Appointment of New President for the Guild of One-Name Studies.

The Trustees of the Guild of One-Name Studies are delighted to announce that we have appointed Howard Benbrook as the President of the Guild, taking over from the late Col (Ret) Iain Swinnerton.

Howard has held several volunteer posts with the Guild, including serving on the Committee as a Trustee and being Chairman.

He was for almost a decade, the very public face of the Guild, as Bookstall manager, he revolutionised the Guild’s approach to selling publications and engaging with both fellow genealogists and the public.

Howard represented the Guild at a significant amount of weekend events, both those offered by other societies and Guild organised seminars and conferences. He is also well known for his entertaining and engaging talks about the Guild and surnames. He has a wealth of knowledge about researching in London and is always willing to offer advice. Howard has undertaken many Marriage Challenges and pioneered the collection of Cardinal Points.

Howard was awarded the Master Craftsman of the Guild in 2010 in recognition for his contributions and dedication to the Guild and promotion of One-Name Studies. He served as a Vice President from 2011 – 2022. In accepting the position as President, Howard said,

It is a privilege to follow in the footsteps of the distinguished Iain Swinnerton.

Howard is planning to take an active role during his tenure and the Trustees very much look forward to working alongside Howard.

Howard’s one-name study is for the surname of Benbrook.