From Sussex to San Giusto - the last journey of a reluctant Carlist

The Speaker is Christopher Whittick DL, MA, FSA, FRHistS -  a Trustee of FoTKA.

Christopher read law at Worcester College, Oxford, thereafter qualifying as an archivist in 1975. He joined East Sussex Record Office in 1977, working as Senior Archivist. In 2016 he became  East Sussex County Archivist until 2019.

Christopher has a particular interest in medieval crime and administration, and in the application of archives to the study of standing buildings.

He has had an academic career, the depth and breadth of which speaks for itself:

writing many entries for the Oxford Dictionary of National Biography, and authoring books on East Sussex artist Eric Ravilious, and many other subjects.

His edition (with Ian Forrest) of the episcopal visitation of Hereford Diocese in 1397 was published by the Canterbury and York Society in 2021.

Christopher has taught palaeography throughout England and Wales. He has been associated with many societies, including Sussex Archaeological Society, Wealden Iron Research Group, and the Royal Historical Society.

He was appointed as a Deputy Lieutenant of the County of East Sussex in 2017.

The Talk No attempt to paraphrase Christopher’s talk can do justice to a tale that begins in 19C Spain; explores the intricacies of heredity and clash of cultures of the Spanish Royal Family; visits England and ends in Trieste. Christopher will guide us on this journey with academic thoroughness, engaging detail and not a little humour!

Using Census Records

Uckfield Meeting Centre

This month we have a members evening and we will be looking at Census Records.   Bob Cairns will present an introduction to records up to 1911 and Hilary Smith will talk about the 1921 Census and the 1939 Register.   As usual, members are invited to share their own experiences during the evening.

Along with Birth, Death and Marriage certificates, the Censuses form a cornerstone of modern family history research i.e. post 1840/

The Colour of Heraldry

Worthing Meeting Centre

Heraldry can be found all around us, if you know where to look. It could be described as the shorthand of history, depicting the stories of Royalty, Noble families, Organisations, Governments and ordinary people in vivid and colourful displays.

The illustrated talk will provide an introduction to the basics, the minimal number of rules to be followed and include examples of Sussex Heraldry, personal, corporate and civic, including the origin of the Sussex Martlet

The Speaker is the Chairman of the White Lion Society who are the’ friends’ group for HM College of Arms. He has been a fan of Heraldry since a schoolboy.