It is 200 years since the first Intercity train carried passengers. In this year of Railway200, what better way to celebrate than with another year of Making Tracks with Pete Waterman OBE and the Railnuts.
Making Tracks 200 runs from Thursday 24 July until Saturday 30 August.
Opening hours Monday to Saturday from 10am – 4pm.
Find out more 👉 https://chestercathedral.com/events/event/making-tracks-200
The eagle eyed among you will have noticed that there has been no FHSC Newsletter this month.
Following on from our survey, we have taken member comments on board and are looking to revamp the newsletter. The new version will be launched in the next month or two. In the meantime, all FHSC news and events will be in the Chair’s newsletter at the end of the month.
Thanks go to Gay Oliver who originally started publishing the newsletter as the ‘Lockdown Newsletter’ at the start of the pandemic, how time flies, that seems a lifetime away now! Thank you so much Gay for all your work.
The new version will be akin to the Federation newsletter with a lead article of between 1000-1500 words and then snippets from around the various Local and Discussion Groups, as well as news and events. If you have story you would like to tell or share some research tips etc please send them in to me at Chair@
Don't forget the Chester Festival of Ideas
Happening this week 3-6 July, lots of events, talks etc
Full details 👉 https://festivalofideas.chester.ac.uk/
1st of the month means my usual list of free online events.
As always the link below each event has more information and full registration details,
Enjoy and do report back on anything that you attended.
Wed 2 July 2025 18:30 BST
Refugee World(s): a Twentieth-Century Retrospective
by Royal Historical Society
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/refugee-worlds-a-twentieth-century-retrospective-online-tickets-1349452240979
Wed 2 July 2025 19:30 BST
Spies, Secrets and Archives
by National Archives (Free to attend but donation suggested)
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/spies-secrets-and-archives-tickets-1224848146779
Wed 9 July 2025 15:00 BST
Introduction to Family History
by National Library of Scotland
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/introduction-to-family-history-tickets-910360571977
Fri 11 July 2025 14:00 BST
Burgess and Maclean Disappear
by National Archives (Free to attend but donation suggested)
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/burgess-and-maclean-disappear-tickets-1225218003029
Sat 12 July 2025 15:00 BST
The Archers of Ossett : A Family History talk.
by MLFHS, Oldham & District Branch
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mlfhs-oldham-district-branch-monthly-meeting-and-talk-tickets-1413837699619
Fri 18 July 2025 14:00 BST
The origins of the Met’s Detectives
by National Archives (Free to attend but donation suggested)
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-origins-of-the-mets-detectives-tickets-1356162210679
Wed 16 July 2025 15:00 BST
Researching your House’s History
by National Library of Scotland
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/researching-your-houses-history-tickets-1304084524919
Wed 23 July 2025 19:30 BST
The Murder of Emily Kaye
by National Archives (Free to attend but donation suggested)
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-murder-of-emily-kaye-tickets-1356207646579
Fri 25 July 2025 14:00 BST
The Great Train Robbery – a Forensic Journey
by National Archives (Free to attend but donation suggested)
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-great-train-robbery-a-forensic-journey-tickets-1356211257379
FindMyPast and the British Newspaper Archive [also available via the newspapers at FindMyPast] have included a tranche of Cheshire content this week 🎉🎉🎉🎉
FindMyPast added the following records for the Diocese of Chester
272,555 baptisms, 211,575 marriages, and 215,879 burials
British Newspaper Archive have added the following Cheshire titles
𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐑𝐞𝐜𝐨𝐫𝐝: 1857-1866
𝐇𝐲𝐝𝐞 & 𝐆𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐬𝐨𝐩 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐝; 1889, 1897
𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡 𝐂𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐡𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐑𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐞𝐫: 1836-1842
𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐡𝐰𝐢𝐜𝐡 𝐆𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐚𝐧; 1914-1918
𝐒𝐭𝐨𝐜𝐤𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐥𝐞; 1891-1892, 1894-1896, 1898-1906
𝐖𝐢𝐝𝐧𝐞𝐬 𝐖𝐞𝐞𝐤𝐥𝐲 𝐍𝐞𝐰𝐬 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐢𝐜𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫: 1969
Philomena Cunk actor Diane Morgan traced her family history in Bolton, Germany and Scotland
Reviews below - but SPOILER ALERT - don't read until you've watched the programme
The Genealogist 👉
https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/who-do-you-think-you-are/diane-morgan-8405/
Who Do You Think You Are Magazine 👉
https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tv-series/diane-morgan-who-do-you-think-you-are
Wall to Wall/ Stephen Perry via WDYTYA
Cheshire Archives have released an artist's impression of both the new centres at Crewe and Chester in the form of a virtual fly through
Link to watch 👉 https://www.cheshirestoryshared.org/home/a-moving-story-take-a-virtual-tour-of-our-new-centres
A Second World War pilot, a colonial governor, and a medieval king are all all part of pop star Will Young’s remarkable family story.
