October 2024 Journal
The October 2024 journal is now on-line and is available to members, who should log on and select Journals through the Members' Area. 
New Society Chairman
Bob Knightley is our new Chairman
At the Society’s Annual General Meeting held on Saturday 21 st September it was announced that our Chairman David Weaver was stepping down from the role after 16 years. He was thanked for the many years of service that he has given to WFHS.
During his period of office he oversaw our move to the Resource Centre where our library, stock of our publications and our research facilities are based. He along with Cy Cutler and Barbara Fuller were appointed Vice-Presidents of the Society.
Sadly our two other Vice-Presidents, John Hurley and Glenys Bettley have both recently died. Jerry King has rejoined the Executive Committee. He was the Chairman from 2005 to 2008.
Bob Knightley was elected as our new Chairman at the Executive Committee meeting held on September 24 th . Bob joined WFHS in 2016 when he and his wife Lindsey moved to Devizes. Neither of them have Wiltshire ancestors but they have been actively researching their genealogy since the mid 1980s. Bob joined the Executive Committee in 2019 and has been Chairman of the Finance Committee for the last 3 years. He also deals with orders for our publications.
The Society’s Annual Report and Accounts for the year ending 31March 2024 were presented at the AGM. The report can be found in the Member’s Area of this website.
Advice Sessions
We are soon to start a joint venture with the History Centre at Chippenham to support the family historians who approach the Centre for help. Their archive staff are the experts when it comes to the documents in their care, but they recognise that their knowledge of family history practice and sources is more limited. Hence an appeal to us to help, which we have gladly answered!
From 5th July, volunteers will be in the History Centre on the first Wednesday each month to see enquirers by appointment or to answer questions from casual callers and to help the Centre staff with family history emails. The History Centre is the first port of call for enquiries and will be making appointments for the service.
Will a monthly session be sufficient to meet demand? We don’t know! But if there is a greater need from the community, we would be keen to expand this venture. So, if you live within reach of the History Centre at Chippenham and feel you would like to share your knowledge of how to research family history with new starters or help someone break down their brick wall, please contact me, Jenny Pope at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.
