A Guided Tour of the New AWFHS Website
Talk by Stephen Miller
At a recent AWFHS meeting, members were treated to an engaging and informative talk by Stephen Miller, who gave a live, on-screen tour of the Society’s new website and explained the thinking behind its design and functionality.
Stephen began by outlining why the Society moved from the old WordPress-based site to the new awfhs.org.uk platform. Previously, the Society operated two separate sites—one for general information and one for databases—which caused confusion and login difficulties. The new site brings everything together in one place, offering a smoother experience for members while also reducing hosting costs and giving the Society far greater control and flexibility.
He demonstrated the new homepage layout, designed to be clear, modern, and uncluttered. Members can quickly access key areas such as forthcoming events, the research databases, historic photographs, war memorials, and recent articles. Live counters show the ever-growing number of records held by the Society, highlighting the scale of its work.
Stephen then walked members through the login and profile system, explaining how the new “forgotten password” feature has made access much easier. Once logged in, members can update their personal details, change passwords, check membership status, and manage their Members’ Interests, helping others with similar research interests to make contact through the built-in messaging system.
A popular feature was the Members’ Area, where the latest Society journal is always available to read online, download, or print. Earlier editions can also be accessed easily, and members can search within journals using standard browser tools.
The talk also showcased the enhanced Useful Links section. This now includes filtering, searching, star ratings, and visit counts, allowing members to see which resources others find most helpful. Members were encouraged to suggest additional links, including ideas such as accommodation for visiting researchers and clearer identification of free software.
Stephen highlighted the growing Gallery, now containing over a thousand images. These can be searched by title, category, place, or person, and images are increasingly linked directly to database records. Examples included photographs, funeral cards, newspaper cuttings, weddings, and military material, all designed to make the Society’s collections easier to explore and cross-reference.
Finally, Stephen introduced the Research Database, demonstrating the simple search interface and explaining how more advanced search options build on this foundation. The emphasis throughout was on usability, accessibility, and making the Society’s rich resources easier for members to discover and use.
The session prompted plenty of discussion, suggestions, and good-natured humour, with members clearly impressed by both the scope of the new website and its potential for future development.