Guild Conference 2027

The following events will take place parallel to the main events in the main hall; these events will not be recorded. Some workshops are scheduled twice to give attendees a choice on which main event to see via recording so you can attend the workshop.  As space is limited in the side rooms delegates can pre-book a place on a workshop by emailing the Conference Team through conference-bookings@one-name.org.

Start	Finish		Event
Saturday 10th April
11.30	12.30	Preparing an Ancestor’s Timeline: a first step to writing up your family history. This is a practical session, so to get the most from it, you will need to do some preparation in advance. A hand-out will be sent to anyone who signs up for the session		Janet Few MCG	Havant
13:30	14.30	From lists to TNG via spreadsheets and GEDCOM: Part 1 will be explaining the background, showing showing how the macros work, explaining how to set them up and run them, and doing some demonstrations to illustrate how the results are stored in a Family History Programme (such as TNG) and answering questions.		Clive Boocock & Ian Tebbett	Chichester
14:30	15:30	Using DNA in a One Name Study		Michael Bliss	Chichester
Sunday 11th April
10.30	11.25	From lists to TNG via spreadsheets and GEDCOM: Part 2 is a practice session where attendees will have the opportunity to try out the software on their own data (or on a sample from us), with someone on hand to help and support. You will need to bring a suitable computer device loaded with Excel and any data you wish to experiment with. And you will need access to your Family History Programme of choice. Part 2 is only available to those that have attended Part 1 (but will run on two occasions to give maximum flexibility to decide which main room event to see on ‘catch up’ rather than attend).		Clive Boocock & Ian Tebbett	Chichester
11.30	12.25	From lists to TNG via spreadsheets and GEDCOM: Part 2 is a practice session where attendees will have the opportunity to try out the software on their own data (or on a sample from us), with someone on hand to help and support. You will need to bring a suitable computer device loaded with Excel and any data you wish to experiment with. And you will need access to your Family History Programme of choice. Part 2 is only available to those that have attended Part 1 (but will run on two occasions to give maximum flexibility to decide which main room event to see on ‘catch up’ rather than attend).		Clive Boocock & Ian Tebbett	Chichester
13.30	14.30	Preparing an Ancestor’s Timeline: a first step to writing up your family history. This is a practical session, so to get the most from it, you will need to do some preparation in advance. A hand-out will be sent to anyone who signs up for the session		Janet Few MCG	Havant

Our Speakers

Dr Frances Hurd is a historical researcher specialising in the social and emotional impact of the First World War. She has worked in academia, publishing and the heritage sector.

Diana Spoors grew up “earwigging” family conversations where much gossip and scandal were discussed. Thus ensued a lifelong fascination with the past and the intricacies of family relationships leading to a degree in history from Durham and, recently, the Family History Skills & Strategies Intermediate Certificate. Allegedly, Diana asked her mother to leave her the contents of her rag bag when she died.  This encouraged Diana’s interest in textiles, patterns, texture, design, usage and construction. Researching old textiles as part of a degree in textiles practice and as a volunteer at Jane Austen’s House has brought all her interests together in the telling of their stories.

Clive Boocock is a land surveyor with over fifty years’ experience at Ordnance Survey, working across national and international programmes in digital mapping, cadastral modernisation and geospatial data integration. He holds an MSc in Geographic Information Systems and previously served in the Royal Engineers Territorial Army, receiving the British Empire Medal in 1992. A member of the Guild of One‑Name Studies, Clive applies his surveying and GIS expertise to surname research and historical reconstruction. He also curates the OS People website, documenting the lives and careers of Ordnance Survey staff through detailed archival and genealogical investigation.

Sarah Pettyfer is a professional family, house, and local historian based in Surrey. She holds both the Higher Certificate and Diploma in Genealogy from the Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies (IHGS) and now serves as a tutor for the Higher Certificate course. She is the Chair of the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA). With a background as a family law solicitor, Sarah has a particular expertise in legal records, including deeds, Manorial Court records, and Chancery court proceedings. Sarah is also the author of ‘Tracing Your Surrey Ancestors: A Guide for Family Historians’ published by Pen & Sword.

Kelly Cornwell is a Professional Genealogist, Family History Tutor and Speaker, with over 25 years experience of researching family histories across the UK and Australia. With a special interest in Transported Convicts, Kelly has presented talks to a variety of family history societies and organisations, and has appeared as a guest on several podcasts. A graduate (with Distinction) of the Pharos Advanced Certificate, Kelly is a strong advocate for continuing professional development. She joined the team of PharosTutors in 2024, where she teaches several courses, in addition to being the Advanced Certificate Programme Mentor, and Webinar Programme Manager. A Council Member of AGRA, Kelly also volunteers as their Chair of Events.

