Durban & Coastal Newsletters

"This edition has a write up on the talk given by Linda Ireland on the Preservation of old documents;  there are the usual updates on our Library and our Stellawood Cemetery project;  the world's oldest calendar is found in a Scottish field; an extract taken from William Lister's diary on his voyage to Natal in 1850;  the existence of the Durban Bank from 1862 to 1877 ..... and more"

This edition is full of advice on how best to use Google in your research;  the 50 best solutions to breaking down "brick walls";  an article on Port Shepstone lighthouse.  Our trip down memory lane includes Addington Hospital and a "Welcome to Durban" pamphlet from WWll.

"The latest newsletter gives feedback on our trip to St John the Baptist Church Cemetery in Pinetown, and also the talk given on the Killie Campbell Africana Museum, Durban, by their Senior Archivist, Emily Krige.  There is an update on the Stellawood Cemetery project - and the importance of the work of recording headstones and plaques while we are still able to!!  Newly-discovered food recipes from a 12th century Durham Priory manuscript have been found to pre-date the earliest known ones by 150 years ...  Who remembers the Sunderland flying boats based in Durban ...   and much more..."   

This newsletter includes the good news that the photographing of Stellawood Cemetery is back on track.  We welcome 2 new little "buds" to two family trees. There's an article on how many words and expressions crept into our everyday language from WW1;  also a report on a wonderful talk given by Jayne Moir on the lonely Anglo-Boer War graves on St Helena  ... and more.

In this newsletter there is an article on our visit to Mariannhill Monastery in December 2012.  A fascinating and interesting experience, and we saw a "Samarian" coin, dated as being from 300 BC!   There is Local News which features our Chairman, Dave Honour, and National News which talks about the closure of Ancestry24.  As usual there is a list of interesting websites, then an article on how to prune your family tree followed by hints and tips on how to get the best out of your research.  We close with a proposed list of topics for our monthly meetings,  and a rather "suspect" list of New Year's Resolutions!!

"For the final newsletter for 2012, there are articles on other Christmas traditions, and a newspaper report of Christmas in Cape Town in 1859.  There are reports on our last 3 monthly meetings, about the History of the Rickshaw in Durban,  A Trip to the New Germany Nature Reserve (and the first German settlers in Natal),  and a Personal Research meeting at which Bonita Bricknall demonstrated how to get the best results from www.familysearch.org and the new Family Tree link, plus how to order certificates online.  There is a list of helpful and interesting websites, an article on Divorce Records in SA,  some Genealogy Humour, and a Genealogical Crossword puzzle to close the year."

"This edition tells how Durban has its very own castle - Coedmore Castle, in the Stainbank Reserve;  there is a write-up on July's talk on Researching.
WW1 History, given by our Chairman, Dave Honour;  a small item on the Marburg Norwegian Settlers;  news that the national Heritage Council is prepared to undertake the upkeep and repair of some of our War Graves; interesting websites and a couple of hints. "

This edition contains a tribute to Delyse Brown who was a very special associate at the Durban and Coastal branch.  Other articles include "A Japanese submarine and flying boat offensive off the Zululand Coast",  help in deciphering old handwriting from around the 1600s,  interesting websites,  a very pertinent question asked by one of our members,  our trip down 'Memory Lane',  and could London be France's 6th largest city?

"Heraldry - correcting some popular misconceptions, and a description of the South African National Coat of Arms;   more on the Stellawood Cemetery project;  a memorial to the war horses lost in the Boer War has been erected near Mooi River;  learn what life was like as a settler;  Queen Elizabeth ll's connections with South Africa;  a photographic trip down memory lane - Durban of the past.... and more"

A potpourie of news items and announcements. An item on the Cornish Pioneers is included as well as the Irish Calender.

The history of the Durban Harbour unfolds in an interseting article that brings back memories of yesteryear