Ten years ago I was diagnosed with cancer and underwent surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy. During my treatment I received a great deal of advice, emotional support and practical assistance from MacMillan Cancer Support.

Now, as a long term cancer survivor, I am one of MacMillan's Cancer Voices. I give media interviews to promote MacMillan's work and to raise awareness of cancer and survivorship issues. I also give talks in return for donations to MacMillan. 

I already have four talks in my diary for next year: 

• 7 January 2014. 10am. Town Hall, Chipping Sodbury. Frome Valley Probus Club. Genealogy for Beginners.
• 17 January 2014. 10:30am. The Chantry, Thornbury. Thornbury U3A Family History Group. Tracing Merchant Seamen.
• 14 March 2014. 7:30pm. Masonic Hall, Chipping Sodbury. Sodbury & District Historical Society. Cutty Sark & her Crews.
  
• 10 September 2014. 7:30pm. Shire Way Community Centre, Yate. Sodbury Vale Family History Group. Of This Parish: Using Manorial and Parochial records to trace Ag Lab ancestors.

I am always happy to give talks within a reasonable travelling distance of my home in Chipping Sodbury. In addition to the subjects listed above, I offer:

• Googling for Grandma: Using Google for Family History Research
• Lost in London: Breaking down brick walls in London research
• Descendants of Cutty Sark: Tracing Living People
• Using Family Tree Maker
• How to Build a Genealogy Website
• Researching the History of your House

You can read some reviews of my talks here. If you would like me to give a talk to your group, club or society, please contact me. 

This morning I spoke to the Thornbury U3A Family History Group on the subject "Descendants of Cutty Sark - Tracing Living People". They were a great audience, as ever, and asked some excellent questions about sources for tracing living people. I shared with them my personal research toolbox of links. It should keep them all busy researching for a while! Over the next few weeks I'll be sharing some of my favourite websites for tracing living people here on this blog.

I am thrilled to be resuming my career as a genealogy speaker, having had to give it up four years ago because my health was unreliable. I've been so much better this year that I am once again taking speaking engagements. 

My first talk will be to the U3A Family History Group at The Chantry, Thornbury, Gloucestershire at 10 am on 16 November 2012. My subject will be "Descendants of Cutty Sark - Tracing Living People".