Every Family has a story to tell……….Welcome to mine
The spirit of our ancestors lives on in each and every one of us, whether it's common family traits, inherited talents and skills or just family likeness, our ancestor's DNA is represented in all of us. Family History is more than a series of documents and certificates, it's a living, breathing entity and it's the … Continue reading We All Carry Inside Us The People Who Came Before Us
After recently moving house, I was absolutely delighted to discover that there is a vast amount of history that surrounds the market town of Nantwich in Cheshire, where I live, and as someone with a keen interest in local, as well as family history, I felt compelled to tell you about “The Battle of Nantwich” … Continue reading The Battle of Nantwich
Sometimes we discover some fascinating stories whilst we are researching our family history and sometimes the stories find us. Now ordinarily you might wonder what my connection is to the story of an American Fighter Pilot who tragically died in WW2. So let me tell you about Arthur Leslie Brown and how his story found … Continue reading The Pilot’s Grave
Another iconic image and another tragic story that tells of a mother's love for her son and her blind obsession with "Bringing Him Home". But who was Anna Durie and what was the story behind her picture...... Anna Bella Peel was born on 13 November 1856 in Thornhill in Upper Canada, the second daughter of … Continue reading Bringing Him Home
This week I was delighted to be a guest on Dr. Michala Hulme's brand new podcast called 'Unearth The Past'. Unearth The Past takes a fresh and fun look at both history and family history and each week host, Dr. Michala Hulme is joined by special guests and will discuss the latest family history news … Continue reading Unearth The Past…………..
For those of you that enjoy a really good genealogy podcast series, then why not have a listen to The Family Histories Podcast by the wonderful Andrew Martin. If you are a family history addict, which I am assuming you might be, if you are reading this blog, then you will love the Family Histories … Continue reading The Family Histories Podcast
Sometimes we discover a story that's so remarkable that even though it's not a member of your own family, we feel compelled to make sure that the story is told. The photograph of the young boy standing outside the White Star Line offices in London, holding an Evening News poster announcing ‘Titanic Disaster Great Loss … Continue reading The Boy Behind the Titanic Photo: The Story of Edward (Ned) Parfett
Can you really truly know who you are, if you don't know where you came from? It's a simple enough question and one that I am sure that many family historians and probably many psychologists will have considered at some point. Even to the point of analysing why some people are so passionate and so … Continue reading Do You Know Who You Are?
A few years ago I was fortunate enough to visit the National Arboretum in Staffordshire, which holds over 300 memorials to those lives that have sadly been lost in conflict and civilian life. The Arboretum stands as a place which honours the fallen and recognises their service and their sacrifice for their country. It was first … Continue reading My Visit to The National Memorial Arboretum
Originally published April 2023 — updated for 2026 Note: This article has been updated to reflect new insights, personal experience, and the evolving landscape of DNA testing. A revised version of this post is also available on Substack. In recent years, DNA testing for family history has grown at an incredible rate. If you’re researching your … Continue reading DNA Kits – Should They Come With a Warning?
