Six members of the Three Counties Network Group met in person at Luton on 17 July.

Mike Trenchard gave a roundup of news from Council, including the planned calendar of Lunchtime Lectures, and the next Study Day. This triggered a discussion on the pros and cons of having catering at Study Days included in the price versus a self-catering option - on balance those present felt that keeping everyone together for lunch facilitated networking, which they greatly value.

Sue Trenchard told the group about some success she had had in tracing 18th century Luton Hoo gardening staff in the Luton Hoo's Walled Garden archives and at Bedfordshire Archives, and also posed some queries which had arisen in the course of other projects.

Other topics discussed were the merits and pitfalls of AI-assisted searching, the closure of The London Archives for a week in August, and the upcoming move of Buckinghamshire Archives to High Wycombe which will involve closure for six months.

The next meeting date was set for 23 October, and group members were asked to suggest venues. The group typically meets in person three times a year plus a meeting by Zoom in the winter time. It was decided to try to move the meetings around the area more to give more members the opportunity to attend, if suitable locations can be found.

The group then repaired to a nearby restaurant for lunch before heading home.