Dr Sophie Kay awarded John Burt Bursary from AGRA

From AGRA (www.agra.org.uk) in England:

AGRA PRESS RELEASE: AGRA ANNOUNCES THE RECIPIENT OF THE INAUGURAL AWARD OF THE JOHN BURT BURSARY

Following the announcement last year that AGRA had instituted an annual bursary award in memory of Associate Dr John Burt (see https://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/2021/10/agra-creates-bursary-in-memory-of.html), we are delighted to reveal the first bursary under the scheme has been awarded to Associate Dr Sophie Kay (pictured). She will use the money towards funding her studies with the IHGS.

Dr John Burt was an Associate of AGRA, based in Scotland. His sudden death last year came as a great shock to all at AGRA. His enthusiasm and willingness to help made a huge impact on the organisation and all his colleagues. Well-loved and much respected in both the medical and genealogical communities, AGRA wished to recognise his work in the form of an annual bursary. This £250 award is made to an AGRA Associate progressing to full membership. It goes towards the expenses of furthering their genealogical education.

Dr Sophie Kay, this year’s bursary award winner, said: “I’m honoured to have been chosen as the inaugural recipient of AGRA’s John Burt Bursary.”

“I never had the chance to meet John, but I do know he was held in high esteem by so many in our family history research community.”

“I’m keen to do justice to this generous award in his name through my studies for the IHGS Higher Certificate in Genealogy.”

“My thanks to AGRA for this wonderful support in my professional development.”

Congratulations from all at AGRA to Sophie on her achievement.Applications from Associates for the next award will need to be submitted by 31 December 2022. AGRA will issue details in due course.

(With thanks to Jane Roberts at AGRA)

Chris

My new book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records is now available to buy at https://bit.ly/IrishLandRecords. Also available - Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

AGRA podcast on researching Liverpool ancestors

AGRA (www.agra.org.uk) has released a podcast looking at researching Liverpool ancestry, which may be of interest to readers who Irish ancestors migrated to the city:

RESEARCHING LIVERPOOL ANCESTORS

Take some time out from the seasonal festivities and the 1921 Census build up to listen to AGRA’s latest monthly podcast, all about researching Liverpool ancestors. Available from the 1 January 2022, three of AGRA’s professional genealogists – Sharon Grant, Rachel Rick and Grace Tabern – will talk you through some of the records, resources and strategies for researching your family history in this historically and culturally unique city.

With its rich history so intertwined with the lives of those who lived there, or passed through its port, the location lends itself to a fascinating, multi-stranded ancestral research journey. Liverpool became a colourful melting pot of immigrants from Ireland and North Wales, as well as having strong connections with the slave trade, and developing into a centre formigration. Its growth from a fishing village to a major shipping and trading hub, with the attendant population increase, industrial growth, varied occupations, and demographic span from extreme poverty to incredible wealth, all provides a rich canvas for family history research.

In a discussion moderated by AGRA genealogist Nick Serpell, our three experts with years of experience of research in this city, will guide you through all the intricacies. 

To acess the podcast visit https://www.agra.org.uk/podcasts.

(With thanks to Jane Roberts)

Chris

My new book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records is now available to buy at https://bit.ly/IrishLandRecords. Also available - Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

AGRA creates bursary in memory of Scottish genealogist Dr. John Burt

From the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (www.agra.org.uk) in England:

AGRA PRESS RELEASE: THE DR JOHN BURT BURSARY FOR AGRA ASSOCIATES

Dr John Burt was an Associate of AGRA, who made a great impact with his enthusiasm and willingness to get involved. His sudden death earlier this year came as a great shock to all his colleagues, who very much wished to find a way of remembering him and his contribution to AGRA and to genealogy. We are therefore pleased to announce that Council has decided to institute an annual bursary award of £250 in his memory. This is to be payable to an AGRA Associate progressing to full membership, and will go towards the expenses of furthering their genealogical education.

Antony Marr, AGRA Chair, said: “John made a tremendous contribution to both AGRA and the wider genealogy world. We are all saddened at his death.

“This bursary is a fitting tribute to John, providing a lasting legacy to his passion for furthering genealogical knowledge.”

