Our aim is to promote the study of
family history in East Suffolk in particular and to provide support
and help for those wishing to trace their family history outside
the area. We cater not only for those who wish to research their
local family history but also for those now living in Suffolk whose
ancestors were from out of the county.
In 2010, meetings will normally be held on the second Tuesday of
each month (no meeting in August) in the United Reformed Church
Hall, Chapel Road, Saxmundham, starting at 7:30 pm, but please
confirm before traveling any distance.
Admission is £1.50 for members, £2.00 for visitors. Tea, coffee,
and biscuits are included. Visitors are always most welcome.
Some speakers give out literature related to their talk or have
books for sale.
Experienced family history researchers are at most meetings to
help you with your family history research.
For further details contact: -
Barrie Skelcher (Chairman) 01728 830463
Janet Barnes (Secretary) 01728 602776
John Martin (Treasurer) 01473 727545
Terry Davis (Membership Secretary) 01728 830113
Drop-In Centre
The Group runs an informal family history "Drop-In Centre" in
Leiston. This is housed in the Old Council Room of the Leiston
Council Offices in Old Post Office Square, Main Street, opposite
the Long Shop Museum. There is convenient public parking (including
disabled parking) immediately outside.
The Drop-In Centre is open to the general public, and provides
free access to a variety of family history advice and reference
material. It is normally open on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each
month, from 10 am to 12 noon.
Would-be visitors are advised to check on availability of the
room before making any special journeys.
St. Mary's Church, Benhall, Recording of Monumental
Inscriptions
Blessed with some glorious weather, members of the local Family
History Group and some local volunteers continued to make progress
on Friday 4th and Saturday 5th June with the recording of the
inscriptions on the graves in St. Mary's Churchyard.
Work on this important and worthwhile community project began
last October and will probably take another year to complete,
depending on the actual number of volunteers who join in at each
session.
For the purposes of the project, the churchyard has been divided
into a number of different sections and the team is currently
working on Section B.
Progress on the plotting of the marked graves and on the actual
recording of the inscriptions is also determined, to some extent,
by the need to observe the requirements of the designated
Conservation Area, which has recently been extended to include
other areas of the churchyard.
More helpers are always welcome and no previous experience is
required. Just turn up in sensible clothing, any time after 9.00am
on designated days. All essential equipment and stationery will be
provided.
The co-ordinator of the project, John Peters, would be pleased
to hear from anyone who would like to assist with this project. He
can be contacted by telephone on 01728 604678. You don't have to be
a resident of Benhall or to have family connections with the church
to join in.
Please help if you
can.