KEN SMALLBONE was born at Overton in Hampshire in 1946, and brought up in the nearby town of Basingstoke, where he was educated at the local grammar school.
He was awarded his BA degree with Honours in History, Medieval and Modern, from London University, and then began to carve out a professional career for himself as a historical researcher and author. For many years, though, he was working purely as a full-time genealogist for clients living abroad in order to earn a sufficient income. He is a member and former director of the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA). In 2010 he was appointed to be the new editor for the Hampshire Genealogical Society's quarterly journal The Hampshire Family Historian.
Today he spends most of his time in research and writing for self-publication. Occasionally, he may undertake genealogical work for clients, as well as specialised investigations of original medieval and manorial records, with diversions from time to time into general property histories and legal research for court cases. Nevertheless, the histories of his local area - northern Hampshire - and of the people who have lived there (past and present) will always attract his interests. He considers himself to be very lucky to be able to combine his hobby and chosen career - but is ready to explain to the uninitiated that it certainly does require a great deal of effort, time and hard work (often unrewarding financially) before such a goal can be achieved.
Naturally, the author has many other interests - including music (rock and country), playing bridge, his family, reading, photography, and languages. He still lives in Basingstoke, having returned there in 1999 after being away for several years; and although divorced, has five grandchildren. He became a great-grandfather on 4 June 2008.
Since 2002 he has been publishing his own work under the trading name of The Changing Seasons. Prior to that period his various publications had been: The Changing Seasons - the History of the Smallbone Family (private, 1982); The History of the Baggs Family of Hannington (private, 1986); The Aldworth Family of Berkshire (private, 1990); James Potter, Quaker - A Record of Dissent in the 17th and 18th Centuries (Sessions Book Trust, York, 1992); and several articles in the journals of Hampshire Genealogical Society, Berkshire Family History Society, New England Historic Genealogical Society Register, and Heraldry Society Coat-of-Arms.
For current publications for sale, please see under Online Store at the top of the page. Scroll through the list of Currencies to the left to convert prices.
