Note: Kathleen Ashburner is now compiling the programme for next year. If you have any ideas for speakers or preferences for the Out Visit, please tell Kathleen as preparing the programme year after year is a very difficult task.

Our walk round Grane....

Owing to the inclement weather this was a washout, literally. Seven intrepid members did turn up and we had a very jolly meeting at the Holden Arms. It is hoped to rearrange the walk for later in the summer.

Projects.... A message from Mr Hiluta.

Don't be a couch potato!!! Fancy some fresh air? then join the A. Team -

Winnie and Marjorie help them finish checking monumental inscriptions at St. Nicholas, Newchurch. They are doing the last plot of the "new ground", Plot D. I am still transcribing burials from the registers to supplement the MIs. So far, 1760 souls have been accounted for. That is from June 1970 back to 1936............ Michael.

A start has also been made on the old graveyard by Michael and myself, this consists of some memorial stones still in situ and others used as paving round the church. We have named this our Millennium project. It is 14 years since work commenced. It will be finished before the Y2K come hail or snow. Would anyone like to take charge of transcribing the monuments inside the church?

The 1881 Census on CD-ROM

The 1881 census of England, Wales and Scotland is now available on 25 CD’s at a remarkable price of £29.75 for the complete set including postage. This price includes the Resource File Viewer and National Index. For UK purchasers it can be obtained only from the LDS Distribution Centre, 399 Garretts Green Lane, Sheldon. Birmingham B33 OUH. Cheques should be mad payable to "LDS Distribution Centre." I have ordered copies for the Society. There is a six week waiting list but they should have arrived before our next meeting.

N.B. A leaflet has been issued by the Federation listing reported mistakes in the 1881 census project. A copy has been sent to us which can be consulted in our library.

Personal Accident Insurance

The cover given for personal accidents by Royal Sun Alliance has been under review for some months. The Federation is now pleased to announce that the cover will be extended to cover everyone over 16 and up to and including the age of 75. This will take effect from 1st January 2000.

Coming Events. Talks, Conferences, Exhibitions.

Saturday 3 July Family History Fair. SW Group of Family History Societies 10.00 am to 4.00 pm at the Winter Gardens, Royal Parade, Western Super Mare.

Sunday 4 July East Anglian FH Fair at Needham Market.

Friday 15 October. The LFH&HS’s annual dinner will this year be hosted by the Lancaster and Morecambe Group. A special evening of "Lancashire fare" will be held at the Clarendon Hotel, Marine Road West, Morecambe.

The after dinner speaker will be Ian Dewhurst. This event costs only £10. It is worth that amount alone just to hear Ian Dewhurst speak! I am told that on this particular evening

"clogs, shawls, waistcoats and flat caps will certainly not be out of place."

Saturday 30 October 1999 NW Group Family History Fair (sometimes known as the Stockport Fair) will this year be held at the Guild Hall, Preston.

British Isles Genealogical Register 2000

Don’t forget to enter your names on the form sent to you in your last magazine. It is an excellent means of advertising your name interests throughout the world. You may be able to make contact with a long lost relative for as little as £1-50.

The Heraldry Group....

are disappointed that they have never managed to encourage members from other groups to call in and see them. They meet on the first Monday of each month at St. Stephen’s Church Centre, Broadgate, Preston. Jim Topping says they are not "strange people who have two heads and speak in strange tongues." Although, in the case of Jim (the Society’s Treasurer) the latter statement is debatable.

New Books

Terry Walsh has sent two copies of Mike Conroy’s new book "The Shuttleworth’s of Gawthorpe" on Sale or return at £4.95. Other new books for you to view are listed below :

British Genealogical Books in print Stuart A. Raymond £8.95

British Genealogical Microfiche Stuart A. Raymond £8.95

The Location of British Army Records 1914-1918 Holding & Swinnerton £5.95

Keeping your family records Ian Swinnerton £1.95

An introduction to tracing your German ancestors Peter Towey £3.85

Irish Family History Research Bill Davis £1.95

Using wills after 1858 & First Avenue House Collins £1.95

Using death and burial records Lillian Gibbens £1.95

Making contact with relatives Peter Amsden £1.95

WILLS - Beware

There has been an outrageous hike in the cost of purchasing a will from First Avenue House. The new rates are £15 to view a will and £5 to purchase a copy. This increase from 25p and 75p respectively has come into force without any warning or consultation.

Rossendale Ancestry.

Dr. John Shepherd, 13 Kurrawa Ave. Kiama Downs, NSW 2533, Australia is researching the Shepherd Family of Old Meadows, Bacup. He has compiled a great deal of information going back to Henry Shepherd born circa 1750. The Shepherds married into various local families mainly in the Newchurch area. These include Crowther, early-mid 19th century, Maden, Wilkinson and Wolfenden in the 18th century. He has little on these families.

E-mail samira@ezy.net.au