Dr Penny Walters has been a Senior University lecturer for 30 years, teaching Business Studies. Penny’s interest in genealogy started after having her first child and then wondering about her biological parents, as she was adopted. Penny has six mixed race children, who have all enjoyed discovering their roots through DNA ethnicity results. Penny lectures internationally in-person including throughout America, the UK, Ireland, and Australia, writes articles; is sought after for a wide range of webinar topics, is a consultant on a variety of television and radio programmes, a cruise ship guest speaker and after-dinner speaker. Penny has authored the books: ‘Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy’ (2019), ‘The Psychology of Searching’ (2020) and ‘An Introduction to Starting a Family Tree Combined with DNA’ (2026).

Sally Gardiner has always been fascinated by history. A trip to Hampton Court, whilst at junior school, was probably the catalyst to a lifelong love of history… and to the Tudors! She dabbled in family history when she was in her teens but it wasn’t until she retired in 2009 that she was finally able to indulge time in researching ancestors’ lives – both hers and her husband’s families. She joined a local u3a genealogy group to learn “how to do it” and 17 years later she now runs that group. She describes herself as an “enthusiastic amateur” who enjoys sharing the knowledge gained over the years.

Jeremy Wilkes has been engaged in genealogical research since the 1960s, graduated as a Bachelor of Laws in 1974 and was admitted as a solicitor in 1977. He became a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Arbitrators in 1996 and gained the Diploma in Genealogy in 1999. He still practises part-time as a solicitor and has given a few genealogical talks and contributed articles to journals. While intellectual property work has never formed a large part of his practice, copyright has interested him ever since his schooldays.

Dr Ian Tebbett has a degree and a doctorate in Civil and Structural Engineering and his early career was spent in the research and design of onshore and offshore structures, often in overseas locations working for and with major US and UK companies. With the increasing use of computers in engineering design, Ian migrated towards managing the computer tools and the businesses that were using them, including roles as Chief Information Officer in public and private sectors. In 2005 he moved to Hampshire, taking a senior management role at the University of Southampton, then Monash University in Melbourne, Australia and finally King’s College London. He retired in 2019 to spend less time travelling and more time on his T*BB*TT(S) One Name Study!

Donna Rutherford is a UK-based genetic genealogist specialising in autosomal DNA analysis and solving complex family history questions. She combines traditional research with modern DNA tools and emerging AI techniques to help clients and students make sense of their results. Donna delivers talks across the UK, Ireland, Australia, and New Zealand, and writes regularly for genealogy magazines. Known for her clear, practical presentation style, she focuses on demystifying DNA and giving family historians the confidence to use genetic evidence effectively in their research.

Dr Janet Few MCG is a well-known family and social historian, author and educator. She has spoken to audiences across the English-speaking world. She holds a post-graduate certificate in Experimental Archaeology and Material Culture and has her own website where she preserves her own memories and tells the stories of family heirlooms www.grannystales.co.uk/ . Janet also encourages people to write their autobiographies and runs a Biography Club for the Society of Genealogists. Her book ‘Remember Then: Women’s memories of 1946-1969 and how to write your own’, was a result of eighty women working with her to tell their own stories.

Michael Bliss is a retired senior manager from British Telecom. He discovered genealogy in 1998, firstly building his family tree, with much travel in England and the Netherlands, then becoming involved with the Society of Genealogists and joining the Guild. He then took over the Bliss one-name study for several years, including involvement with the Federation of Family History Societies and several local Family History Societies. More recently he took a DNA test and was so fascinated with the extensive results, that he passed over the Bliss study to concentrate on DNA test results. He has read several books on the subject and attended many presentations by experts. He understands that most people who have taken DNA tests are overwhelmed by their results and he is working to find a way of processing the information to enable more people to process their own test results and the possible use of them for one-name studies.

Dave Annal is a professional researcher with over 40 years’ experience and a former Principal Family History Specialist with the National Archives. In 2019 he was awarded a Fellowship of the Society of Genealogists and in 2022 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Historical Society. Dave has written a number of family history books including the bestselling beginner’s guide ‘Easy Family History’ and Pen & Sword’s ‘Birth, Marriage & Death Records’ (with Audrey Collins) and, with Peter Christian, he is the co-author of ‘Census: the Family Historian’s Guide’. He is also a regular contributor to Family Tree Magazine where he runs the Family Tree Academy. Dave has been researching his own family history since the mid-1970s and he hasn’t finished yet!