Genealogy Chat

In paper today regarding the Carol Vorderman episode.

A woman in a newspaper shop was asked to say she knew the building in the picture Carol was going to show her even though she didn't.

Apparently it was late in the day and no one else they had asked had recognized it. So one of the producers told her that it was Bodnant Hall. The lady today said that although she had been there when her kids were little the photo was of the back of the Hall which isn't open to the public.

Linda

I enjoyed Alaister McGowan best.

The one my cousin made me laugh about was John Hurt, he thought he was from someone of repute. and found not. My cousin a good old cockney, said to me ' poor s... what a let down.'

I've just managed to watch the Alaistair McGowan episode which I'd recorded and I thought it was the best so far.

You know, Rachel, I often think that too. I'm sure most of us have uncovered scandals and surprising events in our trees that are just as interesting as the ones the stars come up with. For instance, I'm stuck on my Hurst line because the first one cunningly got married before the first census and never had his in-laws over on census night! And that is just a minor brick wall.

The Griff Rhys Jones one had me almost shouting at the screen when they had that certificate issued in West Derby reg. district because they were shown thinking it was Derbyshire. My great-grandma was born in Bootle, which was West Derby, and I know that on top of the certificate it says "in the county of Lancaster", so that annoyed me because the film makers were making a mystery out of nothing much at all.

Oh, the other thing that gets me is when they go to record offices and they magically get access to all the certificates and records just in the blink of an eye.

The staff are always so helpful, bringing out old documents, none are ever like the woman in Lincoln register office who asked my mum and I, "Are you sure you know what you're doing?" in a very patronising tone.

Maybe we need to be famous Kate!

I think ( I hope) most people have found staff at records offices helpful. She must have been a one off!

I agree Rachel, they should do a series on us not so famous folk. I could do with a trip to Kew with the help of the BBC. I need to find two sea people in my tree.

I find it amazing how far into a programme they go before getting a certificate!!
We get this 'I have no idea who my grandmother was' . I am shouting 'Get the certificate then!!' at the TV.

maggie

I'm sorry for Carol Vorderman whose story appears to have been spoiled. This was not her fault.
The film makers should have just admitted that no local person recognised the place but that THEY had traced it anyway.
The facts weren't changed though, just the fact that someone "recognised" the house.
Wendy

Could be, Rob. My lot are in the Ormskirk/ Aughton/ Lydiate area of Lancashire. Inconveniently they were Catholics so they don't tend to show up on the LDS site.

Oh, and Sue, the "ditto" one in Barbara Windsor's annoyed me. As does it annoy me when people appear to have no trouble finding their relatives on the census - the families are never mistranscribed as Millday instead of Willday (like mine) and they never change their birthplace through the census (as I imagine almost everyone on here has seemed to find at some time or other).

Has anyone else bought the WDYTYA magazine? I've found it to be a really good read. It explains that they have researchers working in the areas they will be visiting for weeks before they start filming. They thought they'd fooled us all into thinking it's that easy didn't they lol? not a chance, we know the truth.
There is an advert on the back for a 30 day free trial of Ancestry if anyone hasn't had one yet.

Caz

Whilst watching the Alaister McGowan episode I followed on the IGI - up to, I believe, the last two generations. Could have saved the BBC a lot of money travelling all the way to India.

Joe

I watched Alistair McGowan's show from tape, the other night.

I was impressed by the way that he managed to remain open-minded, calm, seemingly without huge expectations, ready to accept what was given him and quick to warm to what was actually revealed.

Very scientific in his approach.

At least until the end when he revealed he had a hankering after a Scottish link, didn't get it and the Producer finally got the obligatory, crestfallen celeb, money shot.

The history was fascinating too. A Sri-Lankan colleague at one place I worked explained to me that there still are a lot of Portuguese surnames out there (which I'd mistaken for being Spanish, at first). Now I realise that it was even more widespread than that, so I've learnt something new.

In crowd scenes in documentaries about India, the camera often seems to fixate on the one guy who looks most different to the others around him, whose face could easily pass for European, if not for the skin tone. There's that mystery solved.

How far back would Alistair have to trace to find out that his Irish forebears were (possibly) Scottish colonists?

How much of a stretch would it be to think Gowan to be a corruption of Govan?




Mark

Hi Deetortraining

6 of 7 Graham Norton: Tonight (Thurs) BBC1 9:00pm


3 of 7 Griff Rhys Jones: Early am (Fri) BBC1 12:55am (w signing and subtitles)

The early am repeats are great for when you miss an episode. With the Carol Vorderman one, the telly was on but I think that was my first night on GR, which I was so fixated on that, in effect, I missed the whole thing!


Mark

Does anyone know if and when the Carol Vorderman one is repeated? I missed it and have been following the series.

Thanks