The Family History Society of Cheshire

It all started with a letter from Colditz”. It is the story of Charles Lockett who was born in Cheshire and was a POW in Colditz. It also tells the story of Peter Lockett, his brother, who was a POW for most of the war in Zagan where the Great Escape took place. If you wish to attend please email Margaret Spate adding August 16th. in the subject line. Joining details will be sent out a few days before the meeting

AGM - A chance to discuss important issues about the group. My Ancestor was a G.I. is the story of my father's second cousin and what happened when she met an American during the Second World War at the age of 18! The meeting is at Brookfield Hall off Shrewbridge Road, Nantwich, Free parking Admission Members £2 Visitors:£3

Else Churchill is the Genealogist at the Society of Genealogists (SoG) in London and a member of the Lords Chancellor’s Advisory Council on National Records and Archives. She has over 30 years of experience as a genealogist. Formerly a professional genealogical librarian and researcher, Else has worked for the SoG since 1994. She now leads on external liaison, representation and communications; the Society's education and publishing programmes as well as being the Society's subject specialist. Else will discuss the online digital collections of the Society of Genealogists Library. In addition to providing a library and research facility for family history, the Society holds some unique records and archives. While not a public archive per se the SoG is often an archive of last resort, providing a home for records that might otherwise have been destroyed. Many of the SoG's digital collections are produced as a result of volunteer projects, which have been powering away at home during lockdown. Please email Margaret Spate at using Zoom Sept.13 in the subject line to express an interest in attending this meeting. I will forward joining instructions a few days before the meeting

What are these records, where they can be found, what they contain and how they can be used in you family history research. To express an interest in attending this meeting please email Margaret Spate at and include 18th. October in the subject line of your email. I will forward joining details and the link for this meeting a few days before

Dr Mike Esbester is senior lecturer in History at the University of Portsmouth, and one of the co-leads of the ‘Railway Work, Life & Death’ project. In this talk Mike will introduce railway staff accidents and the dangers of railway work before the Second World War. He will discuss the ‘Railway Work, Life & Death’ project, which is documenting employee accidents in Britain and Ireland for this period, and the various resources it offers for family historians. There will be a Cheshire slant on the national industry, putting the county in its wider context and thinking about the social history of railway work. Mike will further speak about the latest update to the webpage and also think about the ‘Historians Collaborate’ agenda, and how different types of historian can work together better. Please email Margaret Spate at using 'Zoom Nov 8th' in the subject line to express an interest in attending this meeting. I will forward joining instructions a few days before the meeting