We’re currently experiencing some problems with family tree explorer. We’re working hard to fix the issue but it could take us several hours to get it up and running again. Don’t worry, all your trees are safe and fully backed up.

Thanks for your patience and understanding while we work to fix the problem!

It’s that time of year again!

Are you stuck for gift ideas for Father’s Day this Sunday? Problem solved with findmypast.co.uk’s completely free Father’s Day family tree template!

Start a new hobby for your dad  by downloading the free family tree template today.

In previous findmypast newsletters we asked you to email us your experiences of tracing your ancestors. Thanks to all of you who got in touch - your stories make for fascinating reading. Read on for Vivienne Whiddett-Hare’s story:

‘I was evacuated from Battersea, London to South Derbyshire in 1944 aged 6 weeks. My mother, who I found to be unmarried with a lot of children, (I have found 10 but my sister, who I met before she died, told me there were 14) asked the couple who I was placed with in south Derbyshire to adopt me, which they did.

I was 60 years old when I started my family tree which now has around 2,000 names. I also met my eldest sister and a brother and have spoken on the phone and exchanged e-mails with quite a lot of my family in Italy and Australia, as well as the UK.’

If you have an experience you’d like to share with us and our readers, email casestudies@findmypast.co.uk with ‘My experience’ in the subject line. We look forward to reading your stories!