MEMBERS of the Swanborough family will descend on the Pewsey and All Cannings area of Wiltshire at the end of July for the clan’s third reunion.

The family has traced its roots back to the area as far back as 1614 when Nicholas Lyne and Mary Filipe named their child Nicholas Swanborough.

The christening records show that the pair had an affair while Mary’s husband, William Swanborowe, was away but Mr Swanborowe accepted the child as his own. The couple had no children together.

Some early 19th century generations of the family were unable to write so entry into a register was spelled at the whim of the vicar, parish clerk or registrar.

Variations of the name include Swanberow Swansbeorgh, Swainsbury, Swanbery, Swansberry, Swanboarah, Swansborn, Swanboro, Swansboro and Swanboroe.

Brenda Roberts, nee Swansborough, from Surrey is organising the event alongside Bonnie Swansbrough, from New Mexico, was the main organiser of the first reunion in 2000.

She said: “There was pressure from family wanting another reunion so Bonnie and myself decided we would organise one for 2015.

“ As you can imagine co-organising across the ‘big pond’ hasn’t been easy but thanks to Skype and a couple of trips to New Mexico we have bought together the plan for 2015.

“Our name seems to have almost endless possibilities for variation in spelling.

“No matter how it is spelled, it seems to be the same family.

“We would like to contact anyone in the Wiltshire area with their last name beginning with Swan.”

There are already around 50 family members who have registered for the reunion but Mrs Roberts is hopeful that this number will continue to grow.

A number of events are planned for the weekend of July 24 to 26 with the bulk of events taking place on the Saturday.

On July 25 registration will start at 9am in the Bouverie Hall in Pewsey followed by a visit to Swanborough Tump, an ancient meeting place near Pewsey mentioned in Simon Schama's History of Britain.

There will also be a lunch at the Bouverie Hall, a village tour in All Cannings, afternoon tea, dinner and a dance.

The last reunion was in 2005 when, approximately 45 family members from as far away as the USA and Australia came together.

For more information contact Mrs Roberts at brendaroberts911@btinternet.com or Bonnie Swansbrough on bonniefd@me.com