Talks and Workshops

I offer a range of talks and classes and am prepared to travel to you in order to present them. You may wish to get a group together in your locality and hire me to come and talk to you about your chosen subject, or you may be a business and require a family history talk for an event you are organising. Whatever your needs just let me know and I will see what I can arrange and give you a quotation. My fees for talks and lecturing start at £60 plus travelling expenses, although I can occasionally do a talk for less in certain circumstances. Don't be afraid to ask!

I also give talks to schools on subjects such as "Understanding Churches" and "Making a Family Tree". Please contact me with details of the age range and number in your class and I will provide further details.

A small sample of my talks are listed below. If you would like to view the full listing please visit the

Federation of Family History Societies website and select Education. This will take you to their Directory of Speakers where you will find all my talks listed.

Do You Know Who You Are Yet? – Short talk on why family history has become so popular in recent years.
Beginning Your Family History – day workshop or weekly/monthly sessions.
Intermediate Family History – day workshop or weekly/monthly sessions.
Using 19th Century Census Records
Using Parish Registers – the next step after civil registration records.
Parish Chest Records – some of the most colourful but underused records. Especially useful for pre 1837 research.
Records of Death – why you must not overlook them and how to use them in conjunction with other records. Covers inquest records, newspaper reports and obituaries, memorial inscriptions death certificates and burial registers.
The GRO Index – The General Register Office index is one of the main tools for research back until 1837 – but just how reliable is it?
Family History Online – a look at the choice of websites to get you started.
Good Research Techniques – what you should know if you don’t want to kick yourself later!
Maps for Family History

If you can't see what you are looking for I am always open to suggestions for new talks, so do get in touch!

Forthcoming Family History Talks

Below are listed forthcoming family history talks or half day courses I am giving or taking part in between now and the end of January. Unless otherwise stated talks cost a few pounds (pay on the day) and are open to members and non members of the various societies.

Date:Sunday 26 February 2012

Subject:I've Lost My Ancestor Before 1837. What Can I Do to Find Him?

Venue:Who Do You Think You Are Show, Olympia

Time:3 pm.

Date:Wednesday 11 April 2012

Subject:I'm Stuck Before 1837

Venue:Rudgwick Sports & Community Club King George V Playing Fields, Bucks Green, Rudgwick, nr Horsham, Sussex, RH12 3JJ. (Off the A281)

7.30 p.m.

Date:Wednesday 11 July 2012

Subject:Records of Death

Venue:Brighton and Hove Meeting Centre,Ventnor Hall, Blatchington Road, Hove, Sussex BN3 3YN

Time:7.30 pm.

Date:Friday 10 August 2012

Subject:How Far Did Your Ancestor Travel?

Venue:Kent FHS,St Mary Bredin Church, 59 Nunnery Fields, Canterbury CT1 3JN. (Just off the Old Dover Road)

Time:7.50 pm.

You may also wish to consider talks given by Melanie Gibson-Barton. Melanie's talks are based on a Belgium theme and include 'Flanders Fields', a talk that brings to life both the well known and the less well known First World War sites in a themed way that will appeal to all elements of the audience.' Details of Melanie's talks can be found at Melanie Gibson-Barton