General Chat

Wow Trevor you must have done some searching! The show was brilliant and after reading your updates I am amazed. good luck with your searches. Maggie

Thanks for sharing your story Trevor. I have to say I really enjoy the programme. Nicky

Enjoyed the programme very much, Trevor. It was better than last week`s but Bill Oddie story was sad. Wonder how many others on GC have relatives who are on telly? Hope you find Cyril`s birth cert. Rosalyn

Thank you, Trevor, for sharing so much with us. Joy

Trevor, what a fantastic family you have tapped into.... the support network is fantastic!! I hope it wasn't too painful for anyone to meet the family they didn't know they had... my thoughts are with all those that you and us are yet to find!! :O)

Thanks for updating us Trevor. Good wishes to you and your family for the furure and Happy Hunting! Jeanette x

Thanks for all the positive replies, really glad you all enjoyed it...It was especially pleasing for me although I had the contacts 18 months ago,which followed a year or so of tracking the various people down..this I passed to the independant TV company, who took from it what they needed. The party was great and although I had met everybody (apart from Karen, but had spoken to her numerous times) (Amanda hadn't met anybody prior to the show), it was gratifying to know that I had played a part in making it all happen. The biggest break was finding Cyril's death certificate, having drawled though Pilling and Herrington, and St.Ledger deaths at the Local library on microfiche, checking over 40 years, quarter by quarter. That gave me the address he was living at...wrote to it, no response, then wrote to others in the same street, fortunately it went to someone who knew Karen, who passed it on to her, the following day she called me. My problem we all have is that there are so many branches of our family trees ....if we are serious about it...My Grandmothers is one of them obviously, but the bulk has been the paternal line of Herrington, this I have researched back to 1600..I had hoped originally that this would be featured as well, but I suppose time rerstraints and all that. But the Herrington line has always been my main priority! So, to answer a few of the earlier questions on this thread, No I haven't tied down Cyril's birth certificate, but will someday I hope, when I return to my Grandmother's line No I didn't see a preview of the programme And yes we do keep in touch to an extent...There were also other's filmed who didn't make on to the programme! Amanda has been brilliant, my eldest daughter Nicola has just finished LAMDA drama school in London, and Mandy has been so supportive in so many ways, I owe her so much, and they are great friends too. And especially to SAZ IN HAPPY HERTS (spot on!) Just like to leave you with this, it wasn't shown but was recorded...how the whole family thing came about....... In 2001 my youngest ....Aunt Charmian Died at an early age, by the way there are 3 other siblings Joan, Tony (my Dad), and another brother Francis (not on the show)... At the funeral or at least in the pub afterwards, Amanda ,Joan my Dad, and myself were talking about family, and was astonished to learn that my father didn't know who his grandparents were on either side, because my Grandfather William cut himself from his family in Suffolk, and also refused to let my Grandmother see her folks..There were other reasons for this, but will leave it there. So I decided to find out...as you do....the rest is history as they say...I have loved it, and given something back to the family, perhaps even brought us closer together. Also the mystery of Cyril was talked about, don't forget at that point 3 years ago, Cyril was an estranged brother, no one knew he was illegitimate...my Grandmother went to her grave without telling a soul, how tough is that! She had kept that secret for 50 years and more. He hadn't been seen since 1942, but the wierd thing is that on a certain date in April every year, she always said a little prayer, and had a quiet moment to herself....Joan was aware, every year she noticed, but never knew the reason......It turned out to be Cyril's birthday. And finally, the third event came about because of the funeral. Mandy and I talked, I mentioned that my daughter, then at University, (I hadn't seen Mandy for years at that point), studying Drama, she insisted that Nicola came to her own Saturday Theatre school, gave her personal tuition, which helped her gain entry into LAMDA, which she has just finished after 2 years....They now have the same Agent! So...... I have always believed in fate/karma call it what you will....So much good came out of a tragedy...so thanks to my Aunt, thanks to my Grandmother, at last the story can be told. I believe it was meant to happen.

