Family's big reunion

AROUND 70 members of the Harmer Family Association converged on Heathfield from all over England last weekend.

Broad Oak village hall was the location for the association s 23rd annual reunion on Saturday.

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The HFA is a family history study group set up in 1978 to research the name Harmer in Sussex. Since then it has also embraced similar research in Norfolk and Gloucestershire. It now has 232 members in the UK, and has branches in America, Canada, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa.

Graham Harmer, of Cherry Clack, Punnetts Town, said: The association has approximately 36,000 Harmers indexed over the centuries. The earliest recorded Sussex Harmer being at about the end of the 12th century. The family takes its name from Hareham Hall where they were lords of the manor. Our main tree centres on Old Heathfield and is documented back to 1543.

Research material and memorabilia, plus displays outlining the beginnings of research in 1978, were exhibited at the reunion.

The Harmer family website can be found at www.Harmew12.Freeserve.co.uk. Anyone wishing to join the HFA can ring Graham Harmer on 01435 830842.

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