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Welcome to the new Genes Reunited blog!

  • We regularly add blogs covering a variety of topics. You can add your own comments at the bottom.
  • The Genes Reunited Team will be writing blogs and keeping you up to date with changes happening on the site.
  • In the future we hope to have guest bloggers that will be able to give you tips and advice as to how to trace your family history.
  • The blogs will have various privacy settings, so that you can choose who you share your blog with.

The British Newspaper Archive

British Newspaper Archive

Read about historical events at the time they were happening. Perhaps you'll discover your ancestor in their local newspaper?

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Technical Update - 21st September 2011


Published in Phil Moir's Blog on 11 Oct 2011 11:12 : technical genes reunited : 0 comments : 6471 views

The last release was performed on 21st September 2011, but am afraid with a few days off sick, and progress being made on the next release, I forgot to post an update of what was included in the last release.


Len Goodman on Who Do You Think You Are?


Published in Genes Reunited Blog on 6 Oct 2011 11:49 : goodman who do you think you are : 0 comments : 4968 views

What a great episode of Who Do You Think You Are? last night! It was the turn of Strictly Come Dancing star Len Goodman to trace his family history.


Who Do You Think You Are? Len Goodman - Episode 9


Published in Genes Reunited Blog on 5 Oct 2011 14:08 : goodman who do you think you are : 0 comments : 3078 views

Strictly Come Dancing judge Len Goodman delves into his family history on this week's episode of Who Do You Think You Are? Will he uncover that dancing runs in his family? Here's a sneak peek at what we've found out.


Richard Madeley on Who Do You Think You Are?


Published in Genes Reunited Blog on 29 Sep 2011 14:12 : madeley who do you think you are : 0 comments : 5366 views

Richard Madeley was born in Romford in 1956 to a British father and Canadian mother. He knows quite a lot about his father's side of the family but wants to look more into his mother's side.


This week's episode of Who Do You Think You Are? delves into the family history of Richard Madeley, who is famous for his role as a chat show host with his wife Judy. The episode looks set to focus on his maternal Canadian family history. We've done a little digging ourselves and found some interesting information.


Robin Gibb on Who Do You Think You Are?


Published in Genes Reunited Blog on 23 Sep 2011 14:11 : gibb who do you think you are : 1 comment : 5661 views

There have so far been mixed reviews about last night's episode of Who Do You Think You Are. There were no amazing family revelations, no travelling abroad and the research venture back much further than 1850. However, I for one was particularly interested in last night's episode because it covered issues that are quite likely to come up in many people's own family history.


Adam Turnbull's flight to South Africa in 1947


Published in Phil Moir's Blog on 20 Sep 2011 16:19 : turnbull klm travel air flight : 1 comment : 13447 views

In 1904, Henry B Turnbull boarded a ship in Southampton bound for South Africa, never to return to his home town of Edinburgh and unlikely to ever see his parents or siblings again. Some 43 years later, after both the Great War and the Second World War had ended, he invited his older brother Adam (my great-grandfather who was 82 at the time) to visit him in his new homeland of South Africa. This is the letter written by Adam Turnbull, recounting the troubled decisions he had to make before taking on the flight, the bizarre encounters with people who knew his name, the journey in incredible detail and sadly, only briefly of his experiences in South Africa. Even more sad is the scant mention about his family reunion. And then he recalls the sudden departure by ship because of illness (or home-sickness), his journey through the destruction that was still evident in post-war London and finally his return to Edinburgh.


Who Do You Think You Are? Robin Gibb - Episode 7


Published in Genes Reunited Blog on 20 Sep 2011 14:28 : gibb who do you think you are : 1 comment : 7383 views

The next episode of Who Do You Think You Are? will delve into the family history of Bee Gees singer, Robin Gibb. We think they will focus on Mathew Gibb, a decorated soldier and Robin’s paternal great- grandfather. Not wanting to spoil any surprises in the show (that would be a tragedy) we have looked into the early life of Robin Gibb.


Alan Carr on Who Do You Think You Are?


Published in Genes Reunited Blog on 16 Sep 2011 11:50 : carr who do you think you are : 0 comments : 9279 views

This week's Who Do You Think You Are is the family history of the comedian and presenter Alan Carr. Alan was interested to find out more about his paternal grandfather Wilfred Carr who played football for Newcastle between 1928 and 1930. Alan's own father, Graham, also has a career in football. He is the chief scout for Newcastle United. Alan's memories of his grandfather are of him as an old man kicking the football with his walking stick! So he was surprised to learn how talented his grandfather had been.


Who Do You Think You Are? Alan Carr - Episode 6


Published in Genes Reunited Blog on 13 Sep 2011 13:09 : carr who do you think you are : 1 comment : 5870 views

TV comic Alan Carr was born in Weymouth, Dorset, and grew up partly in Northampton where he went to Weston Favell School. His father is Graham Carr who used to be Northampton Town and Nuneaton Borough F.C. manager. On his father's side, his family hail from North East England. Carr has a younger brother, Gary. The show is said to examine whether Alan has any ancestors linked to football and fame.