AT the AGM, local historian and broadcaster Anne Bradford was elected as vice chairman.

The forum was founded in 1994 by Tony Wherry, the then Worcestershire county and diocesan archivist, as a voluntary, non-political and non-sectarian umbrella organisation through which the individual affiliates in the county can share information about each other's activities and act together to consider matters of common interest and concern.

The forum aims to promote and encourage educational interest in local history in Worcestershire, to inform about local history events and activities, to promote the deposit of the results of local history study in local libraries, and of documents in the Record Office, to develop a framework for mutual support and advice on matters such as sources, techniques, publications, research etc., to promote and encourage the recording of present day history, to organise occasional conferences and exhibitions.

The forum produces a regular newsletter - currently four times a year - and a diary of events.

Since 1994, the forum has been recognised by local authorities as a body to be consulted on such issues as local cultural strategies, where it can both disseminate information and also be a voice for local history interests.