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WordCamp UK 2008 big success – and builds path for future UK WordPress development
3 Comments · Posted by Jonny in WordCamp UK
I have just had a chance to start catching up on stuff after attending WordCamp UK 2008 this weekend (19-20th July) – and what a weekend it was!
Around 60 bloggers and developers from all around the UK (and some even from beyond!) descended on Birmingham to meet up and talk about all things WordPress. It was the first WordCamp to be held in the UK – and I think it went 99% right, which is amazing considering how quickly it was organised with Tony Scott as the coordinator of many, many individuals that helped make this event a reality.
My personal thanks goes out to all the speakers that where kind enough to prepare good quality, well thought-out presentations and share their expertise with the delegates of WordCamp UK 2008. I think we can all agree that there was a-lot of thought-provoking discussions generated by some of these presentations. People use WordPress for so many different things and it’s great to learn about someone else’s experiences of WordPress.
I sadly missed the opportunity to talk to many people at the conference, it flew by! However, those people I did get to catch-up with where great – and I hope to forge some new partnerships in the coming months.
Highlight presentations for me personally were Nick Garner from BetFair on SEO, Simon Wheatly on plugin development, Simon Dickson on large companies and Chris Garrett on making money from your blog. Westi (core WordPress developer) and Sam Bauers (from Automattic) also attended to provide some great guidance and presentations, and where both very nice guys too!
One outcome of the conference is that it has been decided that the UK WordPress community needs a central platform to use, not just for WordCamp, but to share resources. This is currently being hotly discussed on the mailing list as we speak! So keep you eyes peeled and I’ll keep you informed of any developments in this area!
I personally presented on the slightly controversial topic of ‘WordPress is not a blog’ – which ended up with the alternative title of ‘WordPress is a blog… and a whole lot more!’. More information to follow in a separate post on this.
Some pictures from WordCamp UK 2008
Jonnya presenting at WordCamp UK 2008
Sam Bauers from Automattic
Code surgery - Mike Little, Peter Westwood (Westi) and Simon Wheatley
Images kindly provided by Benjamin Ellis from Redcatco
More UK Wordcamp follow up · July 24, 2008 at 1:35 pm
[...] More here [...]
Ossie Jesson · July 27, 2008 at 6:37 pm
Pleased to have met up with you at the word camp in Birmingham last week. thank you for your conversations I see the sense in you idea of trying to keep the thread of all workcampuk things and threads together ,how ever diverse, in A CENTRAL AREAN of some sort i have given some thought as to how that could be done a in conjuction with the existing wiki and blog nd would like to humbly offer that into the mix when I can find an appropiate contact for you and Tony Scott .
Admin comment by Jonny · July 28, 2008 at 9:26 am
Ossie – glad you enjoyed WordCamp UK – so much to take in and so many people to talk to!
The best way to contribute ideas at the moment (until we have a central website) is to join one of the local mailing lists over at http://wiki.wordcampuk.tonyscott.org.uk/WordPress_UK_locals – there is also a link to the main mailing list.