Family History Group
We have over forty members, many of whom have a local family connection but we welcome anyone who can get to our monthly meetings. Our meetings are have a varied programme, some with speakers who have specialist knowledge – such as the talk on ‘Wills and Probate’ by Sue Stafford, a family history researcher; or Roger Vaughan with his extensive collection of old cartes de visite, teaching us how to date old photographs – or our members’ talks about their own family stories and how they have researched their information.
Our meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday in each month, 7.30pm at the Old Police Station, High Street, Chipping Campden.
Campden men and women who played their part in World War 1 were particularly remembered at an exhibition in the Town Hall during Armistice Weekend, 8/9 November 2008. Over 400 visitors came to see displays that showed the stories of men at the front and the support that they received from the community at home.
Campden District Family History Group launched ‘Campden 1914-18’, a book by one of their members, Paul Hughes, who has been doing the research for many years and regularly takes groups to visit the battlefields in Belgium and France. Interest has been shown from far afield in Paul’s book, which covers in detail not just those who died but all the men who served.
The displays included the stories of Norton Hall and Farncombe Hospitals which tended Belgian as well as British wounded soldiers. Belgian refugees were cared for in Campden for the duration of the war. The research for the displays also uncovered photographs of German prisoners of war working on a local farm, and the Group members continuing their work to find out more about the possibility of a local camp in the area. The book and exhibition were part of a year-long project funded by National Lottery Awards for All to encourage local people to create their own family histories. Courses have been held to improve people’s skills in enhancing old photos and combining them with text to produce interesting stories.
‘Campden 1914-18’ is available from warbook@chippingcampden.org or by telephoning 01386-840561. Price £20 + p&p
The first book to be published under our name ‘Campden People’ is Michael Grove’s memoir ‘Life of a Country Lad’, edited by Michael’s son, Robert, with help from members of the Family History Group.
Order the book now, price £7 + p&p, from Robert Grove 01386-840595
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