Reviews below - but SPOILER ALERT - don't read until you've watched the programme
The Genealogist
👉 https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/who-do-you-think-you-are/will-young-8402/
WDYTYA Magazine
👉 https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tv-series/will-young-who-do-you-think-you-are
Wall to Wall/ Stephen Perry via WDYTYA
1st of the month means my usual list of free online events.
As always the link below each event has more information and full registration details, Enjoy and do report back on anything that you attended.
Wed 4 June 2025 19:00 BST
A Very Expensive Poison
by National Archives (Free to attend but donation suggested)
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-very-expensive-poison-tickets-1224825699639
Wed 4 June 2025 19:00 BST
The Weavers' Uprising of 1826
by Bolton FHS
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-weavers-uprising-of-1826-tickets-1128881066659
Thu 12 June 2025 14:00 BST
Navigating the Maps Website
by National Library of Scotland
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/navigating-the-maps-website-tickets-884044299297
Fri 13 June 2025 14:00 BST
Researching your family history, 1837-1911
by National Archives (Free to attend but donation suggested)
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/researching-your-family-history-1837-1911-tickets-1223446574639
Tue 17 June 2025 11:00 BST
Highlands and Islands family history
by National Library of Scotland
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/highlands-and-islands-family-history-tickets-1330124220349
Wed 18 June 2025 15:00 BST
Researching your house's history
by National Library of Scotland
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/researching-your-houses-history-tickets-1304084524919
Fri 20 June 2025 14:00 BST
Family history: tracing your Irish ancestors
by National Archives (Free to attend but donation suggested)
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/family-history-tracing-your-irish-ancestors-tickets-1223529432469
Mon 23 June 2025 10:00 BST
Reading from the Archives: All Creatures Great and Small
by Norfolk Records Office
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/reading-from-the-archives-all-creatures-great-and-smallonline-tickets-1244647166179
Tue 24 June 2025 17:00 BST
Pipe Roll Society Annual Lecture: Magna Carta and its Medieval Legacy
by National Archives (Free to attend but donation suggested)
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/pipe-roll-society-annual-lecture-magna-carta-and-its-medieval-legacy-tickets-1230051279489
Events for the first week of July that might interest you
Wed 2 July 2025 18:30 BST
Refugee World(s): a Twentieth-Century Retrospective
by Royal Historical Society
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/refugee-worlds-a-twentieth-century-retrospective-online-tickets-1349452240979
Wed 2 July 2025 19:30 BST
Spies, Secrets and Archives
by National Archives (Free to attend but donation suggested)
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/spies-secrets-and-archives-tickets-1224848146779
The latest edition of the FHSC Journal - The Cheshire Ancestor is now available to download from the website - simply click on the Cheshire Ancestor tap on the left hand side of this page and navigate to 'Cheshire Ancestor 2025' and then download the June edition.
Printed editions will be dropping on doormats soon, if not already.
Lots of interesting articles, Society news and a new feature, a quiz [Cryptic Cheshire] - enjoy!
Thanks as always to our Editor Rosie Rowley and the rest of the Ancestor distribution team - Geoff Johnson and Angela Moore
TV personality Fred Sirieix learns all about his grandparents' extraordinary WW2 love story
Reviews below - but SPOILER ALERT - don't read until you've watched the programme
The Genealogist
👉 https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/who-do-you-think-you-are/fred-sirieix-8396/
WDYTYA Magazine
👉 https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tv-series/fred-sirieix-who-do-you-think-you-are
Wall to Wall/ Stephen Perry via WDYTYA
Aisling Bea discovers the bold women and revolutionary men who shaped her family
Reviews below - but SPOILER ALERT - don't read until you've watched the programme
The Genealogist
https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/who-do-you-think-you-are/aisling-bea-8383/
Who Do You Think You Are magazine
https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tv-series/aisling-bea-who-do-you-think-you-are
Wall to Wall/ Stephen Perry via WDYTYA
Actor, singer and dancer Layton Williams. Born in Bury, Layton starred in Billy Elliot the Musical on London's West End and BBC Three's Bad Education from 2012 to 2014 and in 2023, he appeared on the twenty-first season of Strictly Come Dancing.
