Lord Lieutenant of Hampshire, Mary Fagan, has welcomed Janet Smith as the new county archivist.

Jan is taking the reins from Gill Rushton, who has been acting county archivist since Rosemary Dunhill's retirement last year.

She will be responsible for the staff of the Hampshire Record Office, including Wessex Film and Sound Archive and Hampshire Archives Trust.

Having started her record office career in Staffordshire, Jan moved to Essex County Council in 1987 to take up the post of principal archivist at Essex Record Office, later becoming assistant county archivist.

Last year, she became policy development manager - a role covering archives, museums and heritage services in the county.

Jan's no stranger to the Hampshire Record Office in Sussex Street, Winchester, having visited it with Essex councillors, who have ever since strived to match its quality. The reputation of the Hampshire office, the strength of its archives, the excellence and range of its services, and the expertise of its staff were what attracted her to the post.

"We are sure her great wealth of experience in this field will enable her to bring a creative and innovative approach to delivering the services of Hampshire Record Office," said executive councillor for recreation and heritage, John Waddington.

Hampshire Record Office collects and preserves written archives relating to the county and its people.

They include the records of local government, the Church of England in Hampshire and the records of countless individuals, families, businesses, societies, chapels and schools.

Through Hampshire Record Office, Hampshire County Council helps to preserve evidence of the past and make it available to all who wish to consult or study it.