When Heritage Story Skills trainees celebrated the end of their course at The Story Museum, who better to present them with their certificates than Inspector Morse author Colin Dexter?

The fifteen volunteer trainees are all Oxford-based, and not in education or employment. During the 12-week course they have learnt about Oxford’s rich story heritage, concentrating on three acclaimed fantasy writers: Lewis Carroll, J R R Tolkien, and C S Lewis. They’ve developed a range of skills, from research to storytelling, and have also visited museums and sites across Oxford, from the Museum of the History of Science to the C S Lewis Nature Reserve.

For many, it has been a chance to get to know their city in a way they had never done before. They were also able to learn transferrable skills in a new and exciting way. Vivien, one of the participants, said: ?I’ve loved the storytelling and heritage skills training, and having the confidence to tell stories.’

Together they have created three valuable resources for the Museum which were displayed during the celebration event: two story maps of Oxford (one on paper, and one on the Historypin website), and a collection of interviews with people who knew C S Lewis.

The special celebration for our new story ?graduates’ was shared with friends and family, as well as members of The Story Museum team.

Left: Heritage story trainee Michelle-ODonohue, left, explains the map-making process to visitors at the celebration.