New NWKFHS program 2018-2019 is available

 

The New NWKFHS Program is now available on our old web www.nwkfhs.org.uk and it will be featured on the new web site when its launched early in the new year.

 

The Society celebrates its 40 anniversary in 2018. The programme has the new anniversary logo which will feature on our publications in the new year.

 

You can also find the Society events in the Journal of Kent History for publication.

 

Happy New Year.

 

 

Volunteers wanted to assist with data entry at the Society Library.

Volunteers wanted to assist with data entry and processing.

If you can use a computer and either EXCEL or ACCESS Microsoft software programs, you can help NWKFHS by volunteering to manage some of the many resources stored at the library.
Volunteer 1 – entry of family history data.

Can you enter data into spreads-sheets (Excel) or Access tables that look like spread-sheets?
Volunteer 2 – to draw up spread-sheets.

Can you draw up spread-sheets and format the cells for others to take them over and input the data?

Volunteer 3 – to use ACCESS and administer databases.

Can you use ACCESS databases?

Can you create tables for data entry?

Can you design queries and reports in ACCESS databases?

Training available for volunteers.

If you can volunteer on a regular basis and can already use WORD or other Microsoft programs, we can provide training in data entry and processing. These will be new transferrable skills you can use to advance your family history research.

Please contact the library@nwkfhs.org.uk or David at president@nwkfhs.org.uk.

GRO Indexes available at NWKFHS Joydens Wood

In 2017 the closure of a local archive gave the Society the opportunity to provide a home for the microfiche General Registry Office birth, marriage, and death indexes. This collection of fiche is available to members at the Society Library at Joydens Wood, Bexley every Wednesday from 10.00am to 4.00pm. See our web site for directions at www. nwkfhs.org.uk.

If you would like a list of these fiche please send an email request to library@nwkfhs.org.uk.

The fiche include not only the BMD indexes up to 1965 but also the overseas register indexes some from as early as 1796 to 1965.

Asking Grandparents

At the Society Library yesterday a prospective member made an interesting observation. He said 'We are the grandparents we wished we asked when we started our family history research'.
Perhaps over Christmas I should be dropping some QI facts into the conversations with the grandchildren!
A realisation I had some time ago wishing I had asked more questions of my grandparents when they were alive. C'est la vie ....
Have a happy Christmas
Best wishes
David

QI = 'Quite interesting', after the television program.

Pictures and Maps

Writing up your family history can be enhanced by pictures and maps.
Too often they are copyright or watermarked. That's fine, but so many pictures from old books are out of copyright.
It was wonderful that one of my links sent me the details of the 'Digital Library of America', I'm now enjoying the search for new pictures and maps that can illustrate my family history.
I've even discovered Sergeant Wayne A Cuffley, a very distant relative, has provided photographs to the USAF and these are available on the site.
Its amazing how the availability of knowledge has increased over the last ten years.

NWKFHS Library Christmas Closures

The Library will be open on Wednesday 20th December when you can research and enjoy Janet's Christmas fare provided by the 'Tea Club'.
On Wednesday 27th December the Library is CLOSED.
On the Wednesday 3rd January the Library is OPEN. Have a happy new year and don't forget its our 40th Anniversary year.
Have a Happy Christmas.
Best wishes David

Syd Jordan Cartoons

If you or your parents played sport in the South East London area were they recorded by Syd Jordan. Syd Jordan who died in 1972 drew sketches of sportsmen from the local clubs.
It was seeing a cartoon of my father and his brother playing bowls for Woolwich Polytechnic (later know as Thames Poly and now Greenwich University) Bowls club who beat Bexleyheath Conservative Club that reminded me of these wonderful sketches. I'm fortunate that I too have a cartoon from my rugby playing days.
Syd was born in 1894 at Plumstead and died in 1972. His sketching started in 1919 for a Crayford works magazine before moving to work for the Kentish Times (The Mercury 27 November 1997).
He was not only a cartoonist but had been trained as an engineer working for Vickers during both world wars. In the 1920's he was the licensee of a pub in Bexleyheath.
If anyone else can add to Syd Jordan's biography or know where a collection of his sketches can be seen other than in old newspapers I would like to hear.

David

Dartford Branch meeting 2 November 2017

Peter Jones gave a talk on 'The Masons and 300 years of the Grand Lodge of England' explaining their history and the work in the community.
The next Dartford meeting on the 2nd December has a talk by Rupert Matthews entitled 'The Biography of Father Christmas'
If you want to learn more about all the North West Kent FHS branches and their meetings see the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/North-West-Kent-Family-History-Society-185363068176998/

Hi Folks,
Don't forget on Saturday 22nd April we have the AGM with talks in the morning and Afternoon.
The morning is Imogen Corrigan on ' Put that light out' 93rd Search Light Regiment Royal Artillery and Melanie Gibson-Barton on 'Wandering the Somme'.
West Heath School Ashgrove Road Sevenoaks was built in 1760 and became a school in 1932. Its the school were Princess Diana went in the 1970's.
Look forward to seeing you there but don't forget to book a place.
Best wishes David