I find that the best approach is to have something to show them. I took an album of photos of all my family, ancient and modern. as an ice breaker and just sat back and listened. The most amazing facts to emerge were that the dear lady used to "call for your sister Dorothy at the little cottage down the road". This comment was prompted by pictures of my sister who died when I was very young. I only put the picture of Dorothy in to complete the family tree and was most pleased by the memories they prompted. I never knew Dorothy.
An early picture of the village school children caused some laughter as she found herself in the line, she could also name most of the others with a few anecdotes about them.
If you can, take as many pictures as you can find and include the odd one you would not expect to be of interest, you can almost guarantee that will be the one that stirs the most memories.
As the lady was the daughter of the local Rector and educated at a private school I did not expect that her family would socialise with our poor lot. But as I said before the Rev's family held my Grandad and Granny in high regard due to their 50yrs work in the Church. Well, they liked them too of course!
Good luck with your visit, I'm sure you will enjoy it.
Mike
