With the Armistice Day memorial next Sunday (9 November), it’s chilling to reflect that every one of the dozens of names on Monmouth’s war memorial belongs to someone who once lived here – people like Rifleman Robert John Bean, of 3 Drybridge Street, who was only 20 when he died on 7 January 1917 during the Battle of the Somme, or Lance Sargeant John Llywarch, 2nd Bn Monmouthshire Regiment, who lived at 28 Cinderhill Street and died aged 38 on 9 May 1915, a day when British forces suffered more than 11,000 casualties.

Stories like theirs bring home the importance and fascination of studying one’s family history. This is a topic of growing interest for members of Monmouth u3a, the activities group based at Bridges which has nearly a thousand members doing all sorts of interesting things.T

The u3a's growing family history group holds regular talks and offers help and companionship to people wanting to trace their family and discover its story over decades and maybe centuries.

To find out more about the family history group ring Monmouth u3a on 01600 605204 and leave your contact details.