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Guild of One-Name Studies

One-name studies, Genealogy

Is your surname here?

    • 2,404 members
    • 2,255 studies
    • 8,035 surnames

Guild Conference

The Guild 45th Annual Conference 2024

“Crossing Borders”

Holiday Inn Newport, The Coldra, Newport, NP18 2YG, South Wales

19th – 21st April 2024

** Off-line booking is now open (and on-line booking will open shortly) **

Newport is a gateway for discovering south Wales, whether you want to catch rugby matches and concerts at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium or explore stunning countryside such as the Wye Valley. The Caerleon Roman Fortress and Baths, just 2 miles away, provide a fascinating insight into local history, and the medieval ruins of Tintern Abbey are also within easy reach. Other local attractions include Tredegar House (National Trust), St Fagans National Museum of History and Big Pit National Coal Museum at Pontypool.

The IHG Holiday Inn Newport is set in woodland but just 1 minute off junction 24 of the M4 and less than an hour by car to both Cardiff (CWL) and Bristol (BRS) airports. Newport station on the main line from London Paddington (1 hour 35) to Cardiff and Swansea is just 4 miles (10 minutes) away.

Please note that the Guild Trustees have decided to arrange a virtual AGM in 2024 separate from the annual conference.

We look forward to seeing you there!

The organising team:

Margaret Southgate, Sue Thornton-Grimes, Jean-Marc Bazzoni

Twitter #GuildConf2024

Main Programme

Friday 19th April 2024

13.30 onwards Guild Conference Registration opens
13:00 – 17:00 Opportunity to self-visit local attractions such as
Tredegar House, Caerleon, Big Pit, St Fagans, Castell Coch
14:30 – 15:30 Big Y Helpdesk
David Stedman (8456, Stedman associate)
15:00 onwards Hotel check-in available
15:45 – 16:45 Have you overlooked something? Under-appreciated sources for your ONS
Paul Howes (4836 Howes)
17:00 – 17:20 Introduction to the Conference for First-Timers
Sue Thornton-Grimes (5588 Caisley)
17:30 – 18:45 Buffet supper
19:00 Welcome to Wales Croeso i Gymru
(TBA)
20:15 The Quiz
Alan Moorhouse MCG (2307 Farmery)

Saturday 20th April 2024

07:00 – 09:00 Breakfast
09:20 – 09:25 Welcome to the Conference 2024
Howard Benbrook MCG, President
09:30 – 10:30 Exploring Gwent Archives: An Introduction
Rhiannon Phillips Education and Outreach Archivist, Archifau Gwent Archives
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee
11:00 – 12:00 The Welsh Settlement in Patagonia
Prof E Wyn James Emeritus Professor, School of Welsh, Cardiff University
12:00 – 13:20 Lunch
13:20 – 14:20 The Chartist Scarecrows – South Wales and the Millbank Penitentiary
Ray Stroud local historian and author, Six Points Publishing
14:20 – 14:30 Comfort break
14:30 – 15:30 Becoming Welsh – Shifting boundaries and immigration to Wales
Jenni Phillips Professional Genealogist, Glamorgan FHS (Chair of Cardiff branch)
15:30 – 16:00 Tea
16:00 – 17:00 The Peace Petition from the Women of Wales to the Women of America 1923-24
Catrin Stevens Historian, author, Peace Petition Partnership, Women’s Archive Wales
19:00 – 19:30 Reception
19:30 Banquet, followed by
LONDON BRIDGE and GOLDEN ORB – Reflections on a funeral and a coronation
Peter O’Donoghue MA, FSA, York Herald and Guild Patron (7526)

Sunday 21st April 2024

07:00 – 09:00 Breakfast
08:45 – 09:15 Act of Worship
09:30 – 10:30 Tips, Tools and Techniques for your one-name study
Guild member led individual round table discussions, problem solving and knowledge sharing
10:30 – 11:00 Coffee
11:00 – 12:00 Migration: Internal, Immigration and Emigration – tracking that elusive ancestor
Dr Colin Chapman MA, FSG Vice President SOG, author, lecturer, genealogist
12:00 – 13:20 Lunch
Networking for Regional Representatives
13:20 – 14:20 Ancient DNA
Diane Brook archaeologist and family historian
14:20 – 14:30 Comfort break
14:30 – 15:30 A Scattering of Seeds
Geraldine Charles FIBIS (Families in British India Society) trustee 
15:30 – 15:35 Close of Conference
15:35 – 16:00 Tea

Booking details for the Conference

We look forward to seeing you there!

Prices for the Conference and details for booking extra nights before or after the Conference are be on the online booking form¹. You can pay in full on booking or just a £75.00 per person deposit; an email with a request for payment of any balance will be sent to you prior to the Early Bird (January 31st 2024) or Full Rate (March 10th 2024) booking closing dates.  For easy payment terms please ask.

You will be able to pay

  • by direct bank transfer through your bank, quoting the reference number given on the form
  • by Direct Debit (UK, Eurozone, Sweden & Australia only)
  • via PayPal or credit/debit card
  • by filling in the booking form online, printing it and sending it through the post with your cheque to Alan Moorhouse, address below

Alternatively, you can download the booking form flyer, which can be printed, filled-in, and posted, with a cheque (or credit card details) to:

Alan R Moorhouse, Guild Conference Booking 2024, 8 Strachans Close, Stroud, Gloucestershire GL5 3EB.

Information on the process for booking rooms before (Thursday night) or after (Sunday night) are available here.

Details about visit options before or after the conference are available here.

For any further details or queries about the conference please contact the Conference Organiser, or telephone the Guild HelpDesk on 0800 011 2182.


¹Please note, when booking on a conference either by post or online, the Guild’s Distance Selling terms and conditions apply (please specifically see section 20).

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Other Guild Websites

You may find our other Guild websites of interest:

  • Members’ Websites Program
  • Surname Cloud
  • Guild Members’ records on FamilySearch
  • Guild Marriage Locator

Contact Us

Email: Guild General Contact
Postal address:
c/o Treasurer,
3 Windsor Gardens,
Herne Bay,
Kent, CT6 8FE. UK.
Call us free on:
UK: 0800 011 2182
US & Canada: 1-800-647-4100
Australia: 1800 305 184

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