Midland Ancestors

Heraldry Group Meeting
2026-10-27 19:00 - 21:00, 2026-11-24 19:00 - 21:00 (Europe/London) | Birmingham & Midland Institute – Kingsley Norris Room, 9 Margaret Street, Birmingham, West Midlands, B3 3BS, United Kingdom
Why not come along and learn how to interpret the various coats of arms in stained glass windows, church monuments, etc, and discover who married who, together with their family history.

Wolverhampton: The Eccentric Dr Butler
2026-10-28 19:30 - 21:15 | Wolverhampton, The Terry Harding Room, Perton Civic Centre, Church Road, Perton,, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, WV6 7PD, United Kingdom
Join us to hear Cannock Museum’s volunteer and historical researcher for an informative talk and presentation along with items from the museum collections. Dr. Butler, a well known local figure, kept a menagerie of animals and could be seen out and about around Cannock and Hednesford in his zebra drawn trap. Find out what fate befell his fiancee, a circus performer and hear what happened to his pet elephant.
Presenter: Spencer Houghton

Members and visitors are welcome to join the Wolverhampton group for this entertaining presentation.
Doors open at 7.15 p.m. for a 7.30 p.m. meeting start.

Kenilworth: "A Private War"
2026-11-11 19:30 - 21:30 | Kenilworth Centre, Abbey End, Kenilworth, Cv8 1QJ, Abbey End, Kenilworth, CV8 1QJ, United Kingdom
A Private War: The Diaries of Frederick George Draper 1939-1945

Speaker: Carol Draper
Carol’s father kept a journal throughout his WW2 service, a first-hand account of a young man’s experiences of war. He was conscripted as a Private in the Royal Leicestershire Regiment and travelled through Egypt, Trans Jordan, Libya, Ceylon, India and finally as a Chindit in Burma, never returning home in five years. His diaries remained hidden for 80 years, but Carol has discovered them and published in 2023 a book based on them. Illustrated with his photographs, the talk has more local interest for us, as he was demobbed to the Budbrooke Barracks in Warwick, and eventually became parts manager for the Donald Healey Motor Company in Warwick.
Carol will bring some copies of the book in case anyone would like to buy one.

Wolverhampton: Christmas Presentation
2026-11-25 19:30 - 21:15 | Wolverhampton, The Terry Harding Room, Perton Civic Centre, Church Road, Perton,, Wolverhampton, Staffordshire, WV6 7PD, United Kingdom
Join the Wolverhampton group for its last meeting of 2026 when we will enjoy a social gathering, with light refreshments, and a Christmas themed presentation.
Details of the presentation will be announced nearer to the event.
Members and visitors always welcome.

Stourbridge Group - Clive of India
2026-12-15 19:30 - 21:00 | Wollaston Room, Stourbridge Library, Stourbridge, Dy8 1YE
Clive of India
Speaker: Max Keen

Robert Clive(29 September 1725 – 22 November 1774)
At Madras, Clive was moody and quarrelsome; he attempted suicide and once fought a duel. He found solace in the governor’s library, where he virtually educated himself.
Find out how he grew from tearaway youth to empire builder: the facts, figures, battles, personalities and good old British derring-do presented by Max dressed the part!
Its time to take on the East India Trading Company with the armaments of humour, tongue-in-cheekiness all wrapped up in an attempt to put the record straight!
Background
Robert Clive, 1st Baron Clive (29 September 1725 – 22 November 1774), also known as Clive of India, was the first British Governor of the Bengal Presidency.
Clive has been widely credited for laying the foundation of the British East India Company (EIC) rule in Bengal. He began as a “writer” (the term used then in India for an office clerk) for the EIC in 1744, however after being caught up in military action during the fall of Madras, Clive joined the EIC’s private army.
Clive rapidly rose through the military ranks of the EIC and was eventually credited with establishing Company rule in Bengal by winning the Battle of Plassey in 1757.
When Clive left India in January 1767 he had a fortune of £401,102 (equivalent to £67,900,000 in 2023) which he remitted through the Dutch East India Company.

Stourbridge & Black Country Group
2027-01-23 14:00 - 16:00, 2027-03-27 14:00 - 16:00, 2027-05-18 19:30 - 21:00, 2027-11-16 19:30 - 21:00 | Stourbridge, St. Peter's Church Hall, Pedmore, West Midlands, DY9 0SW, United Kingdom
TBA

Stourbridge & Black Country Group - TBA
2027-02-27 14:00 - 16:00, 2027-04-20 19:30 - 21:00, 2027-09-21 19:30 - 21:00, 2027-10-19 08:00 - 17:00 | Stourbridge, St. Peter's Church Hall, Pedmore, West Midlands, DY9 0SW, United Kingdom

Stourbridge & Black Country Group
2027-08-21 10:30 - 15:30 | Stourbridge, St. Peter's Church Hall, Pedmore, West Midlands, DY9 0SW, United Kingdom
Research Day
