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Archive for the ‘ Family history events & publications ’ Category
Turn your family history into a compelling story this summer
University College Falmouth is holding an intensive five-day life writing course in July, which introduces you to ways of drawing on life experiences and how to write about your family history, your own life experiences, or how to tell someone else’s life story.
If you’ve spent time tracing your family history and uncovering mysteries, secrets, laugh-out-loud moments, joys, tragedies, heroism or simple tales of everyday life from the past, you can turn your research into a book for the public and your family to enjoy.
You don’t have to have to be an experienced writer – the course is designed for all levels of education and writing abilities.
If this sounds like something you’d be interested in, visit the University of Falmouth’s website to find out more.
Fact to fiction: one customer's journey back in time
One of our customers was inspired to write a book after researching his family tree on findmypast.co.uk
Kenny O’Connell took inspiration from his own ancestry to write The Hoodie & the High Rip Gang. Kenny told us, ‘I just started typing away using real life characters that I had researched when tracing my family history.’
The book shows how much tougher life was in census years gone by, and tells the story of the Hoodie, who journeys back to 1911 to meet his great-great-grandmother and her children.
Times are hard in 1911, but the Hoodie gets the love and affection from his great-great-grandmother that he doesn’t get in 2011. He fights to protect her against the gangs that terrorised England at that time and he now has to fight against himself in the form of the High Rip Gang. Members of this gang can be found on the census forms. The Hoodie learns a lot of hard lessons in 1911 and comes back a changed person.
Kenny told us, ‘Story writing and script writing has now taken over my life and this wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for my passion for family history and using findmypast.co.uk’
This is an entertaining and exciting read, and would make a great present for anyone who is interested in bringing their family tree to life in this unique way.
You can buy The Hoodie & the High Rip Gang from the following places – buy your copy soon to beat the Christmas rush!
If you’ve read ‘The Hoodie & the High Rip Gang’ please let us know what you thought by commenting on this blog post.
Family history fairs
There are two great opportunities coming up to meet the team and take your research further. The Yorkshire Family History Fair takes place on Saturday 25th June (10am – 4.30pm) in York. http://yorkshirefamilyhistoryfair.com/
If you’re based in the west, get down to Weston-super-Mare on 9th July http://www.swagfhs.org.uk/
Get free access to the site, probe our experts and enter a competition to win a subscription.
The Society of Genealogists' centenary celebrations
This weekend the Society of Genealogists will be 100 years old and findmypast.co.uk is proud to be their centenary sponsor.
The Society has a host of activities planned to celebrate its 100th year. Upcoming events include a Reception and Gala Dinner on Friday 6 May and the Centenary Family History Conference on Saturday 7 May, both of which findmypast.co.uk is looking forward to attending.
You can find out more information about all of the Society’s centenary celebrations on their website
You can search millions of records from the Society on findmypast.co.uk, including the Great Western Railway Shareholders Index 1835-1932 and the Civil Service Evidence of Age 1752-1948
See a full list of the Society’s records you can search on findmypast.co.uk
Join us at the British Library's family history day
The British Library, in association with findmypast.co.uk, is holding a family history day at the Library on Saturday 16 April.
Come along and hear the findmypast.co.uk team talk about our records, as well as lectures from British Library experts.
This is sure to be a fascinating day for anyone interested in family history. Find out more here and book your place now before it sells out!
Exciting census exhibition at the British Library
The British Library, our partner in digitising UK electoral registers and India Office baptism, marriage and burial records, is currently holding a fascinating exhibition: ‘Census and Society: Why Everyone Counts’.
The exhibition explores the history of censuses in the run up to the 2011 census on March 27. It also looks at what the results tell us and how our lives have changed in the last 200 years. Findmypast.co.uk has provided many of the images used in the displays – they are well worth a look.
The exhibition is free and will run until 29 May 2011 – visit the British Library’s website for more information.
Look out for Discover My Past Scotland magazine March issue
The March issue of Discover My Past Scotland magazine goes online on Monday 28 February.
This 40-page A4 issue is packed with special features and how-to guides to connect you with your Scottish Heritage, including:
- MacBraynes – lifeblood of the islands
- Sources in Kirk Sessions – new avenues for your research
- Tay Bridge disaster – human stories behind the tragedy
- Votes for women – Scottish suffragettes in action
- Rabbie’s Kin – are you related to Robert Burns?
- Spotlight on Forfar
- Expert Q&A
- Family history newsround, library and events
Find out more about Discover My Past Scotland
Free family history guide and CD-Rom in The Telegraph this weekend
Don’t miss The Telegraph this Saturday, February 19, and Sunday, February 20, for your free Trace Your Family History guide and CD-Rom, in association with Who Do You Think Your Are? Magazine.
This step-by-step guide and CD-Rom will give you the skills you need to discover your family background in only 14 days.
To find out more visit the Telegraph’s website
Don’t miss February’s issue of Discover My Past England magazine
The February edition of Discover My Past England magazine will go online tomorrow, Tuesday 8 February. This month’s 42-page A4 issue is packed with special features and how-to guides to connect you with your English Heritage, including:
- Pictures at an exhibition – how Victorians showcased the Empire
- Marriage certificates – 10 top tips to find out more
- Trace your Black Country ancestors
- Fishing on the East coast – a dangerous occupation
- Same-sex relationships – facts for the family historian
- Spotlight on Colchester
- Expert Q&A
- Family history newsround, library and events
Find out more about Discover My Past England magazine
Don't miss February's issue of Discover My Past England magazine
The February edition of Discover My Past England magazine will go online tomorrow, Tuesday 8 February. This month’s 42-page A4 issue is packed with special features and how-to guides to connect you with your English Heritage, including:
- Pictures at an exhibition – how Victorians showcased the Empire
- Marriage certificates – 10 top tips to find out more
- Trace your Black Country ancestors
- Fishing on the East coast – a dangerous occupation
- Same-sex relationships – facts for the family historian
- Spotlight on Colchester
- Expert Q&A
- Family history newsround, library and events
Find out more about Discover My Past England magazine