General Chat

Its Sheridan Smith tonight

Let’s hope it keeps us interested - personally I have not liked any of the TV things she has been in,even if I wanted to watch the TV programme she always seems to put me off somehow or some way.

So I won’t be watching the show just for her

Found it absolutely rivetting. Learned some new things about Irish history.
Far more enjoyable than the Julie Walters one!!!

And the fact that the Black and Tans never operated in Dublin, was a new one for me. And had never heard of the Special Unit. Was all very 'spooks' to me.

And Brendon did say at the beginning of the programme that the murder of his grandfather was what he was interested in finding out about. So you knew from the outset that this show was going to be more like a cold case murder than genealogy.

I agree the history was very interesting my mum was born in 1922 right on the boarders with the south so I know some of the history but its always nice to find out more

I'm glad you enjoyed it too Tabitha :-)

As history it's a period and subject that interests me as I have Irish ancestors who will have been affected, if not actively involved. There's quite a bit online if you google the officers name.

I found it amazing - I agree with you Rose - a wonderful documentary & very interesting.

However not a Who do you think you are programme as such - its amazing the information that is now available.

I want to find out more about the murderer now - he seems a right nasty piece of work

I learnt so much about the real IRA and the things that happened in Ireland

I only ever grew up with the NEW IRA & bombs

Its inspired me to read up about it & Michael Collins

I did not fall asleep or even move from my chair -

This really was one of the ones that is worth watching

I learnt such a lot – not about genealogy but a social history I was not really
aware of & made a lot more sense now.

I love a good murder mystery and it made such a difference from the Tamzin one where I couldn’t wait for it to finish.

Disappointing, quite boring and not genealogy.

It was social history.

In answer to an e mail I have just recieved from Genes.
No, I have not been inspired by WDYTYA.
For one thing, I had been researching for many years before the programme started & for another, although it´s entertainment, it´s hardly a realistic interpretation of research

Agree with you Joan...no genealogy...
he knew the history, just wanted the name
of the killer.

Emma

Yet another disappointing load of boring trash from GR.

Foggy

I'm afraid I got bored with it. Concentrating on one person is not my idea of a WDYTYA programme. I was hoping they would delve further into his ancestry and create a family tree but alas it didn't happen.

GP

We had a 'clash' both with watching and recording. After reading other people's opinions, I sha'n't bother to find the I player version.

I thought it showed how important newspaper stories were/are!
I only hope that was one of many photocopies he was pencilling on.

My g g granddad, George moved from Buckinghamshire to become a metropolitan policeman in 1851. The same year I found his brother James, in the census, in Aylesbury prison! I initially though the poor boy (he was 18) had been caught poaching, to feed his family.

A few years later, I had limited free access to Gale newspapers (later, available free if you join Lancashire Library). I looked him up to see what he'd done.

He'd only tried to derail a train, to thieve from it, in the village where he lived - Cheddington, later the scene of the Great Train Robbery :-0

Further research revealed that he had probably been thrown out of his house, was a mouthy so and so, and not the sharpest tool in the box - unlike my gg grandfather who was, according to my gran, intelligent, very quiet and moral. He actually managed to stay a policeman for 25 years (lots were found drunk and sacked) and got a pension - not a 'right' at the time.

I also read in the papers about how a railway detective had travelled to Cheddington, pretending to be a match maker (as in the strikey things, not couples) and hung around the pub listening to the locals, to try and catch the perpetrators of the crime.
He did!

Jim served 2 years, and later owned a farm which gran used to visit, so he 'turned good'.

I loved it, my coffee didn't get made , I didn't fall asleep and I didn't come on here half way through :-D

2 100 yr old murders solved within 1 hr with just 1 old newspaper clipping I thought I was watching new tricks :-S

That bored me to tears! I should have watched a re-run of 'Morse'

I defer to your knowledge Rose :-)
Never thought it would be widely known but
now pointed out I suppose it would be.
Will watch with interest now :-)

I'm sure they wouldn't Emma, but the alleged killer is already 'out there' in terms of public knowledge of his actions in Ireland at that time. If he has living family they must already know his history.

With the history as you say Rose of the Black and Tan I
would not have bothered period, as I say to what point
in knowing the killer, some family members of the killer
may not appreciate this being shown.

I would think it is only recently that an irishman trying to research the actions of a Black and tan in 1920 would be able to do so 'safely', ie without arousing the attentions of the 'powers that be' . Call me suspicious but would you have looked into the murder of a Sinn Fein member of your family by the military during the 70s or 80s , which is when he might have been expected to look perhaps? I wouldn't have.

But point taken that it is a storyline that won't appeal to many, unless it has some relevance to them, and not really about genealogy so much as a specific part of history. But then WDYTYA hasn't really shown people how to DIY since the first series or so i don't think? other than a quick shot of someone looking at a census or the details on a cert it does nothing to show a newbie 'how' ...only perhaps 'why' . :-)

I agree Joan, it's not that he couldn't afford to find this info
himself, it is disappointing that we are only getting one
storyline.

Emma