Meetings
A gentleman I knew when I was a boy was shown on a census as 'Bertie Beach, Found on the beach at Southend'. He was fostered by a relative of mine. What happened to many illegitimate children had less pleasant outcomes as will be explained in Eve Bacon's talk. Eve tells the story of some of Britain's baby farmers. Learn the sad fate of some illegitimate babies in Victorian and early 20th Century Britain, how the law made this darkest of businesses viable and how it was eventually brought to an end.All are welcome to attend the meeting at The Methodist Church Hall, Queensway, Bletchley at 7.30. Wednesday 3rd May 2023.
Read more: Bletchley - Victorian and Early 20th C Baby Farming - 3 May 2023
The 1939 Register is the subject of our talk at our Bletchley branch. The well respective speaker John Hanson is returning to talk about the register. John said there is more to be gained from the 1939 register than most of us realise so we should be in for an interesting evening. All are welcome to attend the meeting at The Methodist Church Hall, Queensway, Bletchley at 7.30. Wednesday 1st March 2023.
Read more: Bletchley - The 1939 Register by John Hanson - 5 April 2023
Family legend was that Thomas Major was a surgeon in the Royal Navy, and was on board the ship 'Swiftsure' at the Battle of the Nile in 1798. After Thomas left the Navy he settled in Hungerford, Berkshire as a medical practitioner. Thomas was Jerry's 4xG Grandfather and he wanted to check whether this was true and this resulted in an investigation of all of his service in the Royal Navy. Jerry hopes you will be surprised to see the enormous amount of detail available on the Royal Navy of over 200 years ago.
Read more: Bletchley - A Surgeon in Nelson's Navy - 2nd Nov 2022
Dianne Sutton is giving a talk called "Safe Home", based on research of a soldier's name on a war memorial and the discovery of an interesting family history. Brickworks, bicycles and bakery are all involved. Dianne is well known for her role with the Romany & Traveller FHS and on the board of the Federation of Family History Societies.
Read more: Bletchley- "Safe Home" by Dianne Sutton - 7th September 2022
Antony Marr is coming to Bletchley to talk about "Tracing your Living Ancestors, Moving your Research Forward" Antony Marr was the Chair of Association of Genealogists & Researchers in Archives (AGRA) and has been a Registrar in Bucks. His talks are always facinating and well worth the effort of attending.
Read more: Bletchley-Tracing Your Living Ancestors-July 2022
Apologies due to the short notice change of meeting. Kathy Chater cannot travel due to the rail strike. All are welcome to paricipate in a member's meeting to talk about family history and their latest discoveries. It has been suggested that DNA may be discussed. Non-members also welcome.
We are delighted to announce that we are planning to hold our first face to face meeting for many months on the Wednesday 6th April 2022.
The meeting will not have a speaker on this occasion but will be an opportunity for us to get together and talk about our discoveries over this time including finding out if anyone has investigated the recent 1921 census.
The Northern Branch meetings are at Methodist Church Hall, Queensway, Bletchley MK2 2HB and are normally held on the first Wednesday in each month starting at 19:30. All are welcome.
There is a normally a charge for entry of £4 for non-members and £2 for members. Refreshements extra.
Nicholas Dixon will be showing us how to identify the location where our old family photographs were taken at our meeting on Tuesday 14th May the location for which is Bourne End Community Centre starting at 19:45 (Doors open at 19:30)
KIrsty Gray makes a return visit this time to rummage around in The Parish Chest on Tuesday 9th April at Bourne End Community Centre starting at 19:45 (Doors open at 19:30)
Read more: Bourne End - Kirsty Gray - Rummaging in the Parish Chest - 9th Apr 2024
How to demolish your family history brickwalls. This talk with Ian Waller is on Tuesday 12th March at Bourne End Community Centre and starts at 19:45 (Doors open at 19:30)
Read more: Bourne End - Ian Waller - Brickwalls - 12th Mar 2024
At Bourne End Community Centre on 13th February will be Stephen Gill talking about "Photo-restoration. What's possible or impossible" - How restoration or conservation can help with your photo collections. Meeting starts at 7.45 Doors open at 7.30. Non-Members welcome.
Read more: Bourne End - Photo-restoration. What's possible or impossible - 13th February 2024
This meeting is all about our members and their Christmas Stories with some mulled wine.
Meeting starts at 7.45 Doors open at 7.30. Bourne End Community Centre.
Read more: Bourne End - Christmas Members' Meeting - 12th December 2023