Woking Centre
Trinity Church, Brewery Road, Woking, GU21 4LH
For map click hereCo-ordinator Chris Leech
Email: woking@wsfhs.orgSecond Thursday in month
Doors Open at 7.45pm. Meeting starts at 8.00pm.
2022
| Date | Time | Title | Speaker | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu | 12 May | 7.45 pm for 8.15 pm | Land of my Father's Father. Welsh Research | Jane Lewis |
| Thu | 9 Jun | 7.45 pm for 8.15 pm | Sarah Wells, the worst housekeeper. | Bob France |
| Thu | 14 Jul | 7.50 pm for 8.20 pm | No Meeting | |
| Thu | 11 Aug | 7.50 pm for 8.20 pm | No Meeting | |
| Thu | 8 Sep | 7.50 pm for 8.20 pm | Institutions in the Censuses | Kathy Chater |
| Thu | 13 Oct | 7.50 pm for 8.20 pm | No Meeting | |
| Sat | 5 Nov | 3.00 pm for 3.30 pm | My ancestor was a liear: ignorance, half-truths or wilful deceit? | Dave Annal |
| Thu | 10 Nov | 7.50 pm for 8.20 pm | What I have found in the 1921 Census | Informal Meeting |
| Thu | 8 Dec | 7.50 pm for 8.20 pm | Woking at Work | David Rose |
2023
| Date | Time | Title | Speaker | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu | 12 Jan | 7.50 pm for 8.20 pm | 'To the Manor Born'. An introduction to Manorial Records for family historians. | Jane Lewis |
| Thu | 9 Feb | 7.50 pm for 8.20 pm | Tbc | Tbc |
| Thu | 9 Mar | 7.50 pm for 8.20 pm | Getting the best from the FindMyPast website. | John Hanson |
| Thu | 13 Apr | 7.50 pm for 8.20 pm | How do I do it? | Informal Meeting |
| Thu | 11 May | 7.50 pm for 8.20 pm | Tbc | Tbc |
| Thu | 8 Jun | 7.50 pm for 8.20 pm | 'The Girl behind the Man behind the Gun'. (QMAAC 1917-1921) | Viv Bennett |
| Thu | 13 Jul | 7.50 pm for 8.20 pm | No Meeting | |
| Thu | 10 Aug | 7.50 pm for 8.20 pm | No Meeting | |
Forthcoming Meetings
May 12 2022
Jane Lewis - Land of my Father's Father. Welsh ResearchJane is a professional genealogist (which in my book means that I’m only one page ahead of everyone else!) and I grew up and went to school in Wales. I’ve worked at Surrey History Centre for over 25 years, qualified as a genealogist a little over 10 years ago and have enjoyed working with many different members of the WSFHS during that time. Some non-Welsh family historians feel a bit apprehensive about researching in gorgeous glorious Wales but there really is no need for this! I hope that I can dispel any fears about language and geography and prove that perceived obstacles are nothing more than differences. She has lots of tips and techniques which she hopes will make research easier and more enjoyable and I’ll also be bringing handouts with useful addresses, books and websites – many of which are free. Jane hopes to inspire people to go on holiday to walk in their ancestors’ footsteps among the hills and valleys of Wales – although advising them to take a brolly!
June 9
Bob France - Sarah Wells, the worst housekeeper.Sarah's celebrity son, HG Wells, considered her, “perhaps the worst housekeeper that ever was thought of.” Uppark’s Sarah Wells life was filled with hardships and disasters. Her diaries and son’s writings give a remarkable insight into her struggles: raising her family in poverty; a frequently absent and irresponsible husband; managing Uppark’s dysfunctional household. Why did she take on the role of housekeeper when almost 60? Was she really as bad as HG suggests or just an “exhausted little woman” coping with insurmountable difficulties? Hear her life story and decide for yourself!
July 14
No MeetingAugust 11
No MeetingSeptember 8
Kathy Chater - Institutions in the CensusesAn ancestor may seem to disappear between censuses. There are a number of reasons for this and one of the most common is that the individual was in some kind of institution on the relevant night. Discover possibilities - and get other tips for searching the censuses.
October 13
No MeetingNovember 5
Dave Annal - My ancestor was a liear: ignorance, half-truths or wilful deceit?Sifting through the evidence to find the truth (or what passes for the truth in the world of genealogy) is a skill that all serious family historians need to develop. The information left by our ancestors is all-too-frequently misleading, inaccurate or just plain wrong! As we become more experienced we find that they had any number of reasons to be economical with the truth.
Of course, sometimes our ancestors simply didn't know the answer to the questions thrown at them by the clerks, registrars and enumerators. Using real examples, this talk will look at some of the reasons why our ancestors might have lied and offer suggestions on how to recognise their varying degrees of ignorance, half-truths and wilful deception.
November 10
Informal Meeting - What I have found in the 1921 CensusCome and tell us what you have discovered. Were people where you expected to find them - or not? Were there any unexpected people living with your ancestors? Have you uncovered any family secrets?
December 8
David Rose - Woking at WorkLocal historian and writer David Rose's illustrated talk, Woking at Work, begins with a look at local agriculture in days gone by and also its important garden nurserymen. Then on to more industrial firms such as the Woking Electric Supply Company, printers Unwins, the Leitner Accumulator Supply Company, aircraft and motorcycle manufacturer Martinsyde Ltd, and the more well-known Sorbo Rubber Co, GQ Parachutes and James Walker & Co. In addition there is a look at shops, railway workers and the construction work of Woking in more modern times right up to the latest high-rise buildings
January 12 2023
Jane Lewis - 'To the Manor Born'. An introduction to Manorial Records for family historians.This talk introduces us to the manorial system, how that system worked, the documents it generated and how these records can be used by the local and family historian. It also touches on other records relating to land transfers and how they can augment our family history reseach. Jane plans to give us family historians the confidence to explore these records more fully
February 9
Tbc - Tbctbc
March 9
John Hanson - Getting the best from the FindMyPast website.This will be a 'hybrid' meeting. We shall be meeting in person but John will be giving his talk via Zoom.
April 13
Informal Meeting - How do I do it?tbc
May 11
Tbc - Tbctbc
June 8
Viv Bennett - 'The Girl behind the Man behind the Gun'. (QMAAC 1917-1921)tbc