 Congratulations are due to one of our honorary life-members, Stanley Baker. On April 24th he was awarded the Mayors’ Award for Services to the Weston-super-Mare Town Council. It was in recognition of the enormous part he has played with the Society in producing a searchable database for all the graves in Weston Municipal Cemetery in Milton Road.
Congratulations Stan! – it is great that all the work you have done has been recognised and at 95 your grasp of some of the modern technology puts all of us in awe of you! You’re so much more than a Silver Surfer!
The photograph shows the actual presentation in the Blakehay Theatre by the Town Mayor, Councillor Keith Morris.
I’m the eternal optimist –
- I know that one day I will find out where my 4 x great grandparents, Robert & Hester LONG were hiding before they married in St Mary’s Church, Bitton in Gloucestershire in 1767. This was one of the very first things I found out when I started researching in 1975. Armed with information from my grandfather and visiting the church (where in those days they kept the parish records) I was able to trace my family back to their marriage but I've never got behind it!.
- I know that one day I’ll discover that one of my family was involved in some epoch making event - (other than Jack the Ripper!) – And I’ll find a well documented and resourced account of whatever they did.
- I know that one day FindmyPast will again be a site which I can wholeheartedly recommend as I have always done previously. For those of you who have been reduced to shouting at your computer with frustration during the past month as you try to work out why those facilities with which we were all so familiar and were so useful to us have apparently disappeared take a look at this video. It does explain the reasoning behind the changes and I have noticed that in the last few days changes are beginning to take place to restore some of the missing features.
If you need to talk over a brickwall or to get someone else’s suggestions on how to progress do come in to the Library one Saturday between 2.00 and 3.30pm and see if we can help. You do not have to be a member and you do not have to book.
To facilitate a weekly presence in Weston Library is a great commitment and the Society is very grateful to those who have volunteered to help. You do not need to be available every week – even if you think you could come in just once a month Maureen Harvey would be very pleased to hear from you. You can contact her by using the Contact Us button on this site and choosing Weston Library Enquiries as the Category and your message will be forwarded to her. You do not need to be an expert in every branch of family history research - we're not! - but we aim to give people the confidence to discover their own family history and to know where to ask when stuck .
Some web sites which may be of interest
- If you are researching Essex ancestors FamilySearch has just added nearly half a million baptisms, marriages and deaths to their free site.
- Similarly FamilySearch has also updated their Dorset Records - it is always a good idea to check to see if more records have become available
- The Families in British India Society has recently added many of its records to FindmyPast but you can still access them free of charge on its own site.
- The Gazette, or as it used to be known the London Gazette, is a very useful free source of information. This short video explains the workings of the Gazette and its function in the recording of official information. If you’ve not used the Gazette before do take a look – I’m sure you will find it useful and some unexpected information may turn up.
- Pathe News has released a selection of films taken at the time of WW1. The whole Pathe collection which is now available gives a fascinating background to our research
How are you getting on with your WW1 research? We are all familiar with the large WW1 Cemeteries in France but it is also humbling to see how many casualties were buried in this country. You can search The Commonwealth War Graves Commission site for Cemeteries, and then narrow it down to WW1 personnel. Why not search to see how many people from WW1 are buried in local cemeteries and churchyards. For example: On the CWGC home page click on “Find a Cemetery” - choose United Kingdom as the Country and then enter the name of a parish – perhaps the home parish of your family - it doesn’t have to be in the Weston-super-Mare area.
Just a reminder that the deadline for WW1 related articles for Buckets & Spades is the 20th of May – earlier if you can. Contact Paul Tracey if you have any queries about suitability or presentation. Use the Contact Us Button on this web site and choose Journal Editor as the Category. Caroline Morris is coordinating the exhibition of WW1 material for our Open Day on July 12th and would love to hear from you about what you have to display. Use the Contact Us Button on this web site and choose Memories of WW1 as the Category.
I’ve just found this Post Card in an aunt’s effects. It’s dated 1906 probably Battersea but can anyone make any suggestions about why a Wedmore lad should be member of the Band of the Prince of Wales' Own Civil Service (Rifle Volunteers) which appears to have strong London connections. Reg PUDDY who sent the card later lived in Weston ran a Dairy in West Street and leased the Thatched Cottage Cafe on the sea front for several years. Any suggestions by using the comment facility at the end of this item.
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