We are all hoping that the present sitiaution will abate as soon as possible.  In the meantime, we wish everyone continuing good health and good progress with their family history research, and we look forward to resuming our normal activities as soon as it is safe to do so

Alan Bennett

Chairman

Macclesfield Group activities suspended until further notice.

The committee of the Bramhall Group has reluctantly decided to suspend our activities forthwith, with a view to resuming in September. 

So, the April, May, June & August meetings are hereby cancelled, and there will be no July outing.

Be assured that we have every intention of bouncing back with a full programme of talks when things get back to normal, and we believe a September restart is a realistic hope.  Needless to say, we’ll keep in touch with our Group members and followers between then and now, and we plan to produce a newsletter each month as before.

Crewe family History Unit will be closing from today until further notice in line with the govermemts advice on social distancing.

As with Mobberly the majority of volunteers as well as attendees are over 70 years of age.  We are sorry to have to take this decision, thank you all for your understanding

Sadly due to coronavirus we are having to close our Research Centre at Mobberley from Monday 23rd March until Further Notice.  Most of our volunteers are 70+ and will have to self isolate and similarly our visitors.

We are very sorry about this, but do hope it wont be too long bofore were are able to open again.  Meanwhile you can use our online Forum to ask questions and hopefully will still be able to get help this way or to help other members.

Saturday 6th June 10.00-4.00

I am pleased to advise details of the relaunch of the London Branch.

Cumbria FHS and Lancashire Family History and Heraldry Society have been operating a London Branch over a number of years and normally offer six meetings a year on a Saturday afternoon. This Branch helps to provide some additional benefit for some London based or near London based members. Interest from the members of this Branch has been falling so it was decided to  relaunch the London Branch with some additional support from the North West and also inviting Members of other North West FH Societies to join them. Members of the NWGFHS’s gave a positive response and there is some commitment for financial support. Members of FHSC therefore are invited to attend these meetings, giving the opportunity to share your NW Family history research.

The first meeting under the new management committee will take place on Saturday 7th March 2020 at Saint Stephens Church, Gloucester Road, and Southwell Gardens, London SW7 4RL commencing at 2.00pm.

The speaker will be Ian Waller FSG FGRA and his subject will be "What Happened to Lucy?"

Before 1927 and legal adoption what happened to the unwanted child? Even after 1927 children were exploited, although supposedly cared for by institutions and well caring organisations. This talk looks at the plight of adoptees, foundlings, orphans and the Empire children (Child Migrants), essentially through the 19th & 20th centuries.

This is a new venue, St Stephens is easy to find on the junction of Gloucester Road and Southwell Gardens, South Kensington SW7 4RL There is a collection plate for admission, a free drink to lubricate the frank and friendly exchange of information and tips and hear relevant talks by guest speakers or our group members. There is another meeting planned for Saturday 2 May 2020.

Can anyone planning to attend please email to indicate numbers of those intending to come along.

Details can be found on the LFHHS website http://www.lfhhs.org.uk on the London branch page and it is planned to link to the NWG website www.nwgfhs.org.uk

I have put details on the LFHHS website http://www.lfhhs.org.uk on the London branch page and will be trying to add a late note to our February journal.

A PERFECT TIME TO JOIN US - NOW

All paid subscriptions to the Family History Society of Cheshire run from 1 July to the 30 June the following year.

However, if you join between 1 April and 30 June you will be granted membership until 30 June of the following year. This provides up to 15 months membership for the cost of 12 months.

NEWS - For 2020 ONLY  this offer has been extended so that anyone JOINING (not applicable to renewals) between 1 January and 30 June will be granted membership until 30 June 2021

Click on Membership where you can decide upon a membership plan which entitles you to be notified when our latest Ancestor goes online Normally £13 per annum, or if you would prefer to receive printed copies £18.  This means that if you join now your membership will cost £1 per month or less.  Your membership also entitles you to access surnames our members are researching and around twenty five other digital magazines from Societies across the world.  We are constantly adding to our recources online.

FOR MORE INFORMATION  read the instructions in the blue columns at the bottom of our website.  You can join directly on-line, but there is also a printable application form if you prefer to apply by post.

Lancashire Archives Calendar for 2020

Some fascinating talks and events lined up for 2020 pdfclick to download leaflet(1.06 MB)(12 pages)

Derbyshire U3A conferences at Buxton

Angela and I attended their Conference in September and thoroughly enjoyed it. They have a fabulous line up of speakers including Dr Nick Barratt and Debbie Kennett.

They are hosting a half day conference on Friday 20^th March where the topics will consist of what was life was like farming in Tudor times and Commonwealth War Graves records.

Their Full day conference in September Saturday 19^th where topics will include One place Names – Janet Few., Putting your ancestors in place. Debbie Kennett on the Joy of Surnames and Dr Nick Barratt on House Histories. One more speaker yet to book.

