In the August issue of “Daltons in History”, Michael Dalton gave an abbreviated initial account of the Dalton Genealogical Society’s 2010 40th Anniversary Gathering & Annual General Meeting weekend held in Surrey, England from Friday 30th July to Monday 2nd August 2010. In this issue, he gives a more definitive and complete report. Further material relating to the weekend, including a photo gallery and videos of the presentations, will be found in the “Photo/Video Gallery” on this website, whilst the AGM minutes and some comments and thoughts from those who attended are included in this issue of “Daltons in History”. All of the material will be archived into the “Past Gatherings” section of the website as a permanent record.
Thursday 29th July, 2010
The advance party assembles
After all the preparations had been made over the past weeks and months, the day had finally come when the first of the delegates would be arriving in Reigate. Karen and David Preston flew in from Las Vegas on Thursday morning on schedule, picked up their hire car and successfully navigated their way to the Reigate Manor Hotel. Meanwhile Mel and Dairne Irwin drove down from Lancashire, and arrived at the hotel in the afternoon. This created an opportunity for an “advance party” get together and Kate and I went out for dinner with Karen, David, Mel and Dairne at the Arkle Manor, a restaurant in nearby Betchworth. Apart from discussion about various aspects of the weekend plans, there was much else to catch up on and a convivial evening went by all too quickly.
Friday 30th July, 2010
Final preparations are made
It had been agreed that David Preston and I should go to the Surrey National Golf Club in the morning to check out the wireless connection for David’s laptop in order to facilitate the live webcast of Saturday’s conference. David had come prepared with all his “gizmos”, some of which he needed, but within minutes everything was working. What a relief – all the technicalities sorted out without a hitch! We really are indebted to David for his expertise in this area. Having made it all work in Orange last year, it is now “expected” that we will do this and I know that many members, particularly in the USA and Canada, appreciate the facility. It is great to be able to share what we are doing live with those who are prevented from attending by distance or other circumstances.
After making sure that all the other arrangements at the Golf Club were in order, we then went back to Reigate. I returned to 2 Harewood Close to finish putting out the display material and help Kate with the final preparations for the evening. This included arranging everything out in the garden for the buffet supper and then a moment of panic at around 4.00pm when it started to rain. This was not part of the weather forecast but fortunately it only lasted for a short time and then settled into a dry and overcast, but quite warm evening.
A beautiful English summer evening
Rosemary Dow, Jane and Geoffrey Dalton, Michael Dalton, John and Sheila Dalton
Delegates started arriving during the afternoon – first those staying with us at Harewood Close, and then delegates staying at the Reigate Manor Hotel. Mel and Dairne, and Pam ensured that those who needed transport had a lift in someone’s car, whilst others chose the option of a 15 minute walk. Before long there were 30 people in our garden all eager to have a glass of wine and chat with old friends and new acquaintances – the party was under way. Soon it was time to serve the buffet supper. Kate laid on a magnificent spread which was much enjoyed by all. She was ably assisted with the serving of everything by Sarah Fitzgerald, the perfect waitress! Meanwhile Howard Dalton took on the role of the perfect wine waiter.
Howard Dalton, Wine Waiter, and Gerald Milner
Some important connections were made, with Martin Fitzgerald and David Preston meeting for the first time and sharing their DGS website experiences; also Karen Preston and Chris Pomery with plenty to discuss about the Dalton DNA project.
Martin Fitzgerald and Chris Pomery discuss the dessert!!
As the evening shadows lengthened we lit candles and people continued sitting outside long after it was dark. The smell of coffee brewing brought people in and many took a closer look at the various displays set out in our dining room.
One of the various displays
It had turned out to be a perfect evening and Kate and I thought we had definitely got the weekend off to a good start – all the hard work had been worth it!
Saturday 31st July, 2010
Down to business
Delegates were invited to arrive at the Surrey National Golf Club at 10.00am when coffee and biscuits were served.
The delegates assembling
We were joined by a few more local Daltons and at 10.30am I opened our conference proceedings in the Sports Lounge. It was a pleasure to welcome delegates from far and wide, both old and new DGS members.
Michael welcoming delegates
The live webcast so expertly organised by David Preston on the Dalton Data Bank website was received loud and clear in all corners of the world – the wonders of modern technology! Soon we were into the more formal business of the Annual General Meeting, the details of which are recorded in the minutes published in this issue of “Daltons in History”. You can also view an edited version of the proceedings in the “Photo/Video Gallery”. A very important AGM announcement to be mentioned here is the decision of the committee to make Chris Pomery, our DNA consultant, and Martin Fitzgerald and David Preston, our website consultants, honorary members of the Society. This was met with great acclaim and we are all much indebted to Chris, Martin and David for the superb work undertaken by each of them for the DGS over the past few years. Many thanks to all three of you.
Chris Pomery giving his presentation
The AGM was brought to a close at 11.30am and after a short break, I introduced Chris Pomery who gave his presentation entitled “Getting the best from traditional and genetic genealogy – the future for the Dalton surname project”. This was a most stimulating talk and it provided the latest update on the project. It also stressed the importance of undertaking good old-fashioned traditional family history research alongside analysing the results from DNA testing, in order to extend and maximise our knowledge of the family history associated with each identified genetic family. The presentation slides used by Chris are available on the website, together with a full video recording of his talk. These will be of immense value to all participants in the Dalton International DNA Project. Chris was able to answer a few questions at the end of his talk, but all too soon it was time for me to propose a vote of thanks and present him with a small gift as a memento of the occasion. He stayed with us during the buffet lunch and many took the opportunity to have more detailed discussions with him informally.
