Sevenoaks Branch Meetings

Doors open 10.45am

Please join us for this talk, some mince pies and a quiz.

The Goose is Getting Fat! The History of Christmas Traditions

 What’s behind the Wassail and why do we kiss under mistletoe and let loose women into York at Christmas?

Every family hones its own traditions, but mainly they are based on a central theme: filling our houses with greenery and bling, sending cards, eating too much, wearing a silly hat, singing songs and playing games that we don’t bother with for the rest of the year.

How has all this come about? Some are based on pagan festivities that either honoured spirits or simply helped to break up the winter. Others, such as advent calendars and crackers, are much more recent.

This talk cannot possibly cover all of our traditions, but it gives a glimpse behind the scenes to see our ancestors preparing for the day, stirring-up puddings and dragging Yule logs into the house on Christmas Eve and the rituals that went with it. We see Lords of Misrule lording it over rowdy parties, how pantomime developed and how a few carollers sent out a coded message.

No booking, just turn up.

The Society is a registered charity and membership fees and donations are an important part of our income. The Talk is free to members but guests and visitors are asked to make a donation towards hall hire and speaker's fee. There will be a donations box at the venue.

There is a large public car park (payment required) adjacent to the hall but it can be busy.

DNA for family historians with Dr Geoff Swinfield   Doors open 10.45am Meeting starts 11am

You may consider using a DNA test to learn more about yourself and your family.

Whether that’s because you’re looking for more information about unknown family members, your ethnic background, or to verify family tales, a DNA test can be an option for helping you learn more about your family tree, but where to start and what to consider.

What benefits can be achieved by DNA testing for genealogy. Can DNA testing help with brickwalls and reunite long lost family members.

You may wish to test beyond yourself to find missing fragments of your ancestors that weren’t passed on to you which may require testing of siblings, parents, and other relatives. There are so many questions.

Dr Geoff Swinfield has lectured widely on all aspects of genealogy, its sources and research techniques including the use and application of DNA testing to Genetic Genealogy. He graduated from Nottingham University with a PhD in genetics and began training as a professional genealogist in 1979 at the IHGS in Canterbury.

Whilst at IHGS, as its Director, he headed a team which, in conjunction with hospital research departments, used genealogical research to trace the inheritance of genetic abnormalities to identify those who may be at risk. Geoff is also a past Chair of AGRA's Board of Assessors and a Fellow of the Society of Genealogists, we could not be in better hands to help us understand DNA for our Family History research.

No booking, just turn up.

The Society is a registered charity and membership fees and donations are an important part of our income. The Talk is free to members but guests and visitors are asked to make a donation towards hall hire and speaker's fee. There will be a donations box at the venue.

There is a large public car park (payment required, 50p for 2 hours, £1 for 3 hours) adjacent to the hall but it can be busy.

The History and Mystery of Funerals with Susan Flipping: Doors open 10.45am, meeting begins 11am

Death, and the funeral rites which follow it, have always reflected the culture of the time; and what we consider ‘normal’ comes from thousands of years of changing beliefs and traditions.

Our ancestors had practices that seem strange – even bizarre – to 21st century minds yet we can often see how they leave their mark even now.

The talk looks at funeral and death rites over the last thousand years and across the world, considering how they reflect the way our ancestors lived in successive generations.

About The Speaker

Susan is an independent wedding, naming and funeral celebrant but has been fortunate to have had many other amazing jobs including radio journalist, published author, lecturer and events organiser.  She has spent much of her working life in front of an audience of one kind or another, sharing her enthusiasm and knowledge.

There is an adjacent, large public car park (50p for 2 hours, £1 for 3 hours) but it can be busy at times.

No booking, just turn up.

The Society is a registered charity and membership fees and donations are an important part of our income. The Talk is free to members but guests and visitors are asked to make a donation towards hall hire and speaker's fee. There will be a donations box at the venue.