritage means different things to different people, and Heritage Lottery funding offers a wealth of opportunities for groups to explore and celebrate what’s important to them in their area.”

Ms Sassin has a BA in classical archeology and anthropology from the University of North Carolina in the US, an MA in medieval archeology from the University of Nottingham, and a doctorate in philosophy and archeology, also from the University of Nottingham.

She is an honorary research fellow in archeology at Canterbury Christ Church University, and lives in Guildford.

Pictured are (from left) society secretary Bill Wain, webmaster Chris Perry, Chris Wain, Bob Mallinson, Dr Anne Sassin, membership secretary John Kilburn, minutes secretary Lyndsey Vychodil, treasurer Anne Miller, Beverley Jones, Paul Burgess, and vice-chairman Colin Brash.