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As 2023 drew to a close, one of the sadder notes was the closure of the Catholic Family History Society. Founded in 1983 the society's objective was to encourage those with Catholic ancestry to research their family history in England, Wales and Scotland. During its 40 year history, the society accumulated a substantial collection of research material. Read on to find out what has become of this valuable collection.

...but I didn't have the Latin for the judgin'.

So, I became a family historian, but is my lack of Latin still a problem? Well, yes and no. You can get a long way with a few key words and even further with a new online friend.

Find out how.

When a stranger dies,
In your neighbourhood,
Who you gonna call?

...no, not them ... try the council's Funeral Officer.

(With apologies to Ray Parker Jun.)

Saturday, 10^th June 2023, a beautiful summer’s day and I took the tram to Oldham, an earlier tram than usual ⁽¹⁾ as I wanted to look around the town, see more than just the Oldham Central Metrolink Stop, and explore Oldham’s history – what better opportunity would I have than a day when the hot sun and clear skies brought every brick and stone building to colourful, vibrant life?

It is between the wars and you are dining in a William Morris style dining room with oak panelled walls, stained glass panels, murals and stylish furniture? Perhaps you are a wealthy businessman who can afford to dine in style on company expenses? Perhaps it is a special occasion. No, you are an ordinary working man and dine there frequently. Welcome to the Clarion cafe.

On Monday 17 October 2022, Warrant Officer Rodney Wallace of the Royal Australian Air Force unveiled a new war memorial in Walton Park, Sale to commemorate the crew of a Wellington Bomber, which crashed in the park in 1943. The memorial, a granite plinth, with a polished marble panel, was installed largely as the result of the efforts of George Cogswell, a local historian and a member of this society.

The air crew of the bomber were five members of the Royal Australian Air Force and one member of the Royal Air Force.

 Please Tune Your Radio Sets… It is 1922 and the BBC is coming to a set near you…

Happy anniversary to the BBC[i]! Now, readers[ii], if you wouldn’t mind just moving a comfortable chair next to your radio set and ensuring that you can tune in easily and quickly to 400, 425 and 450 metres, ask your wife to be sure to have dinner ready early and have the children settled so that you and your family will not be interrupted during this inaugural broadcast.

For many families 1921 was a year of mixed blessings; there was the relief of a slow return to 'normal' life in peacetime, but there were also decisions to be made about remembering the menfolk who did not return from the war.