How interesting! It would have been ok for the first couple of days, but not 98! Did you see Maggie’s talk at #OPSconf25? It’s in the members area of our website for the next two weeks #OnePlaceWednesday

We were just pudding a few ideas together. 😉 #OPSConf25 was indeed a fab event, and knowing that it was enjoyed is the icing on the cake! 🍰😄

Sorry to have missed #OPSconf25 yesterday; it sounds like you had some excellent presentations and some lively discussion too.

#OPSconf25 Thank you for an inspiring day. 👍

I absolutely loved #OPSconf25 today ♥️ Taken back in time by our wonderful speakers, inspired to explore new aspects of my own #OnePlaceStudy - & heartily enjoyed the company of the fab one-placers at the conference today. Still chuckling about our conversations at the zoom chat afterwards 😆🍰🧁

Post box (or should I say letter box) toppers - another topic that came up at #OPSconf25 today!

A big Thank You to our #OPSConf25 organisers, speakers and participants. We have once again been informed, entertained, and inspired. Come and join us as we blend #FamilyHistory and #LocalHistory to create wonderful #OnePlaceStudies!

After a long post-conference chat, during which we discussed #OnePlaceStudies with one of our newest members and cooked up ideas for possible future conference themes (during which I may have thrown in just a few puns—Surely Not I hear you say), #OPSConf25 has drawn to a close.

Next up is @mghistorical.com talking about her ship #OnePlaceStudy, and how she has researched the various aspects of the voyage #OPSconf25

Next is @mghistorical.com Maggie Gaffney. In “All aboard for a new life” Maggie will look at how C19th emigrants got to New Zealand & what their was journey like, by looking at the migrants on the Mermaid in 1863; and at the range of sources we can use to find passengers & their stories. #OPSConf25

A little late ... Just tuning in for the tail end #OPSConf25

Celia's talk on people who historically lived on canal boats and features some wonderful photos which really capture the reality of canal boat life #OPSconf25

Celia’s talk will explore the evolution of canals, the relationship between canals and associated towns and the lives of the boat people who lived and worked on them. #OPSConf25

Lots of #OnePlaceWildlife talk in our #OPSConf25 break! Red Kites, Ring-necked Parakeets, Badgers and Hedgehogs have all featured. Our programme now resumes with a presentation on Boat People by Celia Webber.

BJ recommends casting your net wide, so to speak, when searching for records. Just as people living in coastal communities sometimes ended up in other coastal settlements further along the coast, some records have found their way to places where you would not expect to find them! #OPSCOnf25

Finding records for coastal communities & their people. Online collections recommended by BJ:
★ #Genealogy sites
★ Newspaper websites
★ Archive.org, HathiTrust
★ Non-genealogy websites—
• Maritime museums
• Archives
• Libraries
• Historical societies/museums
Plus offline repositories #OPSConf25

The term ‘recreational spreadsheeting’ has just been used as part of this presentation. An advanced data analysis technique for #OnePlaceStudies right there! 😄 #OPSConf25

#OPSConf25 now continues with BJ Jamieson’s presentation “Coastal Travel.” This will look at the impact of coastal transport on the development of communities along the coast, and the relationships which formed between these communities, mainly (Maine-ly? 🤔😉) from a New England perspective.

With other motions passed and Any Other Business concluded, that’s it for our 2025 AGM. The provisional date for next year’s AGM is 21 Nov 2026. #OPSConf25

The growth of the Society means that we now have to look at registration with the Charity Commission. Members have voted to approve amendments to our constitution which will enable this. #OPSConf25

Our AGM is now under way. @springhillops.bsky.social reports that we have gone from strength to strength – thanks to members and committee members for that! A number of changes to our committee and post-holders have taken place, most of which are reflected on our website’s Committee). #OPSConf25

Steve would welcome information about railway accidents and those who died in them in the UK, from around 1830 up to 1980, to add to his Railway Fatal Accidents website. You can find a contact email address at the bottom of his site’s homepage www.dands.uk

#OPSConf25

No post-talk Q&A with Steve of course, but lots of chat about the subject of railway accidents relating to our #OnePlaceStudies. There will now be a 30 minute break, followed by our AGM at 5pm, after which #OPSConf25 continues with BJ Jamieson on the subject of Coastal Travel.

Steve has recommended three websites for anyone seeking info on railway accidents in, or affecting people from, their #OnePlaceStudies:

✦ Railway Archives
✦ Railway Work, Life & Death Project – @rwldproject.bsky.social
✦ Railway Fatal Accidents – Steve’s own website

#OPSConf25

Steve urges us to think about the impact of the coming of the railways to your place. There may well have been accidents locally. If you find any, do contact Steve. He’s also happy to answer any questions by email #OPSconf25

Steve Pickthall’s railway deaths project focuses on deaths of staff. He recommends these 3 websites for researching railway deaths #OPSconf25

Featured in Steve Pickthall’s presentation! #OPSConf25

Steve Pickthall is unable to be present to deliver his talk in person. But, after a few technical hitches, his recording of “Railway accidents in the UK – causes, examples and how to research those which happened in your place" is under way. #OPSConf25

Finally the end of the widespread use of horse-drawn transport, as vehicles powered by petrol-driven engines took over. Our thanks to Ian Waller for a fascinating talk on a wide range of transport, all drawn by horses. #OPSConf25

Think about the supporting industries - wheelwrights, blacksmiths, saddlers & harness makers, & farriers #OPSconf25