Woking Centre
Trinity Church, Brewery Road, Woking, GU21 4LH
For map click hereCo-ordinator Chris Leech
Email: woking@wsfhs.orgSecond Thursday in month
The doors will open at 7.45pm and the meeting will start at 7.50pm.
2024
| Date | Doors Open | Start Time | Title | Speaker | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu | 10 Oct | 7.45 pm | 7.50 pm | Posted in the Past | Helen Baggott (Hybrid) Members meet in person |
| Thu | 14 Nov | 7.45 pm | 7.50 pm | Where were your ancestors on D-Day? | Informal Meeting |
| Thu | 12 Dec | 7.45 pm | 7.50 pm | Historic Horsell | Iain Wakeford |
2025
| Date | Doors Open | Start Time | Title | Speaker | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thu | 9 Jan | 7.45 pm | 7.50 pm | Who do you think they were? Discovering the lives and experiences of your ancestors. | Julian Pooley |
| Thu | 13 Feb | 7.30 pm | 7.50 pm | The rise of Non-Conformism | Sally Gardiner |
| Thu | 13 Mar | 7.30 pm | 7.50 pm | The Royal Navy and WRNS in WW2 for Family Historians | Richard Marks |
| Thu | 10 Apr | 7.45 pm | 7.50 pm | A Romany Lifestyle | David Rose and Geoff Burch |
| Thu | 8 May | 7.45 pm | 7.50 pm | Skeletons out of your cupboard | Informal Meeting |
| Thu | 12 Jun | 7.45 pm | 7.50 pm | The South at Work | Dr Geoffrey Mead |
Forthcoming Meetings
October 10 2024
Helen Baggott (Hybrid) Members meet in person - Posted in the PastBased on the books 'Posted in the Past' and 'Posted in the Past Second Delivery', this talk reveals the true stories behind postcards sent in the early years of the 20th century. Using genealogy, Helen has researched the families to reveal their stories. Illustrated by images of postcards, this talk shares some of those stories.
A 10-year-old servant working for a laundress in 19th-century Bath, the man who helped keep the doors to Great Ormond Street Hospital open for more than 30 years, a soldier killed in the First World War – all connected by messages sent using the first real social media phenomenon of the 20th century.
November 14
Informal Meeting - Where were your ancestors on D-Day?An opportunity to share some of your research finds with other members in this 80th Anniversary year. Bring them on a memory stick, in a folder of papers and pictures or just come and talk about them!
December 12
Iain Wakeford - Historic HorsellWoking born but Horsell bred, Iain will use his extensive archive of old photographs and other memorabilia to look back at the Horsell of his youth (and before) and delve into the history of the village and its parish.
January 9 2025
Julian Pooley - Who do you think they were? Discovering the lives and experiences of your ancestors.This talk discusses the amazing variety of sources that can be used to build up a picture of the past lives and experiences of our ancestors. Early illustrations, poor law papers, quarter sessions rolls, records of institutions, personal letters and diaries can all tell us a great deal about what it was like to live in Surrey in the past. They vividly show the impact upon family life of illness and poverty and bear witness to the experiences of petty criminals, the insane or the vulnerable. These precious details help to bring family and local history to life.
February 13
Sally Gardiner - The rise of Non-ConformismSally describes herself as an enthusiastic amateur family historian; i've been researching for 14 years and have been part of the Woking u3a Genealogy group for the same duration, becoming group leader in October 2022.
My main goals are motivating group members to maximise their knowledge to make relevant family history discoveries as well as creating a supportive group environment.
The scope of my talk is Non-Conformity, principally focused on non-Anglican Protestant denominations in the period between the late 17th Century and early 19th Century.
March 13
Richard Marks - The Royal Navy and WRNS in WW2 for Family HistoriansDuring the war, the Royal Navy was globally active, with personnel from all branches serving wherever needed. Modern warships and technology enabled the navy to maintain control over the seas. This exploration will delve into the ranks, roles, and divisions of the navy, shedding light on the impact these had on the lives of those who served. It aims to assist researchers in understanding the wartime activities of their naval ancestors. The discussion will clarify naval terminology and jargon, including the classification of warships and the implications for their roles and the service lives of their crews, both at sea and ashore.
The Women's Royal Naval Service (WRNS) played a crucial role in the navy's wartime efforts. An examination of the WRNS's structure, ranks, and roles, as well as the stations where the women served, will be included. The transition from the battleship, once the 'Queen of the Seas,' to the dominance of the Aircraft Carrier and its aircraft will be addressed, focusing on the implications for the Fleet Air Arm, the aircraft they operated, and the missions they executed.
Additionally, guidance will be provided on interpreting clues hidden in old family photographs, which can enrich the narrative of a family's history.
Finally, the session will guide attendees on locating documents and resources valuable for conducting family history research related to the Royal Navy."
April 10
David Rose and Geoff Burch - A Romany LifestyleA joint talk. Gypsies, travellers and itinerant workers in the local area in days gone by. Where they made their camps, their work on farms, maarket gardens and hop picking, their ways and traditions. Vintage pictures from David's collection and personal details from Geoff, whose mother was born into a gypsy family in Old Woking in 1918. Geoff has traced this side of his family's history and has uncovered some fascinating stories of several generations of how and where they lived and worked, both at Chobham and in and around Old Woking.
May 8
Informal Meeting - Skeletons out of your cupboardHave you discovered any skeletons in your family tree?
Bring them along on a memory stick, in a folder of papers and pictures or come and talk to us about them.
June 12
Dr Geoffrey Mead - The South at Work‘The South at Work’ looks at various aspects of employment and trades both historic and contemporary across the South of England. This talk aims to give a structure to a somewhat complicated economic history where historic iron, timber and fishing trades are seen alongside defence industries, seaside resorts and air travel.