About the Speaker

Else Churchill

Else Churchill is the Genealogist at the Society of Genealogists in London. Formerly a professional genealogical librarian and researcher, Else has worked for the SoG since 1994. She is the Society’s subject lead, working across the organisation and runs the publishing programme. She was the recipient of the IHGS Julian Bickersteth Memorial Medal in 2023 for her exemplary contribution to family history studies.

About the

Susan Steel

Sue Steel started researching her family history twenty years ago in 2006 just by using the internet. Not long after deciding she had no idea what she was doing, Sue took an Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies (IHGS) on-line course. In 2013, she passed their Higher Certificate in Genealogy. In 2014 until 2019, she first of all became an Associate Member of IHGS and then a professional researcher. 

Sue's new hobby in 2006, had sort of taken off and become her passion and an obsession. Sue loves undertaking research and has learnt so much and made so many good friends. Although now, she keeps her research firmly within her family (well most of the time). Sue is the current Chair of Bradford Family History Society; President of Bradford Historical & Antiquarian Society (until November); Secretary of FOBALS (Friends of Bradford Archives & Local Studies); Vice-Chair of the Yorkshire Group of Family History Societies and a volunteer at Saltaire Collection, the archives for Saltaire Mill & Village.

About the Speaker

Fiona Marshall

Fiona Marshall has been a professionally qualified archivist for 10 years. Working as the archivist at the Bradford office of the West Yorkshire Archive Service, Fiona helps members of the public research their family history in the rich collections of the Bradford district.

About the Speaker

Angela Speight

Angela Speight is a Local Studies & Archive Assistant at Keighley Local Studies Library & Archives. She has a degree in History with Archaeology from the University of Wales, Bangor, and an MA in Archaeology from the University of Leicester. Angela has contributed to several publications including articles for The Bradford Antiquary and Bronte Society Gazette.  Her research interests include genealogy, the history of Keighley and its people, and the Brontës and their connections with the local area.

About the Speaker

Shane Ewen

Professor Shane Ewen is a specialist in urban history and public engagement at Leeds Beckett University. He is also co-editor of the Urban History journal published by Cambridge University Press and the author of three books, including What is Urban History? (Polity Press, 2015).

About the Speaker

Jude Rhodes

Jude Rhodes is Chair of the British Association for Local History Outreach Team.

She is a professional genealogist gaining the Advanced Certificate in Family History Skills and Strategies through Pharos Tutors and the Society of Genealogists. 

About the Speaker

Paula Aucott

Dr Paula Aucott is a Senior Research Associate at the University of Portsmouth, her research interests include historical Geographical Information Systems (GIS), historical land use and medieval landscapes. She works with Humphrey Southall, they have been working together on the Great Britain Historical GIS project for over twenty years, and have been invited to present their research findings around the world. The main public interface to their work is the highly successful local history website A Vision of Britain through Time, which they continue to maintain and update.

About the Speaker

Humphrey Southall

Humphrey Southall is a Professor of Historical Geography at the University of Portsmouth, he is an expert on the History of the North-South divide in Britain, gazetteers and geospatial ontologies and the role of travellers in the development of political life. He works with Dr Paula Aucott, they have been working together on the Great Britain Historical GIS project for over twenty years, and have been invited to present their research findings around the world. The main public interface to their work is the highly successful local history website A Vision of Britain through Time, which they continue to maintain and update.