Dr. John Burt, M.B., Ch.B., B.A., Cert. Archaeol., M.Sc., F.S.A.Scot., Q.G., was a retired general medical practitioner. Known as Jack by family and friends, he followed in his father's footsteps working for nearly 30 years as a local GP in Dunfermline, Fife, Scotland. Educated at Edinburgh Academy and obtaining his medical qualifications at the University of Aberdeen, John was a keen climber having reached the summit of all the Munros in Scotland and even gained a Blue Peter badge as a child.

He had a passion and huge knowledge of military medals which he had been collecting since childhood. Researching the men named on Fife War Memorials enabled him to give knowledgeable talks on the First World War – a war both of his grandfathers had fought in and survived.

John loved researching and learning and relished the challenge of tackling a new project. He published a book on Pictish stones in the 1990s which remains the only work of its kind to date.

Following his retirement from medical practice he gained an M.Sc. in Genealogy, Palaeography and Heraldry with the University of Strathclyde. Researching the case notes of individuals in Roxburgh District Asylum for his dissertation enabled him to write two books for genealogists and historians on mental health in nineteenth century Britain, which were published by Pen & Sword History: 'Lunatics, Imbeciles and Idiots: A History of Insanity in Nineteenth Century Britain and Ireland' (2017) and 'Madness, Murder and Mayhem: Criminal Insanity in Victorian and Edwardian Britain (2018).

John endeavoured to make a positive difference to the lives of others through his work and research and was well-loved and much respected by both the medical and genealogy communities. It is therefore fitting this bursary will go towards making a positive difference to genealogists. 

(With thanks to Jane Roberts)

Chris

My new book Tracing Your Irish Ancestors Through Land Records is now available to buy at https://bit.ly/IrishLandRecords. Also available - Sharing Your Family History Online, Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed), and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records - to purchase, please visit https://bit.ly/ChrisPatonPSbooks. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.

AGRA to host monthly family history question events

From the English and Welsh based organisation AGRA, the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (www.agra.org.uk):

An AGRA first – ASK AGRA: Family History Question Time podcast project

The Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives, the association representing professional genealogists in England and Wales,has announced their latest development a series of podcasts to be streamed via the www.agra.org.ukwebsite - Ask AGRA – Family History Question Time.

This initiative has been developed in response to the COVIDpandemic. Many consumers took the opportunity to begin researching their family history during the lockdown, but the closure of archives and cancellation of family history fairs and events has presented challenges which normally our members would help to resolve. Now, the free AGRA podcasts will be available to all, the first series of six to be made available monthly from 1st September 2020. AGRA members will form panels of experts in discussions led by Moderators such as Sarah Williams of Who Do You Think You Are? and Helen Tovey of Family Tree magazine. Some well-known authors and experts in their field will be adding their voices to the discussions including Gill Blanchard, Dr. Geoff Swinfield, Les Mitchinson and Simon Fowler,to name but a few.

The six themes will be as follows, broadcast on the 1st of each month:

1. House Histories - September
2. Ancestral research – getting started including understanding BMD and Census records - October
3. Research before 1837 - November
4. Military research including British service in India - December
5. DNA testing and use in conjunction with genealogical research - January 2021
6. Using land records such as maps and tithe maps to further research - February 2021

Sharon Grant, Chair of AGRA commented “AGRA is excited to announce this new initiative which demonstrates our commitment to finding new ways of working in these times of crisis. Our members have always been available at the various family history events to give advice to members of the public. We miss that, and we know you do too. This is an opportunity for you to access the extensive expertise and knowledge of our members from the safety of your own home. Get your questions in now!”.

The first in the series will go live on September 1st 2020 at https://www.agra.org.uk/podcasts. Members of the public are invited to submit general questions about the subjects to ask the panel on the above themes at Askagra@agra.org.uk.

(With thanks to Sharon Grant at AGRA)

Chris

My next 5 week Scottish Research Online course starts August 31st - see https://www.pharostutors.com/details.php?coursenumber=102. My book Tracing Your Scottish Family History on the Internet, at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scottish2 is now out, also available are Tracing Your Irish Family History on the Internet (2nd ed) at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Irish1 and Tracing Your Scottish Ancestry Through Church and State Records at http://bit.ly/ChrisPaton-Scotland1. Further news published daily on The Scottish GENES Facebook page, and on Twitter @genesblog.