After lunch, business was resumed with a presentation from Karen Preston, who gave us an update on the DGS in North America. This included some details of the next DGS Annual Gathering which is to take place in Salt Lake City in September 2011. Our appetites were whetted and I am sure that there will be a very good turnout for this exciting event. David Preston followed Karen with his report on the Dalton Data Bank, which continues to expand at an amazing rate. Slides of these presentations are also available on the website.
At around 3.00pm, the conference was brought to a close and delegates had some free time before the evening’s celebrations. For some of the more energetic, Maureen Collins had made some suggestions about local places to visit.
Let’s celebrate
In the evening we returned to the Surrey National Golf Club for our 40th Anniversary DGS Dinner.
The dinner begins
Kate and I arrived early to greet Michael Broadway and Vaninne Parker of the Pianola Partnership, our entertainers for the evening, who were already setting themselves up in the Sports Lounge. Fortunately the pianola and accompanying electronic keyboard just fitted into the lift! Michael is a fellow Liveryman of the Glaziers Company and indeed the Company’s Honorary Musician. We had heard Michael and Vaninne perform before, so we were confident that their entertainment would be much appreciated by all. At 7.00pm pre-dinner drinks were served on the terrace outside the Sports Lounge and at 7.30pm we took our places at dinner with Geoffrey Dalton saying grace. The golf club chef had prepared a delicious meal and in between the courses, Michael and Vaninne brought us a delightful selection of songs with piano accompaniment. Their centrepiece was a rendition of Tchaikovsky’s 1812 Overture with chimes and cannons provided by us all clinking our glasses and bursting paper bags – what a performance!
Michael Broadway, Vaninne Parker and Michael Dalton
And so to the 40th Anniversary itself. I had deliberately not said too much about it earlier at the conference, but now was the opportunity for a little reminiscing about the 40 years of the Dalton Genealogical Society, its formation and its development from small beginnings to the truly international organisation that it is today with some 300 members worldwide. I particularly wanted to remember the massive contributions to this journey made by five people – Joyce Parker, Morag Simpson, Dick Hamilton, Lucy Slater and Millicent Craig. We all owe each of them so much. Joyce, with all her energy and enthusiasm, was one of the original committee members back in 1978 and hosted several gatherings at her Brighton home. Morag was Treasurer for many years, and edited the Journal. She also organised two very successful gatherings, one in Yorkshire and the other in Lincoln. Dick, a committee member for many years, will be remembered for his prodigious output of well researched and very scholarly articles on so many aspects of Dalton family history, all preserved for posterity in the pages of the DGS Journal. Lucy first met members of the DGS in 1983 at the Lancaster and Thurnham Hall gathering and, very soon, she was persuaded to join the committee and become the Society’s executive secretary. In this role she maintained contact with all our members and also found time to write articles, edit the Journal and organise gatherings. And finally, Millicent who first came to England as a DGS member in 1993. Since then she has involved herself in every aspect of the Society’s work, as North American secretary, starting the DGS website and the Dalton Data Bank, founder of the Dalton International DNA Project and so many other roles. Of course there have been so many others who have helped to shape the Society over the past 40 years and we owe them all a debt of gratitude as well.
Michael reminiscing about the 40 years
We now look to the future with the Society in the capable hands of the present officers and committee, to whom I pay tribute, and I know that others will come forward to carry the work on in future years. One can only speculate about where the Society will reach during its journey over the coming 40 years. Judging by the experience to date, one hopes that there will be great progress, with unanticipated breakthroughs and no doubt a few surprises as well! With these thoughts, all present were upstanding and I proposed a toast to the 40th Anniversary of the Society and to the next 40 years.
The DGS Committee
This concluded the formal part of the proceedings and delegates then continued to circulate and enjoy the remainder of the evening. All too quickly it was time to return to the hotel or home. Discussions continued into the early hours back at our home and I suspect they did at the hotel as well.
Sunday 1st August, 2010
A little bit of history
Sunday saw a more leisurely start both at 2 Harewood Close and at the Reigate Manor Hotel. At around 11.00am, those joining the visit to Chartwell, the country home of Winston Churchill, set off arriving there before midday. This enabled us to take an early lunch in the restaurant without having to join too long a queue. For most it was a first visit to Chartwell, and everyone then enjoyed touring the house and gardens, and the studio where Churchill painted. However not everyone spotted the Dalton link!
Chartwell, country home of Winston Churchill
In the museum, at the end of the tour of the house, the various phases of Churchill’s career are featured and there is a section devoted to the Second World War. When Churchill succeeded Neville Chamberlain as Prime Minister in May 1940 and formed a coalition government, Hugh Dalton, already prominent in the Labour Cabinet, was appointed as Minister of Economic Warfare. The exhibit features Dalton’s quote at the time – “He was quite magnificent. The man, and the only man we have, for this hour”. Quite an accolade and of course, Hugh Dalton went on to work very closely with Churchill throughout the remainder of the war.
The house from Churchill's studio
Down at the local
Delegates returned to Reigate in their own time, and in the evening we all met again for dinner at the Skimmington Castle, a traditional old country pub on Reigate Heath, less than a mile west of the centre of Reigate. We enjoyed another convivial evening in a room reserved for our party. Geoffrey was very kind and proposed a vote of thanks to Kate and myself for arranging the weekend, which we much appreciated.
At the Skimmington Castle
Monday 2nd August, 2010
Time to say goodbye
After a whirlwind weekend, the time had come for departure.
Some had already left and many were travelling on to visit other places
before returning home. Kate and I bade farewell to those who had stayed
at our house and we thought back over the enjoyable time that we had spent
with everybody. We had certainly enjoyed it all and we trust that all
delegates took away happy memories of their time in Reigate and the surrounding
Surrey and Kent countryside.
