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Because of the area covered by the Society, it is divided into eight geographical Groups. The Groups hold regular meetings, so wherever you are in the two counties there is likely to be a meeting close to you in the near future. Members of the Society, and visitors, are welcome to attend any meeting.
Groups in Dorset
(Click on a name for that Group's Programme of Meetings)
Groups in Somerset
(Click on a name for that Group's Programme of Meetings)
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Back to Home PageEast Dorset
Meetings held at the Allendale Centre, Wimborne. Doors open 7.30 p.m., meeting starts 8.00 p.m. Click here for a location map.
Meetings are in the Quarterjack Room.
Most Thursday mornings we are at the Local Study Centre, Poole Waterfront Museum.
Programme Secretary:- Pat Hilbert 01202821478
Programme for 2010
Monday 16th August Members evening - Beginners, blind alleys & brick walls
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South Dorset
All meetings are held at 7.30 p.m. in the St.Francis Church Hall, Littlemoor, Weymouth (opposite the Somerfield Store)
Programme Secretary:- David Lane, Tel. 01305 774220
Click here for the Group's own pages.
Programme for 2010
Wednesday 11th August Social history Ted Udall
Wednesday 8th September Thomas Hardy - A literary life Rob Curtis
Wednesday 13th October "Tales from the Archives" Speaker from the Dorset History Centre
Wednesday 10th November "A sailor in the early 20th Century Navy" Alan Brown
Wednesday 8th December Christmas meeting - A monumental Quiz Audience participation
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West Dorset
West Dorset Group meet in Loders Village Hall, at 2.00p.m. Members £1.50 per session. Non-members £2 per session. Afternoon tea included.
Programme Secretary: Brian Webber, Tel. 01935 812347
Programme for 2010:
No meeting in August
Saturday 11th September 20th century records by Jane Ferentzi-Sheppard
Saturday 9th October Researching your Welsh & Scottish ancestors by Dr. Colin Chapman
Saturday 13th November Researching house & building history by a speaker from DHC (TBA)
Blackmore Vale
Meetings held at The Exchange, Old Market Hill, Sturminster Newton, DT10 1FH at 7.30 p.m.
Various ways to reach the Exchange:
Via the B3091 from Shaftesbury. Follow the route of the B3091 into Sturminster Newton until you reach the Traffic lights, turn right into Old Market hill and in about 200 yards you will see the car park in front of the Health Centre on your left. Turn in to the car park the door to the Exchange and Stur Quest is adjacent to the Health Centre.
Via the B3092 from Gillingham and the A 30. Leave Gillingham on the B3092 southwards towards East Stour, where you will cross the A 30 (anyone using the A30 will travel towards East Stour and at the crossroads turn south on to the B3092). Now follow the B3092 through Marnhull and Hinton St Mary into Sturminster Newton until you reach the traffic lights. Now turn left into the B3091 (Shaftesbury) this is Old Market Hill within 150 yards you will find a car park on the right turn in here the Exchange is in front of you.
From the South using the A 357. If coming from the East (Blandford area) follow the A 357 until you reach Sturminster Newton bridge where you turn right into the B3091 / B3092. Those coming from the West (Sherborne area using A3030) or Henstridge /Stalbridge follow the A 357 until you reach Sturminster Newton bridge where you turn left into the B3091/ B3092. You now proceed up the hill into the town and keep ahead only until you reach the traffic lights, you now turn right into the B3091 (Shaftesbury) this is Old Market Hill within 150 yards you will find a car park on the right turn in here the Exchange is in front of you.
Programme Secretary:- James Pitman, 15 Belmont Close, Shaftesbury SP7 8NF
Programme for 2010
August No meeting
Thursday 9th September Presumed curable DHC
Thursday 14th Oct Palaeography
Thursday 11th Nov TBA
Thursday 9th Dec TBA
West Somerset
A new Group formerly known as the "Old Minehead Family History Group"
The Group meets on the last Wednesday of every month at 7pm. Members £1, non-Members £2. Refreshments included.
Venue:- Townsend House Townsend Road, Minehead, Somerset. (next to the Esso Garage)
Programme Secretary:- Jane Butland sjsharp6@btinternet.com
Programme for 2010
Wednesday 28th July Social history Ted Udall
Mid-Somerset
Please note the new meeting place: The Residents Lounge, Bluestone Court, Oxendale, Street. BA16 0NF. 7.15p.m. for 7.30p.m. start.
Programme Secretary:- Steve Wilkinson, 4 King Alfred's Way, Wedmore, Somerset, BS28 4BB
Programme for 2010 Meetings are second Thursday of the month. Visitors welcome
July/August TBA Trip to London
Thursday 12th August Old Handwriting - A backwards history John Hurley
Thursday 9th September Was your ancestor really married?
Marriage laws, records and customs. Colin Chapman
Thursday 14th October Murder and mayhem on the Midland -
a murder, an accident and a suicide on the
Midland Railway in its early days Chris & Judy Rouse
Thursday 11th November Grandma's garden Yvonne Bell
Thursday 9th December Social evening
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Taunton
Meetings held at Kilkenny Old People's Centre, side of railway station car park, Taunton at 7.30 p.m.
Programme Secretary:- Bob Steed, 77 Mountjoy Road, Bishops Hull, Taunton, TA1 5DS
Programme for 2010
August no meeting
The Taunton Group also holds a meeting on the third Monday of each month (except August) at the Robin Close Community Hall, Robin Close, Bishops Hull, Taunton. (Robin Close is off Heron Drive the road to St Margaret's Hospice). This is an informal self help meeting, where we try and help each other with research problems.
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Yeovil
Meetings held at Holy Trinity Church Hall, Lysander Road Yeovil (opposite B & Q) at 7.30 p.m.
Programme Secretary:- Sheila Gane, 31 Turner's Barn Lane, Yeovil BA20 2LN
Programme for 2010:
Railway John Marshall
Tuesday 12th Oct Fairgrounds - Childhood to Adulthood Kay Townsend
Tuesday 9th Nov Gone for a soldier Colonel Iain Swinnerton
Tuesday 14th Dec. How we used to live Mike Bolton
Sedgemoor
Meetings held in St Johns Church Hall, Highbridge, Somerset TA9 3AG. 7.30p.m. for a 7.45p.m. start
Programme Secretary Trevor Davies, 101 Worston Road, Highbridge TA9 3JX
Programme for 2010:
August - No Meeting
Thursday 3rd September "Somerset Quarter Sessions Records" Bernard Welchman, professional researcher & author
Thursday 7th October "Wild Oats (Bastards & Baby farming)" Hazel Hudson, local historian & author.
Thursday 4th November "Who does she think she is?" Pat Hase. M.A., local historian & researcher. Followed by a short annual business meeting.
Thursday 2nd December. Members’ social evening.
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Frome Area
Meetings held at 7.15pm for a 7.30p.m. start, in The Library, Justice Lane-just off Bridge Street, Frome on the last Tuesday of every month unless otherwise stated.
Please use the back door of the library - approached via the staff car park next to the Round Tower.
Contact Wendy Miller-Williams, Frome Library, Justice Lane Frome, Somerset BA11 1BE
Programme for 2010
Tuesday 27th July Social history Ted Udall
August No meeting
Saturday 18th September AGM Marston House all welcome
Tuesday 26th October Family history - fact or fiction
Beginners introductory talk with anecdotes Pat Hase
Tuesday 30th November A celebration of members interests. Please
contact the Group Sec. to book a slot
December No meeting