Nice to put a face to a name Trevor! You are a born natural on the telly, you came across very well! Enjoyed the programme, personally thought it was better than last week's. The party looked great fun - but one thing I'd be interested to know is has everyone stayed in touch? Mandy :)

Beth, the surname they were investigating was St Leger/St Ledger hence they think there is a link to the race itself!!

We too really enjoyed the programme and think it certainly will get more people interested in Family History. Linda x

Hi Trevor I also watched last nights program, although they didn't give you the credit you deserved, I did guess that a lot of the info came from you, and another plee, please can you up-date us on Cyrils birth cert, also I took one look at Amanda and Lyn and could see the resemblence as with you and Cyril...good work from you I thought :)) Bev

I really enjoyed it too, and found it very moving. Also, when you mentioned skeletons just now it reminded me that I recently found an apparent skeleton in my ancestry, and was quite shocked by it - even though G.R. state "expect surprises". Very enjoyable (loved the party at the end), and many thanks to you and your family for letting us into some of your history. As others have said, it really looks as if you've done most of the donkey work. Glenys.

I've emailed trevor about Cyrils birth and will let you know what I hear back!! :O)

Hi Trevor I think reading between the lines the wrong people got the credit for probably all your work and I assume that Cyril's daughter Karen's existance wasn't a huge surprise as it was portrayed. I also think that the suggestion Cyril led two separate lives was unlikely as Cyril's son was born many years before his daughter. I certainly found the Merchant Navy info interesting. And seeing everyone at the end together is probably a dream for many of us. Your family certainly seem to be lovely people. By the way how did you get involved - did you contact Amanda about this or did the BBC track you down? Saz

Thoroughly enjoyed last nights programme and yes I cried too! lol Please Trevor tell us if you ever found Cyrils birth registration under Pilling. And don't you look like him! How long have you been doing your tree and have you found anymore skeletons? Jeanette x

In response to Trevor's comments, I think any kind of documentary that gets shown is going to be subject to a certain amount of "sexing up" (for want of a better term). After all, the research and the story behind it has to be fitted into a 1hr slot, so once you've had some trimming here and a little bit of gloss adding there then to someone who has actually researched the background then it may not seem like a majorly accurate portrayal. Just my thoughts...

Trevor.... I personally thought the show was fabulous but I do agree that they tend to pick up on a thread that dramatises the search, i did wonder how many people watching will think it's really easy to search their tree as they didn't explain just how long it takes to find people!! :O)

Even my hubby ( he who rolls his eyes up to heaven when I've found more of our puzzle) was gripped to his seat . I thought maybe it was because of amanda - but I was proved wrong when he started asking me questions about research. Blimey I've been tracing our family trees for years , some branches with skeletons some with none. LOL I too thought it was a sad tale to tell. Poor Cyril. I too found Karen and Amanda to look very similar . How nice though for you all to have a get together and what a shame Cyril's son Derek had passed away. I adored the old chap who met Amanda at the station what a sweetie . So Trevor a good bit of dective work no doubt on your behalf - did you ever find a birth cert for a Cyril PILLING(S)?!?!?!? Oh and do share us your tale of the HERRINGTONS - what was the skeleton there? lol Much happiness Debi p.s the interactive button the only good bit of info from that was the digital stories last night!!!

I really enjoyed it Trevor and look forward to next week. Rose on the Island

Trevor Do you feel that not enough credit was given to you after all your hard work researching? I would feel aggrieved if it was me. It is difficult to condense the story into a one hour programme, and when all is said and done, it is 'entertainment' first and foremost and I suppose the BBC needed to get the emotional angle. I really enjoyed the programme and shed a few tears during it. I thought Amanda's Mum (your Aunt?) was very brave to allow the filming to show her emotions when talking about her father. Well done. I thought the show was very interesting. Please, please tell us if Cyril's birth was found under the other name :o) Sue