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The SDFHS Blog

The Greenwood Tree – March 2019

Posted on 22nd February 2019

The growing importance of DNA in family history is highlighted in the March edition of The Greenwood Tree which will be mailed to members at the end of February Editor Paul Radford previews the edition, which SDFHS members can already view or download from the Members’ Area of the Society’s website The front cover colour image shows the 23 inherited chromosomes in each cell of the human body, the building blocks of life Inside are two main stories featuring the DNA theme The first is a... more

Christmas Carol Service Train

Posted on 22nd December 2018

Many of the trappings of our ‘traditional’ Christmas celebrations had their origins in the Victorian period which also saw the establishment and growth of the railway, so it is not perhaps surprising that festively decorated trains feature on a fair number of vintage Christmas cards Today many railway lines, especially those run by local enthusiasts, have ‘Santa Specials’ where the great man joins excited children for a train ride, often pulled by a steam engine In Sherborne we can... more

The Greenwood Tree – December 2018

Posted on 27th November 2018

Remembrance is highlighted in the December edition of The Greenwood Tree, the first since the remarkable centenary ceremonies in November which marked the 1918 Armistice September’s World War One Special Edition was largely dominated by family history stories of the conflict and the December issue, which will be mailed to members at the end of November, echoes some of those themes Editor, Paul Radford, previews the edition, which SDFHS members can already view or download from the Members’... more

Remembering Bertie and Reg

Posted on 11th November 2018

I would like to tell you about two boys who died in World War One They had both attended Foster's School, in Sherborne, and you can see their names on the Roll of Honour board (now at the Gryphon School) These two boys became firm friends and would have had no idea that their carefree schoolboy games and exercises would be followed by such an abrupt end to both their young lives The first boy is Francis Reginald Palmer, or Reg as he was known In 1907 at the age of 13, an age at which many... more

SDFHS events – next week!

Posted on 11th October 2018

There are still places available on Ted Udall's 'Essential Family History' course, which starts on Wednesday 19 October (7-9pm) at our Centre in Yeovil, and is great value at only £40 (£35 for SDFHS members) for five two-hour sessions If you would like to book a place, please email: sdfhsmembership@outlookcom or phone 01935 429609 On Friday 19 October, Robin Ansell will be giving a talk in Sherborne on the history of photography, with another chance to see part of Allan Collier's extensive... more