Meetings & Events
Our monthly open Zoom meetings are held on the third Friday of the month. All our meetings are held on Zoom.
If you are registered on our site you will get the link sent to you on the morning of the meeting.
If not either of the above, contact Phil Bufton, who will send you a link to register for the talks. Meetings start at 7:30pm.
Llangarron Talk-Life and Loss at Llangarron
Meeting: October 21, 2026
Grave Concerns' is a talk originally given in February. However, my research into the local history of this area has continued apace and means that this second version offers even more of an insight. Why was there a spike in deaths during 1855. Admission by Donation – In aid of Llangarron Church.
Linda Hammond – The hidden Secrets of the 1939 Register.
Meeting: November 20, 2026
Uncover the hidden depths of the 1939 National Register, often likened to an additional census for England and Wales. Decode annotations, revealing family history insights, and master the art of discovering hidden secrets within the register.
Researching your Rural Ancestors – Clare O'Grady
Meeting: January 15, 2027
Learn all about your rural ancestors and how they lived. Until well into the 19th century, England and Wales was predominantly rural in nature. As a result, most of us will find our roots in the English and Welsh countryside. But where can we find out more about the lives that our rural ancestors led?
Dai Davies – Reflecting on Your Self to Discover Your Ancestors
Meeting: February 19, 2027
Turn names and dates into rich stories that connect with your family and wider audiences. In this talk, Dai discusses how reflecting on our own lives in the present can help us do just that. Whether you love gardening, have a pet, live with disabilities, or are fascinated with history, or have a totally different…
Dr Sophie Kay – What's that job
Meeting: March 19, 2027
Tips & strategies for deciphering and researching unfamiliar occupational terms in our family history research. Adaptable on request for a named county or region
Paul Wilkins – How to Trace the Female line in your Family History
Meeting: April 16, 2027
Researching female ancestors presents unique challenges stemming from historical norms and record-keeping practices. Throughout history, societal norms meant women frequently did not create many of their own records. They are more often named in a husband or father's records, making them more difficult to trace. Additionally, a name change upon marriage(s) complicates the search
Sue Gibbons – Researching shopkeeper ancestors
Meeting: May 21, 2027
Sources for the Shop and its surroundings, the occupation and the individual
Michael Hallatt – A beginners Guide to Working with Difficult Genealogy Finds
Meeting: June 18, 2027
'Every family tree holds difficult finds — criminal records, illegitimate births, the ancestor who walked out and was never seen again. For many researchers, these discoveries arrive without a map for navigating what they stir up. Others are looking for these truths but they are often present only as hints, evasions, or absences.
Mark Baldwin – The Women of the SOE
Meeting: July 16, 2027
The SOE was formed in July 1940 by Winston Churchill to “set Europe ablaze” by conducting espionage, sabotage and reconnaissance in occupied Europe. The organization recruited a diverse group of individuals, and it was the only Allied organisation in which women were given a combat role. They worked as couriers, wireless operators and saboteurs, often…
Jane Ashby – The Silk Road
Meeting: August 20, 2027
An account of a 3,000 mile rail journey from Ashgabat to Almaty covering cities such as Khiva and Samarkand.
Ben Beck – Quaker Family History
Meeting: September 17, 2027
Quakerism, or the Religious Society of Friends, originated in 17th-century England under George Fox, emphasizing direct experience of God, equality, and social reform