Full details in the pdfflyer and booking form click here(739 KB)

Tameside Archaeology Day at St John’s Saturday 29^th  February2020

Looks like an exciting line up of lectures including the full graveyard project at St John’s, Mike Nevelle talking about the Priory at Cheetham’s Park, the Archaeological finds at Mesolithic sites at Iron Tongue Hill, Carrbook and Grange farm in Hattersley. Full details in the flyer attached plus booking form £10 for the day  pdfClick here to download a flyer and booking form(505 KB)

Friday 31st January  at West Kirby entrance fee £5 see poster above

Family History Course 2020

Are you interested in a short family history course for beginners or as a refresher for those who want to know about new developments?

To take place weekly at 2.00pm on Mondays starting on Monday 13th January 2020 at Mobberley Research Centre, Rajar Building, Town Lane, Mobberley.

Tutor: Jean Laidlaw (Macclesfield group leader).

Cost £5 per session which includes the use of the Research Centre Facilities: FREE access to Ancestry, FindMyPast and The Genealogist together with the extensive library of books, documents, microfiche and local newspapers.

Topics to be covered will include: Civil Registration, Census Returns, Parish Registers, Printed Sources, Recording and Managing your Information, Internet Research and more.

For more information please email Jean Laidlaw - .

CHESTER FAMILY HISTORY GROUP CELEBRATES ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY

The Chester Group of the Family History Society of Cheshire celebrated its 50th anniversary last week. The group was formed in 1969 and held its first meetings at Stanley Palace. During that year the group joined with another family history group in Sale to form the Family History Society of Cheshire which was one of the earliest county family history societies in the country. The Society has grown from an initial membership of about 80 to a current membership of over 1,500. There are now thirteen local branches spread across the historical county of Cheshire, a county-wide Computer Group which meets in Hartford, two family history libraries and research centres, one at Mobberley and one at Crewe, and an award winning magazine and website.

At last week's meeting to celebrate the anniversary, Chester Group Leader David Guyton welcomed members and a number of special guests including two whose membership dated back to the formation of the Society in 1969, two former Chester Group Leaders, and representatives from the Family History Society of Cheshire including the recently re-elected Chairman, Alan Bennett, who also happened to be Chairman when the Chester Group celebrated its 40th anniversary. David Guyton gave a short talk highlighting some interesting and amusing items discovered during the course of family history research and showing some photographs of Chester fifty years ago. It was striking just how much the shopping scene has changed and how dated the City of Chester buses and private cars of the period now looked. Following the talk, Alan Bennett cut a ceremonial cake specially decorated with Chester's coat of arms and members and visitors took part in a family history quiz and enjoyed some festive food and refreshments. 

The Chester Group holds meetings on the last Thursday of the month at All Saints Church in Hoole, Chester. Most meetings feature a speaker on an aspect of family history or local history. As well as a talk, there is a family history help desk and the opportunity to discuss family history topics with other members. Many members have particular areas of knowledge on family history or experience with using computers and the internet for family history. There is also a raffle and tea, coffee and biscuits are served at the end of the meeting. New members and visitors are always welcome.

The Group also runs two family history help desks. The help desk at the Chester History and Heritage Centre previously at St Michael's Church in Bridge Street, Chester, is now at the Grosvenor Museum in Grosvenor Street, Chester CH1 2DD. Opening times are 10.30 am to 12.30 pm and 1.30 pm to 4.00 pm on Tuesdays and Fridays.  There is also a help desk at the Library at Storyhouse from 10 am to 12 noon on Tuesdays. Whether you are a newcomer to family history or are looking for some local knowledge or have run up against a brickwall or would like some help on a computing or internet aspect of family history, just ask. There is always somebody who would be pleased to help.

For more information check the Family History Society of Cheshire website at www.fhsc.org.uk or contact the Chester Group at  .

Another exciting new feature has been launched today in the shop.

You can now buy Gift Vouchers to spend on membership of the ociety. You can automatically send the details to a friend or  relative, or have the details sent to yourself for passing on.

See Gift Vouchers for further details

An exciting new feature has been launched today in the shop.

You can now buy Gift Vouchers to spend in the shop. You can automatically send the details to a friend or  relative, or have the details sent to yourself for passing on.

See Gift Vouchers for further details

Whilst Angela and I were at the U3A conference at Buxton in September, I spent sometime in discussion with this Manchester University project.  they promised to keep in touch with any progress.  It seemed at the time that they were going to release the results of their research fairly soon in a number of formats.

I received this email yesterday

"Hello to all of our collaborators, interviewees, and friends across the world!

Meeting on Wednesday 13th November at Tameside

Chris O'Brien came to talk to us about Neville Cardus, long time cricket commentator for the Manchester Guardian and also Music Critic.  His Book Cardus Uncovered: Neville Cardus: The Truth, The Untruth and The Higher Truth.

NC was born in Manchester the son of a prostitute and an unknown father - eventually receiving a knighthood in 1967. Chris availed himself of newly archived material here and in Australia to carefully create a timeline of Nevile's life, not helped that Neville went by 14 iterations of his name and pseudonyims and most of the other characters involved in his upringing also seemed to change their names at will. The story involves Breach of Promise, Divorce his favourite Aunt's assocciation with a Turkish consul and Neville's mistress.

Fascinating life and fascinating talk - Thank your Chris.

A perfect talk for Family Historians and Chris has agreed to be a speaker at any event the FHSC organises in 2020, conference, fair etc