IT started with the publication of an old school photo in the Daily Echo and has taken off to become a fascinating community project focusing on local history.

It's three years since Hazel Thorby contacted Snapshots with a photo of the class of 1952 at Kinson Primary School, School Lane, off Kinson Road.

Plenty of people saw the picture, and thought how nice it would be to get back in touch with each other - so a very successful school reunion followed, attended by more than 80 people, organised by Hazel and Nicky Trickett, where there were several old school photos on display, along with memorabilia on loan from a former teacher.

One of the 'old girls' wrote to the Daily Echo to say how much she had enjoyed the reunion, and how much everyone had enjoyed the pictures - so Hazel decided to collect old pictures, first connected with the school, then the village and, more recently, of local families who've lived in Kinson for several generations.

These pictures were exhibited at local history events, then became a prominent feature at the Kinson Community Centre's monthly table-top sale in aid of local clubs and societies.

Hazel, 62, who was born in Christchurch but moved to Kinson when she was eight, said: "As more people found out about the collection, we received more photos. Everyone was very enthusiastic. We got to the stage where we needed to buy some display boards, and someone suggested we should look into the possibility of perhaps getting a grant to pay for them."

In fact, the group - Kinson School and Village Memories - did better than that, and secured about £6,000 in funding from Help the Aged and the Lotto-funded Awards for All scheme for computer and running costs as well as the display boards.

The group now comprises Hazel Thorby (or Hazel Stone, as she was before getting married), husband Martin, sister Valerie Chapman, Nicky Trickett (formerly Cole) and Deirdre Redstone (formerly Clamp), whose mother and mother-in-law both used to teach at the school.

A regular display is held at the Kinson Community Centre in Millhams Road from 10am to noon on the third Friday of every month.

Hazel said: "We are always delighted to meet Old Kinsonians, or anyone who is interested in our project.

"As a result of the grant we are able to mount exhibitions in local libraries and community centres, and the displays can last for several weeks.

"For example, we recently had a display at Moordown Community Centre which we extended at the request of the patrons and centre management."

The group now has over 300 photos and many other items of memorabilia in the collection, including a data-base of pupils from the 1880s until 1962, apart from the period between 1935-52, where the records have been lost.

"We're always on the look out for more pictures of Kinson and the surrounding area," said Hazel, who can be contacted on 01202 872709. To find out more you can visit (www.kinsonmemories.co.uk).