GEOFF RIGGS: THE "RIGGSOLOGIST"

As far as the media is concerned, I've lectured and given interviews on the BBC Radio Wales "Look Up Your Genes" roadshow, appeared on the BBC Wales Today TV news programme and on the Channel 4 TV program "Extraordinary Ancestors". I also acted as a guest host responding to queries on the BBC web site's Message Boards which accompanied the first series of the TV programme "Who Do You Think You Are?". I appeared on the BBC Parliament TV channel in 2005 when, as a representative of the Federation of Family History Societies, I was invited to present oral evidence to the House of Commons Select Committee on Regulatory Reform, at Westminster.

I gave a talk on "Family History Research in Wales" on each of the three days at the 2009 "Who Do You Think You Are - Live" Show in the Olympia Exhibition Centre. And I've given a talk on each of the three days on how to take up Family History as a hobby at the Hobbycrafts Fair at Cardiff International Arena for the past three years.

I've lectured for a number of years at seminars and conferences of the Society of Genealogists, the Guild of One-Name Studies, The Halsted Trust, and the Federation of Family History Societies. I also give talks and presentations to Family History Societies throughout the length and breadth of England and Wales, and to local history and other organisations in the South Wales area (I live near Chepstow in Monmouthshire).

These take the form of PowerPoint presentations (using my own equipment, if necessary) and include the following subjects - the titles chosen being those of UK TV programmes:

		ALIAS SMITH AND JONES - or "Thompson, Dickson and Harrison". How (and when) surnames evolved, and their probable origins and meanings: where they came from, how localised they may have been, and how they may be currently distributed. Includes a wealth of examples from Great Britain, but with a special emphasis on researching surnames in Wales.
		LOCATION, LOCATION, LOCATION - "Putting your ancestors on the map". How historic maps can help you in your research by plotting where your ancestors lived, what land they may have owned or rented, and possibly giving you clues as to where they may have originated from.
		POBOL Y CWM ("PEOPLE OF THE VALLEY") - All about Family History Research in Wales. What there is in common with English research and, where it differs, how to tackle it. The obstacles of the Welsh language in the names of places and of people, and guidance to help you overcome them and find your ancestors.
		QUANTUM LEAP - How to use the internet to make progress in your researches (provided you use it with caution, and check the accuracy of the information it gives you). Examples include how I found out about each of my six great uncles, without leaving the comfort of my own home.
		THE APPRENTICE (Conrad Riggs was an Executive Producer !) - "You're fired" by enthusiasm when you start to master the craftsmanship of one-name studies (researching all persons with a particular surname). Discover how to "win through", with tips on how to carry out a study, where to find information, how to record it, and how to piece it together by linkages to reconstruct family groups.
		THE GENERATION GAME - All about Civil Registration of Births, Marriages and Deaths (mainly in Great Britain, but also elsewhere in the world). How to start tracing your family through the generations (back to July 1837 in England and Wales) and possible reasons why you haven't been able to do so.
		THE GOONS SHOW - The "Guild Of One-Name Studies" is THE world-wide organisation for those researching all persons with a particular surname. Describes some of the many invaluable benefits it offers to its members to help them with their researches, and how its members may be able to help other family historians' in their researches.
		THE VICAR OF DIBLEY - All about the "Parish Chest" and similar lesser known sources within parish records - containing material that is often overlooked but can be of great value. Includes examples of Poor Law documents, parish accounts, tithe maps, quarter session records, tax assessments, etc.
		THE WEAKEST LINK - "But it's there in black and white!". The dangers of believing all you see in print or on the internet, with numerous examples. The answer is to treat everything you see (or are told) merely as an aid to help you find the original source of the information wherever possible!
		WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE? - The attractions of Family History as a hobby and how to use the correct crafts to make your tasks easier and minimise errors. This is a talk for those thinking of starting to research their family history, and for those who may have just begun, rather than for existing researchers.
COMING SOON
		AS TIME GOES BY (being finalised) - All about Baptisms, Marriages and Burials (mainly in Great Britain, but also elsewhere), How to use the Parish Register entries to help trace your ancestors and continue backwards before July 1837, and possible reasons why you haven't been able to find them.
		NEIGHBOURS (being finalised) - All about Censuses, Electoral Rolls and Directories (mainly in Great Britain, but also elsewhere). How to find where your ancestors were living, who was living with them, and who their neighbours were. Includes possible reasons why you haven't been able to find them in the censuses - have they been wrongly transcribed or enumerated?

If you are interested in my giving a talk to any organisation, please contact me at geoff@riggs.org.uk so that I can give you an estimate of my travelling costs, etc.