Magazine preserved for future generations

A vital strand of Blesma history has been preserved thanks to local digital archives specialist Historic Records. The company, which converts printed and hand-written material to digital files, has transferred back issues of Blesma Magazine into online versions.

The magazines are snapshots of the past and are now preserved in digital form for future generations who will be able to see the tremendous work Blesma does in supporting injured veterans

Paul Nixon, a genealogy expert who set up Historic Records

The magazine is an important historical record chronicling Members’ experiences and Blesma’s successful campaigns for advances in welfare and prosthetic provision for injured service personnel.

“This preserves part of our history and means it can be accessed easily by Members and their families. We are grateful to Historic Records for volunteering to do this,” said Alana McConnell, Senior Corporate Fundraising Officer for Blesma.

“We are proud to be based in Chelmsford, and it is great that we could join forces with a local company to bring our history into the digital age. The magazines cover so much across 70 years, with Member stories, organisational milestones and reflections on life after service.”

Paul Nixon, a genealogy expert who set up Historic Records, started researching military history after interviewing his grandfather, a WWI veteran.

“The magazines are snapshots of the past and are now preserved in digital form for future generations who will be able to see the tremendous work Blesma does in supporting injured veterans,” he said.

Tony Bloomfield, Blesma Operations Director, added: “These magazines, which stretch back to the 1940s, can now be more easily explored and shared with Members, researchers and future generations. This digitised archive provides a foundation for celebrating the rich history of Blesma and ensuring that the experiences of Members continue to be remembered.”