ANYONE interested in digging around in the past can enjoy two different projects this week run by the Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service.

The service is inviting people to join in with 'Explore Your Archive 2015' by attending a free Tea and Testimony event at the Hive, in Worcester, tomorrow (November 19).

To mark 'Explore Your Archive 2015', staff have been busy uncovering details of the lives of five of Worcestershire's extraordinary residents - Joseph Blackburn, a celebrated painter; Ann Osborn, a midwife; Arthur Horner, one of the early Arctic explorers; Joseph Garrett, the first county surveyor for Worcestershire; and Harry Martin, a talented Royal Worcester Porcelain painter killed in World War One.

The Archive and Archaeology Service is inviting people to come along for tea and the chance to celebrate and learn more about the lives and talents of these Worcestershire residents. There will also be a family history taster session, in which people can make a start with their own research, or learn more from the archives staff.

Attendees will have a chance to learn more about the Worcestershire World War 100 project and the People's Exhibition. There will also be documents and sources on display, as well as an exhibition of items in the Archive cabinets.

The event will take place from 10am-1pm at The Hive, Level 2, Room 3 and anyone interested in attending can go along for the whole event or just pop in to one of the sessions, which are:

• 10am: Discovering the extraordinary lives of five Worcestershire people

• 11am: Starting your family history taster session

• 12pm: Worcestershire's World War 100 and the People's Exhibition

There is no need to book, it is free t go along and refreshments will be available throughout.

Archivist Charlene Taylor said: "There are some amazing stories contained in the archives. This is a great opportunity to hear some, and find out how to discover some for yourself, while having a cup of tea at the same time."

The stories of each of the Worcestershire residents researched will be featured on the Explore the Past blog throughout the campaign, so people are recommended to keep an eye on www.explorethepast.co.uk find out more.

The archive and archaeological service will focus on the Lich Street dig for its annual Archaeology Day School.

The event, which has been taking place for over 25 years, will showcase the work and achievements of the service over the past year, including Dig Lich Street - an excavation to identify and record the archaeological remains under threat from the Cathedral Plaza Redevelopment project.

The Day School is being held 10am-5pm on Saturday November 21 at the University of Worcester, St John's Campus.

The day school will have a strong focus on county history, and a wide range of topics will be covered, including Bromsgrove High Street, new research on the Civil War Siegeworks in Worcester, and a showcase of 2015's fascinating finds.

The day school is very popular, and places are limited. The cost is £20 per person. To book a place or for more information, visit www.thehiveworcester.org/events.hmtl or contact The Hive on 01905 766352.

Victoria Bryant, Worcestershire Archive and Archaeology Service manager, said: "Our Day School is always very popular as so many Worcestershire people are interested in the heritage of their county and the latest discoveries. For us it’s a chance to talk to people and get a feel for what they think is important."