Who do you think you are ? - BBC2 25 Jan

[Ted]

Hi Everyone

Did anyone watch the above genealogy documentary on BBC2 last night? Stephen Fry (and I do confess that I am not his biggest fan) was involved in tracing his ancestors etc - I only caught the start of the programme when excercising my male prerogative of 'hogging' the remote and surfing 50 channels at once - and quickly got enthralled with it.

The researchers had traced his ancestors back a few generations - transpired that some of his line went back to the Austrian / Hungarian Empire around WW1 - during the course of the programme the poor guy discovered that many of his ancestors were Jews who died in various death camps during WW2. He was moved to tears several times during the programme - no wonder. I must admit that I also shed a tear for his loss.

I wonder how many of us involved in our searches for the details of the lives of our ancestors - which frequently provide us all with such joy - discover such tragedies.

I for one will not miss any future episodes of that programme.

Ted

[sporran]

Hello Ted,


likewise, I grudgingly admired his obvious intelligence in programmes such as QI but I was no fan until last night. This was probably the best programme to date, although the makers still annoy me by glossing over some family lines for ones with a better story.

The star for me was the lady who had quietly put up a commemoration on a building for the residents killed in the war. She reminded me of the volunteers who, even now, are quietly searching fields mainly in Belgium and who do everything possible to identify remains and contact their relatives.

One other noteworthy point was that Stephen mentioned that he had been in jail for credit card offences during his "stupid youth" phase. After recent fusses with politicians in the UK, it was noticeable that there was no mention today of this "revelation". Honesty is the best policy.


Regards,

John

[nancy]

Hi Ted,yes i missed beginning as hubby was watching footie,and i forgot it was on.Like you,what i did see was so sad! It was Sheila Hancock last week and she was clutching a photo of an ancestor.not even knowing her name.Everywhere she went she showed it to the people,and i was so happy for her when she eventually found who she was and got a name for her! When i think of all the old photos in my box and i'm never likely to name them,or know what happened to them! Maybe sometimes it's better that way.Cheers Nancy. PS We'll need to set reminder for it

[nancy]

Hi John,yes i agree with you,the one about the War Memorial was very good.It made me start taking an interest in mine.Now i don't hurry past in the hustle and bustle with everyone else.I now take time to spare a thought for those who fought for us. Cheers Nancy

[Lorna Allison]

Hi folks

All dittos, I love the series.

Nancy, I started serious "family seeking" last year and, come November 12 when passing the local war memorial, went to have my first good look (after some - eh, no I won't admit how many decades in the area). Reading the wreaths I found one left to commemorate the Bevan Boys, who apparently went down the mines during the last war to keep the coal coming, many dying there or afterwards due to mining induced illnesses. There were lots of ways of supporting the country - and dying for it.

Ted, re your sad family stories. I recently had a fantastic lot of help from this site, in starting off my quest for my family line in Wales. Since then I have discovered a girl of 25, who is probably a cousin of my grandmother's, and listed in the Portlottyn, Glam 1901 census as a "PENITENT" living in a children's home run by the Sisters of Mercy and working as a "shirt seamstress". So many "penitents", inmates, 15 and under all female and working and then of course all the scholars.

Can't stop thinking about her. Whether she is mine or not I hope to find out more about her somehow, just want her to have had someone who cared! Oh, cheer up can't you - maybe they were kind to them all. . . . .

Lorna

[MaryB]

I had a tear in my eye as well for Stephen Fry. Missed the first 2 shows, Jeremy Paxman family history would have also brought a tear to the eye. Next week i think it is Julian Cleary, not going to miss that

a link to the show and stories below

http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/familyhist ... lery.shtml

****Lorna have sent you a PM - i also have Crosgrove from Glasgow. I did contact a Steve Cosgove a few years ago ( TV sports commentor) his family hails from Ayr and Glasgow****

[Tracey]

So far two of my favourite "TV" people have been on it Jeremy Paxman and Stephen Fry.
I thought the most poigniant part, not forgettign the plaque, was at the end when he read that letter without telling his family who it was from until he had finished.