Family Tree News 30 May 2024

This month has yielded exciting results for some of my customers. One ancestor risked his life to save historical treasures from the 1841 fire at the Tower of London. Further research into a different family revealed a convicted murderer who escaped punishment by moving to a different part of the country.

Family Tree News April 2021

 What a year it has been since I last updated the news page on my website! Family Tree Research has kept me incredibly busy all through the various lockdowns we have had in the UK. I would like to thank my customers for making this happen. It has been a delight to keep working and get to know your family histories, which have been so fascinating to research.

Debi B got in touch with me from the USA regarding her fiance’s grandmother Florence Tunnicliffe Thompson, who was born in 1890, and sadly lost her life in April 1941 during WW2 air raids in Coventry. I have been able to add details for Florence to the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre, including a lovely photograph of Florence. I would like to thank Debi for sharing this family history with us.

Family Tree News March 2019

I would like to thank Pete S for getting in touch this week, with a query about Frederick George Waterer, who Pete is researching. I was able to find a newspaper article from the Coventry Evening Telegraph in October 1940, which provided useful information.

I was also able to provide some supplementary information regarding Frederick, and have added all this to the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre to help other researchers.

Family Tree News February 2019

Paula R got in touch recently asking if I could help provide any information regarding her granddad’s first wife Kate Dawson nee Stephenson, and youngest son Christopher Dawson who were tragically killed in the Coventry Blitz during World War 2.

I was able to research some information for Paula, and have updated the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre with the details.

Family Tree News January 2019

I would like to thank Alan B for getting in touch regarding the definition of Press Maker in my Dictionary Of Old Occupations. After a bit of detective work including checking the 1901 Census, I have expanded the definition to include the manufacture of mangles.

Family Tree News November 2018

I was able to add some new info to the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre this week. With thanks to Janet S for providing new details about her grandmother, Catherine Williams, who sadly lost her life in the Coventry Blitz.

Family Tree News October 2018

Thank you to Jean H for sending me updated information regarding Jean Reeves and Lily Bessie Reeves nee Bennett which I have added to the information on the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre. 

I would also like to thank Heather S for providing new info obtained from Coventry Council regarding the burial place of John George Downing, which I have added to my website too. Interestingly, the site was recorded incorrectly by the War Graves Commission, Coventry Roll of the Fallen, etc.

Family Tree News June 2018

Found a bit of time for another update to the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre. This time I was able to add details for the following surnames: Barritt, Baseley, Battersby, Baylis, Beadle, Behan and Bell.

You can find all the new information here: https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/Blitz-Victims/Coventry-Blitz-Victims-detalls-B.html

Family Tree News May 2018

On this beautiful Bank Holiday weekend at the beginning of May 2018, James Hewitt and I took a bit of time out to research some new information to add to the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre.

We were able to add new information for the following blitz victim family surnames – Archer, Arthers, Ashby, Atkins, Barber, Barker and Barrell.

We also updated Arthur Print’s record with additional information.

Family Tree News April 2018

Keith R from South Africa got in touch recently, helpfully providing information about the old occupational title of Spelterman. The information was gratefully received, and I have been able to add a definition to my Dictionary Of Old Occupations. Should any reader come across a Spelterman in your family tree, hopefully this information will be helpful.

I updated the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre. Added or updated historical records for the following families who lost someone in the Blitz: Williams, Roberts, Grady, Lewin, Lockett, Seltzer, Knighton, Angus, Clarke and Scott.

Thank you to those who got in touch with info about these sad losses.

Family Tree News March 2018

New data protection regs known as the GDPR come into force on May 25th 2018. In readiness for this, we reviewed our data handling processes in line with the new legal requirements to protect the personal data of our family tree customers.

If you are looking to commission a family tree research project, it is important you choose a genealogist who respects your privacy and your personal data.

To find out more about how we how we comply with the GDPR and respect your privacy, please have a look at the privacy policy/privacy notice on the Family Researcher website. The link is https://www.familyresearcher.co.uk/Privacy_Policy.html

Family Tree News 24/02/2018

This is my first website update of 2018 due to the amount of work I have been doing researching family trees for so many wonderful customers, which has been keeping me very busy. However, I do have some great news on that front.

My son James is joining the Family Researcher team full time, which will increase the amount of concurrent projects we are able to fulfil. In addition to providing ongoing admin and clerical support for some time, James spent the last three years or more gaining practical experience of genealogy and learning family tree research skills. He is a welcome addition to the team.

Also, I would like to thank Julie B for the information she provided regarding three Blitz deaths during WW2. Julie kindly provided details for three members of the Pickering family who tragically lost their lives during the Coventry Blitz. These details have been added to the website.

Family Tree News July 2017

Just added details for Robert Wilton Wood to the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre pages. With thanks to Ralph for getting in touch.

Family Tree News May 2016

A quick thank you to Terry for contacting me regarding the old occupation 'Brace and Bit Maker', which features in his family tree. I have added a definition to the Dictionary of Old Occupations.

Family Tree News January 2016

I would like to thank Caroline Heritage for getting in touch and donating a photo of Ernest Willn to be included in the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre, along with a poem in memoriam for Ernest's brave sacrifice during the second world war.

Family Tree News August 2015

With kind thanks to Mr D Roberts, author of an upcoming book about Blue Coat School, I have added some details about Violet Mason to the Coventry Blitz Resource Centre.

Family Tree News 14 March 2015

Just added another batch of info about victims of the Coventry Blitz to my website. This time I found records relating to:

Fanny Elizabeth Jones (nee Miles),
Lily Jones (nee Edginton),
William Henry Jones,
Frank Harry Judkins. Hope this helps someone with their family tree research.

Family Tree News 23 February 2015

I have been researching records about more members of the Jones family who died in the Coventry Blitz. Have just added details for William and Jane Jones (husband and wife), John Jones and John Earnest Jones.

The latter was a member of the auxiliary fire service, and is listed as Earnest John Jones on the memorial at St. Mary's Hall.

Family Tree News 25 January 2015

Two website updates just added:

- Details for Thomas George Over have been added to the list of victims of the Coventry Blitz. (With thanks to Gary M who kindly got in touch with details; Thomas was the husband of his great aunt).

- In response to a query from Anita W, I have added details of the old occupation Key Stamper to the site.

Family Tree News 16 November 2014

Just added another entry to my historical records of the Coventry during WW2. Wilfred Robert Askew - Sergeant Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve