Talk

Just returned from one of the best afternoons I have spent in a while.  I listened to Nick Barrett talk, without notes, without slides for just over the hour.  Excellent.  Funny, informative shame it ended.

One-Place study

I registered Wonersh, the village I live in as a One-Place Study and I am delighted that three friends wish to delve into the History Society archives and go further afield to discover more about our wonderful village.  One of our first tasks is to discover what happened in the village during WW1.  Did the men go off to war or did they have protected jobs?  What impact did that have on the village?  Did the village industries continue or fade out or did the women do them?  How much food did we have?  and so many more questions.......

We had our first get together today and had a wonderful morning.  We are all off to research more and will get together again in the new year

West Surrey Family History Open Day

Yesterday I attended the West Surrey Family History Open Day.  The Guild of One-Name Studies had four local members on the stand which was quite busy all day.  I was not needed after a while so spent my time going around meeting other members for the Guild, West Surrey FHS and U3A.

If I missed you I am sorry

Back from Guild Conference

Just returned from Th Guild of One-Name Studies held in Malden in Essex.  I was elected their Secretary for the third year.  Great weekend, busy and hard work, but fun.

London

Today went on a trip with Wonersh U3A to visit sites related to Charles Dickens and was delighted to have coffee within site of James Henry Greathead's statue. Brought back wonderful memories of the Greathead April gathering last year. Then on to Bloomsbury for lunch where we have our Guild of One-Name studies committee meetings. Then onto Museum of London to visit the Dickens exhibition.

Great day in wonderful weather

Guild of One-Name Studies Regional meeting

Attended the Surrey and West London Regional meeting on Family history gatherings. Sixteen members attended and we heard about a members gathering in Salt Lake City. Wonderful pictures and made me quite envious. Love to go there

U3A Study Day

Attended the U3A Study day in Ash today and gave a couple of talks: Parish Chest and Wills.

Over 100 people attended the day, wonderfully organised. Great to meet new people

Ash U3A

Gave a talk to members of Ash U3A on Parish Chest. Dress rehearsal for next week at their study day. Seemed to go OK

Regional Guild meeting

We had an excellent meeting in Hammersmith overlooking the River. The theme was Christmas and Lauretta told us many family Christmas stories and played Pope Joan.

I was interested to hear how when her sailing trips across the pond included Christmas Eve the ship slowed down almost to a halt, so Santa Claus would not get burnt when he came down the shops funnel. Kept the mystery of Santa Claus alive.

Researchers around the world

I have had many thoughts recently, here are a few

Would those who follow the Greathead site welcome a Greathead society (inexpensive annual cost) with a quarterly newsletter?

Maybe I could encourage a Greathead Representative to come forward to assist me in research certain areas of the world, local to them?

Maybe someone might like to take up the DNA banner and get the ball rolling on the Greathead DNA project?

Please tell me what your thoughts are?

Guild of One-Name Studies Conference

Had a great weekend in Warrington attending the Guild Conference where I was once again elected their Secretary. I attended all twelve lectures and the Regional representative meeting. John Hanson - Researching and Recording a Large ONS Tony Barratt - 1745 Tha Jacobites in Cheshire Dick Eastman - The Family History World in 10 years time Peter Park - Wanted, widows with large families Patrick Hanks - The UK Family Names Project Chris Pomery - The Value of DNA Projects to ONS Peter Park - Problems in Research in Lancashire Dominic Johnson - Paleaography for ONS Robert Young - North American Sources and the Guild in the USA Howard Benbrook - Mariage Locator Project Paul Newman - The Cheshire Tithe Maps Project John Marsden - On line BMDS I bet you wished you had come now

Guild Informal meeting

Last night we were invited to Michael's home in Reigate where he talked about his Genealogical Society, how and why it was formed, how it has grown. Their meetings worldwide and their DNA project. Fascinating and definately opened my eyes to what can be achieved with DNA, but you need male members of the name to carry out the test. Come on gentlemen, you never know what we might learn.

WDYTYA Show live

Very successful day on Friday. Met lots of people interested in becoming a Guild member. Had a brief look around the exhibition and spent the rest of the time on the Guild stand, did you say hi? We had a busy, but most enjoyable day, but sadly the journey home took forever. Have since heard that over the three days we enrolled an amazing 47 new members at the show, 12 people took advantage of the special on line offer and 2 previous members rejoined. What an achievement. I am delighted to say 6 of these new members are within the Region that I look after so hopefully I will be meeting them in the very near future. Welcome to all 61 new members

West Surrey FH meeting

I am talking about my One-Name Study at Camberley meeting of the West Surrey FHS this afternoon at 2pm.

Maybe see you there?

Regional Guild informal meeting

The Surrey and West London Guild of One-Name members held a very successful regional informal meeting last evening. We discussed how we save our data, and were given an excellent demonstration on how one of our band uses Excel.

Some interesting ideas came out and were circulated to the group. Next meeting 30 March

Surrey History Centre

Spent the day today at the Surrey History Centre collecting details of some marriages requested by Guild members that we (the Blackwater Valley One-Name study group) have identified as taking place at St Andrews Church in Farnham.

I hope to complete the list I have in a couple of weeks, when I visit again

Bracknell Family History Fair

Attended the Bracknell Family History Fair today. I was one of four Family History Leaders who ran the U3A stand. I was delighted during the day to see so many people I knew and have a chance for a chat.

I also chatted to those on the Guild stand, who seemed to be busy all day.

I was pleased to see that there was a steady stream of people walking around the stalls all day, so maybe FHFs are not declining as much as we thought.

Snow - delayed update

Sorry, but yesterday I took members from Wonersh U3A on a coach trip to London. Many were visiting friends, shopping, strolling around the Museums or like me visiting the London History Centre again. I had a great time gathering more wills but our return journey was not good, it took two hours to do last six miles, and then I had to trundge home on foot. Since I had fallen last week and badly sprained my ankle this did not help. So regretably I just fixed dinner last evening, checked what I had gathering during the day, and went to bed. Although I do have outside committments today I will try to update the website this evening as that outing has been postponed till next week.

Kensington ONS informal meeting

Great meeting in Kensington this morning with eight fellow Guild members including one gentleman who arrived in his Chelsea Pensioner red coat and medals. He looked splendid. Spent the afternoon in the London Family History Centre and came home with nine wills in digital form. So a great afternoon researching.

Thanks Pia for your hospitality

Tired and cold but delighted to have had such a successful day.

Sunbury ONS meeting

I joined eleven other guild members at David and Brenda's house to discuss our "Misfits". What a splendid afternoon we had. I learned some new areas of research to follow and met some new faces.

It is always good to meet up with like minded people, especially on a wet Sunday afternoon.

My thanks to Brenda and David and all those you attended