Armed Forces’ Records of Service and Medal Records

Tonight William Spencer takes you on a ‘virtual tour’ of some key parts of the National Archives at Kew, with a main (but not exclusive) focus on your ancestors who served in the First World War.  What happened to them? How was their period of service recognised?  And how can you find out about them today?

How English Records Work

What there is and what there isn't. This talk will be useful to both beginners and experienced family historians.
Michael Gandy - a popular and authoritative speaker - will be providing another perspective on records available to the family historian, with special reference to London ancestry.

How to get the most from Parish Records

Another much sought after topic and a leading figure to take you through it.  Carl Boardman is Oxfordshire’s County Archivist and he will be exploring and explaining just what you can find in the many different kinds of parish records held by County Record offices if only you choose to examine them.

Branch Christmas Meeting

A social occasion this time, when you can look forward to some Christmas fare and Betty’s renowned punch!  There will be some family history diversions for you and an opportunity to catch up with all those people that you missed talking to at the previous meeting.

By the Members for the Members
We begin 2005 with a Members' Evening, including some
short talks on topics of general interest. There will be a question and answer session and displays of family history ephemera and curiosities.

Our Newspaper Heritage
Newspapers and journals hold substantial amounts of
information about the lives of our ancestors - from every walk of life. Few are indexed but a planned search can unlock a treasure chest of family detail.

London, The Metropolitan Nightmare
Many of us have London ancestors, or forebears who spent part of their life in the capital.  From Chiswick to Charlton, Camberwell to Camden Town, find out how to get the best from London's many archive holdings.

Maps and Property Records
The many different maps, plans and documents relating to land and property are some of the resources least utilised by family historians. Learn how to unlock some of these exciting links to your ancestors' past.

Educational Records
We often think of school records as resources from the 19th and 20th centuries. But some school and college records go back to the 16th The amount of detail present in surviving records may surprise you!

Writing up your family history
Your folders are full. You have found the 'black sheep' and lots more besides. How do you pull everything together and share all your findings with family and friends?

The Gentleman's Magazine
A veritable box of delights! Published monthly from 1731 to 1868, a unique journal packed with family history