Reviews below - but SPOILER ALERT - don't read until you've watched the programme
The Genealogist
Who Do You Think You Are magazine
https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tv-series/layton-williams-who-do-you-think-you-are
Wall to Wall/ Stephen Perry via WDYTYA
EastEnders actor Ross Kemp discoveres his great grandfather's adventures in the Merchant Navy
Reviews below - but SPOILER ALERT - don't read until you've watched the programme
The Genealogist
https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/who-do-you-think-you-are/ross-kemp-8348/
Who Do You Think You Are magazine
https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tv-series/ross-kemp-who-do-you-think-you-are
Wall to Wall/ Stephen Perry via WDYTYA
We will be at the Family History Show at Aintree Racecourse on Saturday [tomorrow, 3rd May] talking all things Cheshire Ancestry.
Drop by and sell hello, we are always happy to meet members from near and far
Browse our bargain book box
Have a go at geting your name on our Leaderboard in our genealogical patience game, 'Branching Out'
Full detail of how to attend 👉 https://thefamilyhistoryshow.com/liverpool/
There is a special discount code on tickets for FHSC members, email me on to find out more
Happy May Day
1st of the month means my usual list of free online events.
As always the link below each event has more information and full registration details, Enjoy and do report back on anything that you attended.
Fri 2 May 2025 18:30 BST
‘Remembering Rebellion in the Tudor South West’, Online RHS Lecture
by Royal Historical Society
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/remembering-rebellion-in-the-tudor-south-west-online-rhs-lecture-tickets-1112873668099
Wed 7 May 2025 13:00 BST
VE Day 80: How we remember the Second World War
by National Archives (Free to attend but donation suggested)
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/ve-day-80-how-we-remember-the-second-world-war-hap-summer-seminar-tickets-1304185416689
Wed 7 May 2025 15:00 BST
Introduction to family history
by National Library of Scotland
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/introduction-to-family-history-tickets-910360571977
Wed 7 May 2025 19:30 BST
MI5 and 10 Downing Street: the first 100 year
by National Archives (Free to attend but donation suggested)
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/mi5-and-10-downing-street-the-first-100-years-tickets-1224779441279
Wed 21 May 2025 13:00 BST
Battlefield wills from the First World War, 1914-22
By Norfolk Record Office
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/battlefield-wills-from-the-first-world-war-1914-22-online-tickets-1249222571339
Wed 29 May 2025 18:00 BST
Hunger Strikes and Baby Units: Women and prison health
By Royal College of Nursing Library and Museum
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hunger-strikes-and-baby-units-women-and-prison-health-tickets-1290120237359
Events for the first week of June that might interest you
Wed 4 June 2025 19:00 BST
A Very Expensive Poison
by National Archives (Free to attend but donation suggested)
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/a-very-expensive-poison-tickets-1224825699639
Wed 4 June 2025 19:00 BST
The Weavers' Uprising of 1826
by Bolton FHS
Link with more details and to register 👉 https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/the-weavers-uprising-of-1826-tickets-1128881066659
BBC news broadcaster Mishal Husain uncovered a wonderful story with some unexpected connections.
Reviews below - but SPOILER ALERT - don't read until you've watched the programme
The Genealogist
https://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/2025/who-do-you-think-you-are/mishal-husain-8346/
Who Do You Think You Are magazine
https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tv-series/mishal-husain-who-do-you-think-you-are
Wall to Wall/ Stephen Perry via WDYTYA
Series 22 opened with an interesting and emotional story with Andrew Garfield, best known for roles in Spider-Man, The Social Network, and Angels in America,
Reviews below - but SPOILER ALERT - don't read until you've watched the programme
The Genealogist
Who Do You Think You Are magazine
https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/tv-series/andrew-garfield-episode-summary
Wall to Wall/ Stephen Perry via WDYTYA
Starting from the end of May, the current sub-groups of the Computer Club are being opened to the whole FHSC Membership as discussion groups. Additionally, we are launching our new 'Zooming in on Family History' chat session.
These groups are designed to allow members to chat about various topics with other members, building on the success of both the Computer Club and Research Buddies.
'Zooming in on Family History' – is a wide-ranging session whereby members can come along for help with their research, share success stories or just generally meet other members and chat about family history.
The theme of the Discussion groups, the current group leader and the meeting dates are:
If you are interested in being part of any of the groups, then initially email Margaret Roberts – to be put in touch with the Discussion Group Leader and added to the mailing list for that group.
Offer from FindMyPast - expires on 22nd April
Link to find out more 👉 https://www.findmypast.co.uk/
Watch the T&Cs