Genealogy Chat

Victoria don't know if this will help - do you mean you have a copy of his birth cert? If so, Traceline, the government tracing department may be a ble to help you - they can trace people through their National Insurance numbers. Of course, he may not have registered for National Insurance. But have a look at their website and see what you think. Good luck. OC

This is going to sound so crass... but I guess it depends how desperate you are to try and find him. Have you thought of writing in to a television programme? Jeremy Kyle, Trisha... and there's also the missing persons site that has a show every Christmas. Of course, there is also the Salvation Army... 'The Salvation Army Family Tracing Services is a service aimed to restore (or to sustain) family relationships by tracing relatives with whom contact has been lost. They can be contacted by calling, 0845 634 4747.' I do so hope you regain contact with your father... and that no offense was taken at my suggestion. All the best.

Hmmm - not easy is it? Have you tried phone books? A bit of a long shot really if he keeps changing his name though. If you can't find him from electoral roles...... :( I have copied the bit about UK phone books from the 'Numberway' website -'To see any listings (of businesses and people), you have to register (for free). The searches are a little more flexible than the BT site, finds people or business 'near' a place so location is less crucial. Now limited to five free searches a day.' If your sister was born in 1974 and there is an older child, your father must be about 55+ - and hopefully will be living a more regular life these days to the point of using his own name. I wondered about work - but 'wide boy' implies that he was a bit 'Arthur Daly' in his approach to earning a living - and not sure how you would use a job to find him anyway. If you knew for sure he was, for example, a plumber and never left Yorkshire then I guess you could, at a pinch, ring all the plumbers - but guess his means of earning a living wouldn't be all that useful even if he did have a trade. The only other thing would be to advertise - giving all the details you have and hope someone who knows him sees it AND contacts you. Sorry - not sure how helpful this is - but it might just trigger another memory or two that will help. Good luck Victoria

Hi Andrea There is a wonderful lady called Joan Allen, who comes on these boards, who I know has helped many people. Maybe she could help you too. Every best wish to you - it sounds like you could do with a break. Suzy

To make it a bit more readable. Hi everyone, In need of some good advice, warn you the twists in my search are unbelieveable. Basically i've spent more time money & enegy on searching for my natural father than even I can believe! Cut long story short in 1981 my mother left my father in yorkshire & came south. He was a wide boy!! Changed his surname regularly. My birth cert has what I believe to be his real name but my sisters cert has his first name but with mums maiden name as his surname! Anyway 1984 mum took her own life, i was 6 & my sis 10, went in to care for 6years during which time social services did normal checks for living parent but with no success. Since 1990 i've tried everything. I have copy of parents marriage cert which i was then able to get his birth cert from details. Still no luck so thought i'd try his parents then to maybe find a link as he had a brother. Totol dead end. Then I tried finding his daughter from earler marriage again no such luck. I've joined every forum all the online trees done electoral roll check regualarly. I tried every search i can imagine. What i find strange is he had a brother older than himself two children one of which i no the first name and rough age. I've his parents names yet there seems to be no existence of him or his relatives. I dont no what else to do. Please please any advice at all would be very much appreciated. Andrea :(

Hi everyone, In need of some good advice, warn you the twists in my search are unbelieveable. Basically i've spent more time money & enegy on searching for my natural father than even I can believe! Cut long story short in 1981 my mother left my father in yorkshire & came south. He was a wide boy!! Changed his surname regularly. My birth cert has what I believe to be his real name but my sisters cert has his first name but with mums maiden name as his surname! Anyway 1984 mum took her own life, i was 6 & my sis 10, went in to care for 6years during which time social services did normal checks for living parent but with no success. Since 1990 i've tried everything. I have copy of parents marriage cert which i was then able to get his birth cert from details. Still no luck so thought i'd try his parents then to maybe find a link as he had a brother. Totol dead end. Then I tried finding his daughter from earler marriage again no such luck. I've joined every forum all the online trees done electoral roll check regualarly. I tried every search i can imagine. What i find strange is he had a brother older than himself two children one of which i no the first name and rough age. I've his parents names yet there seems to be no existence of him or his relatives. I dont no what else to do. Please please any advice at all would be very much appreciated. Andrea :(