Welcome to the Limebrook Family History Group web page. My name is Chris Stringer, and I have been overseeing the Family History Group since 2011, when Limebrook U3A was established. Our group has grown to encompass 16 members divided into two sessions held on the same day each month—one at 10:30 AM and the other at 2:30 PM. Please refer to the newsletter for specific dates. As both groups cover the same topics, members will be assigned to either the morning or afternoon session, with the flexibility to change times if space permits.

At each monthly meeting, a notice board will display details of the subjects being covered and the dates of upcoming meetings. This information will also be available in the monthly newsletter.

Meetings are conducted on the fourth Wednesday of each month at my residence in Bicknacre during the winter months (September to June), allowing for outdoor activities during the summer. If there is any change in the schedule, all group members will be notified via email.

No prior knowledge of family history is required; however, access to a computer or laptop is necessary as most records and indexes are now available online. I am available to assist anyone who requires help using computers for genealogical research.

Ancestry.co.uk and FindMyPast are subscription websites that can be accessed for free at https://www.essexrecordoffice.co.uk/. A Readers Ticket is needed to access the Search Room, but it is free and can be obtained online or at the record office. Essex Libraries have at least one computer available, though reservations may be necessary.

The website https://www.familysearch.org/en/united-kingdom/ offers free access to extensive worldwide information. Further resources include The National Archives and numerous local record offices, including our own Essex Society for Family History..