About us

Founded in 2008, we are small but vibrant family history group serving those living in and/or with ancestral roots on the East Coast of Suffolk. Our name is derived from the River Alde which winds through much of our catchment area, before changing its name to the River Ore and flowing into the North Sea. 

Historically, our membership has been recruited from the towns of Leiston, Saxmundham, Aldeburgh and outlying villages. We also appeal to a wider audience, whether living further afield in our beautiful county, elsewhere in the country or even on the other side of the world.

The group’s activities fall under three headings

Monthly meetings at the Fromus Centre, Saxmundham, where we typically host talks on a wide range of family and local history subjects, given by knowledgeable speakers. These sociable events are available to all, with fully paid members also able to attend most talks via Zoom.

Help with your family history research sessions (including DNA analysis) hosted monthly at local libraries in Aldeburgh, Leiston and Saxmundham. These ‘drop-in’ sessions are also available to all, with no booking required. Separately, we provide members with ‘one to one’ research support, by appointment, at our dedicated ‘Help Centre’ in Leiston. 

Attendance at family history events throughout the year, when our knowledgeable team of experienced researchers are on hand to help visitors with their family history enquiries. These events typically include those hosted by the Family History Federation and Suffolk Family History Society and include our very own Annual Open Day, when we are joined by many like-minded organisations from East Suffolk (e.g. local history groups, museums) each offering a unique perspective on the area’s rich heritage.

And if all of this is not enough, our Publicity Officer produces a wonderfully informative quarterly newsletter, a digital copy of which is included in the modest membership fee of only £10 per annum.

Want to know more about what we have planned? Then just click on the events tab at the top of this page.

You might also be interested in the following video providing a more detailed overview of the group’s activities and the communities we serve:

Check out the video here

Tempted to join?