01935 429609
Somerset & Dorset
Family History Society
Family History Society
The Blackmore Vale Group is re-commencing meetings at The Exchange, Old Market Hill, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1FH on the third Wednesday evening of every month. The extended break has led many people to start researching their family tree and group members are happy to offer advice and share experiences.
There is, also, a fantastic line-up of interesting speakers presenting on a variety of topics.
The group meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month in The Bow Room of The Exchange, Sturminster Newton. The presentations start at 7.30pm.
All are welcome at the meetings. To help defray costs we ask £3 per meeting for members of the S&DFHS and £4 for non-members.
An expert from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission will be talking about the work of the CWGC which commemorates the 1.7 million men and women from the Commonwealth who lost their lives in the two World Wars. The cemeteries, memorials, graves, landscapes, and records in their care may be found at 23,000 locations and in more than 150 countries and territories. They are both the practical means of a commemoration of the fallen and vehicles for discovery, inspiration, and engagement. The CWGC records are invaluable when researching ancestors who died in the World Wars.
“The story of a house in Sturminster Newton and its garden that grew and grew, who owned it and who lived in it.” Michael’s family lived in The Cottage from 1894 until 1968. This is a fascinating history of the house and of a local family.
Speaker: Michael Bean
Use the form to send a message, or telephone Felicity Harrison at 01258 472942. Please use the form for any queries or comments about the programme.
While Group members have a good deal of local knowledge, they are not usually in a position to carry out documentary research. If you need research done, please see “How We Can Help.”
| January | No Meeting |
| 12 February (2) | Mixing DNA results with a paper trail—Penny Walters |
| 11 March (1) | Posted in the Past—Helen Baggott |
| 8 April (2) | A day in a Georgian house or ‘Nothing like home for real comfort’ – Gordon Le Pard |
| 13 May (1) | From blacksmith to online retailer – 100 years in the life of a Sturminster family business— Graham Hart and Jon Dart from Harts of Stur. |
| 10 June (2) | Family history on tablets of stone—John Damon |
| 8 July (1) | A message to the children—Jim Williams |
| August | Outing—more details later |
| 9 September (2) | Mad Earl Henry and other despicable relations – Sue Burne |
| 14 October (1) | The second oldest business in Sturminster—Rob Cowley |
| 11 November (2) | Where’s that to, then? – Adrian Bailey |
| 9 December (1) | My life as an African-American GI’s son—John Stockley |