HGS Family History Groups
Although most HGS group meetings are in-person meetings, some are held via Zoom, so please do check to see the type of meeting.
For meetings that are held via Zoom only, please contact the appropriate Group Organiser no later than 24 hours prior to the talk to be added to the invitation list. Remember to include your membership number or indicate if you are a guest.
If you plan on travelling to an in-person meeting where you are not already on the Group Organiser’s contact list, we suggest that you contact the Group Organiser to let them know: this way, if the meeting is cancelled (e.g. due to speaker unavailability) they will be able to let you know, saving you an unnecessary trip.
We meet regularly to share, learn, exchange ideas and information, as well as to help us each further explore our family history projects. Why not come along and see for yourself?
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- You can attend the meetings of any of our 9 active Hampshire-based groups.
- The International Group meetings are held every two months via Zoom: these meetings are on alternate months to the National Group meetings.
- The National Group meetings are held every two months via Zoom: these meeting are on alternate months to the International Group meetings.
- Visit a Group’s page (via the menu on the right) to see their programme of talks, news and articles. Contact a Group Organiser using the form at the bottom of their Group page.
- Come and meet like-minded people. HGS Group Meetings are free to members and prospective members.
- They are a good way to gain some new insights on how to further explore your family history.
- Whether you are a beginner or an expert, with a family from within or outside of Hampshire, you will always be welcome and find someone who has something new and interesting to share.
HGS Group Locations
Click on a pin for the address and directions.
HGS Family History Group and Society Events for the next 3 months
To attend a Zoom talk offered by any of the groups, please contact the appropriate group organiser no later than 24 hours prior to the talk. Please include your membership number or indicate if you are a guest.
- January 30, 2025 - Fareham Evening Group: Fact from Fiction - Dave Annal - via Zoom
For over a hundred years, the works of the great 19th century novelists have entertained, intrigued and amused us. Many of the characters, the places and the plots have become instantly recognisable reference points. And the themes of inheritance, illegitimacy and identity that lie behind the plots of many of the great novels are exactly the same themes that we so often encounter in the course of our own family history research. It’s not hard, therefore, to see how useful the novels can be when it comes to understanding what’s going on in our own families’ lives. This talk will look at some of the themes which crop up in the novels and consider how they might help us in our research.
- February 5, 2025 - International Group: [GMT] The Rise and Demise of Union Workhouses - Sally Gardiner
- February 11, 2025 - Fair Oak Group: Apprenticeship Records - Richard Holt - via Zoom
- February 13, 2025 - Andover Group: Doxies, Dolly mops and Dressmakers by Janet Few - on ZOOM
- February 13, 2025 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: Winchester Part 4 – Bishops, Buildings & Bones - Andrew Negus - via Zoom
The final instalment of this engaging history of Winchester, this time from 1850 into the 20th Century by Andrew Negus, Blue Badge Guide.
- February 19, 2025 - Ringwood Group: Brusher Mills:The New Forest snake catcher - Nick Saunders - via Zoom
- February 20, 2025 - Winchester Group: Florence de Fonblanque: My Suffragette Ancester - Emma Cox - via Zoom
- February 25, 2025 - Fareham Evening Group: An introduction to forensic genetic genealogy - Dr Penny Walters - via Zoom
An unexpected use of the data from DNA testing is the emerging practice of using genetic information for identifying suspects or victims in criminal cases. This method of super-sleuthing familial relationships and then apprehending a suspect divided the genealogy community, because of the invasion of privacy and confidentiality. Do the ends justify the means?
- March 5, 2025 - National Group: The Family History Revolution - Janet Few
- March 11, 2025 - Fair Oak Group: Members’ Evening
- March 13, 2025 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: Droughts, Deluges & Dust Devils – Ian Currie - via Zoom
Find out about 350 years of weather in the South-East from the editor of the Weather Eye magazine, Ian Currie, weatherman & fellow of the Royal Meteorological Society.
- March 13, 2025 - Andover Group: Members’ Evening - TBA
- March 19, 2025 - Ringwood Group: 2 Wars, 2 Wives - Jackie Depelle - via Zoom
A case study including 1st and 2nd World war years through research into the life and experience of a British civilian internee in Germany.
- March 20, 2025 - Winchester Group: Using Newspapers for Family Research - Denise Bates - via Zoom
- March 27, 2025 - Fareham Evening Group: Members’ Evening - TBA
- April 5, 2025 - International Group: [BST] Migration through the UK - Debbie Bradley
- April 8, 2025 - Fair Oak Group: Radio Times - John Pitman
- April 10, 2025 - Andover Group: A Tale of Transportation - Richard Backhouse
- April 10, 2025 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: Roelof Vlietstra, Engelandvaarder (England Voyager) – Martin Vlietstra, HGS group member + the Annual Branch Meeting
A very different war story about Martin’s father during WW2 and the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands.
- April 16, 2025 - Ringwood Group: Everything you wanted to know about Heraldry but were afraid to ask - Chris Broom via Zoom
- April 17, 2025 - Winchester Group: Womens Land Army - Dr John Lander
- May 7, 2025 - National Group: Family Photography: Past, Present and Future - Stephen Gill
- May 8, 2025 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: Archives Of The Commonwealth War Graves Commission – Gareth Berry of the CWGC
Using the CWGC archives for research and an exploration of the gems it contains.
- May 8, 2025 - Andover Group: Members’ Evening - Brickwalls
- May 13, 2025 - Fair Oak Group: Southampton: Slaughter, Water & Trade - Andrew Negus
- May 14, 2025 - Ringwood Group: 'We landed by moonlight': OE missions in WW2 - Henry Goodall Friends of New Forest Airfields
- May 15, 2025 - Winchester Group: A Wiltshire Wheelwrights - Duncan Eves
- June 4, 2025 - International Group: [BST] Portsmouth, A Literary and Pictorial Tour - Matt Wingett
- June 10, 2025 - Fair Oak Group: The Hatcher Brothers - Richard Backhouse
- June 12, 2025 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: The Sands Of Time: A Surrey Cottage from 1450 – Dr. Nicholas Dixon
Dr. Nicholas Dixon, member of the Association of Professional Genealogists, will share some remarkable insights into the history of south-east England from one seemingly insignificant cottage in Limpsfield.
- June 19, 2025 - Winchester Group: Portsmouth 3 (1870 - 1930) - Andrew Negus
- June 23, 2025 - Ringwood Group: Members' Visit to Hants Record Office
- July 2, 2025 - National Group: The hidden secrets of the 1939 National Register of England & Wales - Linda Hammond
The 1939 National Register of England & Wales is often likened to an additional census for England and Wales. Decode annotations, revealing family history insights, and master the art of discovering hidden secrets within the register.
- July 8, 2025 - Fair Oak Group: Ministering Angel - Jane Glennie
- July 10, 2025 - Fleet & Farnborough Group: A Tale Of Two Houses – By Their Deeds Be Known! – Carol Gomm, HGS member
The story of two houses in Fleet & how modest, 20th century houses can also have history.