News & Information (Events)

Clare Hayward of the Bristol & Avon Family History Society has sent us this …

I have enclosed a leaflet for a trip to First World War Battlefield sites in France and Belgium on Saturday 20th to Tuesday 23rd September leaving from Weston-super-Mare.    I think one or two of your members have done this trip but I wondered if you could publicize it further in case there are any others who would like to go.

It is a rather full on trip but so interesting and the leader Jeremy Banning will research the ancestor and show a member everything he can about where the person was and if he died where he might be laid to rest.

https://westernfrontfootsteps.com/2025-tour/

From the beginning of this year, St Martin’s Church has been celebrating 900 years since its foundation by holding monthly events. Obviously, some of the events have already taken place, but there are still more to come - between now and August!

At 7.00 pm on 29 March (Saturday), the Church will be hosting a concert, when the Bristol Ensemble will be showcasing 900 years of music-making. There will also be refreshments.

From 16 - 18 May (Friday - Sunday), a Flower Festival and a Celebration of Weddings and Marriage will be held, with a display about couples who married here. The weekend will conclude with Songs of Praise at 6.00 pm on the Sunday.

On 8 June (Sunday), there will be a Special Birthday Party for the Church, starting at 3 pm, and followed by strawberries and cream.

On 21 June (Saturday), Richard Lennox will provide a Mid-summer Concert at 3 pm, and there will be tea and cake.

In July, the Festival of Bell Ringing will take place.

 On 15 and 16 August (Friday and Saturday), there will be an Art Exhibition (10 am – 4 pm), and refreshments will be served 12 noon to 2 pm.

For further details, please see St Martin’s Church website and their Facebook page, and please do consider visiting this lovely church where you will be very warmly welcomed!

Grace Rubery

Weston-super-Mare Library will be closed tomorrow, Dec 7th, due to the red and amber weather warnings.  Please do not go to the library expecting to see our volunteers - because they will be tucked up safe in their homes...You can always post any queries for our Research Forum.

The next visit of the archivist from the North Somerset Archives Service, Eve Bickerton, is on Thursday 5^th December from 10:30am to 12:30pm and 1:00pm to 2:30pm (this is a change from the normal times of 11:00am to 1:00pm and 2:00pm to 3:30pm)

Four times a year, (usually) on the first Thursday in March, June, September and December, the North Somerset Archivist visits Weston super Mare Library to provide an ‘archive searchroom’ environment for users to consult original documents and resources.

Somerset Archives and Local Studies has a long history of providing this service with North Somerset Council, and as such has built up a contingent of loyal and dedicated researchers. The last visit, September 2024 was no exception, and we were delighted to welcome some familiar faces.

We can bring original documents to Weston super Mare Library for you to consult, and during the visit can provide some additional help and support.  Only one archivist visits, so must balance their time between all the researchers.  But the friendly nature of the service means that we can spend a bit more time than we might normally be able to, finding out about your research and suggesting new avenues.  Combine that with the impressive knowledge of the Weston super Mare Library staff, and we make a very helpful team!

So far this year 86 documents have made the journey up to Weston super Mare, and over the last 12 months 119 documents have been consulted as part of the service.  We’ve had 31 happy researchers over the last 12 months, with an average ‘dwell time’ of 90 minutes, which means they’re really enjoying their visits and making the most of their time.

Any requests to bring documents up with them from Taunton should be made by the Friday before the visit.  Email: somersetarchives@swheritage.org.uk

Dates for 2025 are (all Thursdays)

6^th March 2025

5^th June 2025

4^th September 2025

4^th December 2025

Just an update on Help Sessions.

Wsm Library staff have requested we attend our usual Help Session at the premises on Saturday 6th January as they have had requests for help from members of the public. We have sufficient volunteers so we will be there.

Brian