General Chat

Hope you enjoy reading and get a sense of the day. I had a really great time.

A Genealogical Gathering Earlier this year, a group of avid family historians came together for a casual chat about their personal experiences with genealogy. Daniel Longman went along to find out what goes on. On the afternoon of February 25, a collection of amateur genealogists from all over the country descended upon the town on Middlesbrough for a get-together commonly known as a Meet. At these Meets, members of the popular genealogical website GenesReunited, who have become well-acquainted via the company’s General Topics Board, congregate and amongst other things, discuss their family history. Barbara Readman was our very hospitable host. She had spent many hours organising the day, making sure our transport, meals and accommodation were all arranged. I arrived at Middlesbrough station at one o’clock after a long but nevertheless pleasant journey from Birkenhead. Once there I was met by three fellow historians, Glynis Preston, Sue Smith and the hostess herself. We drove to the initial meeting point where we had lunch and met with the majority of the members who would be taking part in the discussions. After brief introductions we sat and ordered our food. Over the clatter of cutlery and general banter, I could hear snippets of information regarding all manner of interesting stories, each being related between hungry mouthfuls. I was keen to follow up these cases later that afternoon and discover the interesting details that lay beneath them. By four o’clock we had moved on to the Newlands Lodge, a small but pleasing guest house where we commandeered the lounge and claimed it as our own; now I could investigate the stories in depth. The first tale was recounted to me by retired secretary Mary Orton, and she showed me her father’s military medals. George Simey, who was born in 1906, had always been interested in the Army. So much so in fact, that he ran away from home in an unsuccessful attempt to sign up during his teenage years! However, as soon as he was old enough, George achieved his patriotic ambition and joined the Coldstream Guards. Mrs Orton recalled how her father was very proud of the fact that he had stood on duty outside Buckingham Palace and also at King George V’s lying-in-state in Westminster Hall “It was a memory he always cherished” she told me. With the outbreak of war in 1939, George was called to fight for his country and served as the Regimental Colonel’s batman, his personal servant. His time in the army took Private Simey to North Africa, chasing Rommel, and then later into Italy where he took part in the Battle of Monte Cassino. “My father survived the war but unfortunately the experience did not do his health much good.” explained Mary. She went on to describe how he suffered from terrible memories of his active service which continued to haunt him to his dying day in 1961. Mary was obviously very proud of her father and his dedication to his king and to his country. Next to inform me of a facet of her findings was former zoo café manager Glynis Preston. Her research into the Davies side of her genes led her to discover some startling contrasts in the coffers of her ancestors. Ann and Emma Davies, Glynis’ great, great aunts were born in 1831 and 1835 respectively. Despite their virtually identically upbringings, the two sisters would go on to lead very different lives. “Emma married and was living comfortably in a lovely house in Kemberton. In later years Thomas Gough, her husband, paid for six separate burial plots, side by side, for his whole family. It must have been at quite a price!” Mrs Preston went on to tell me that she found her sister to have enjoyed a somewhat less favourable lifestyle. “Ann had a baby, Martha, in 1850, however she was illegitimate. For at least three years Ann and her daughter lived on her parent’s farm in Wellington, but by 1861, things had changed. They had moved out of the family home and ended up in a poorhouse, living in poverty.” Nowadays Glynis reflects sombrely on the hardships of her family’s past. “It made me think how different paths in life can lead to a family becoming socially divided, and that because of a pregnancy out of marriage, a woman could be treated as a public disgrace.” It was certainly a thought-provoking end to a story awash with disparity. As I sat listening, dictaphone in hand, a lady by the name of Ann Lazenby tentatively approached. She was keen to tell me of a short maritime tale that she had uncovered in her own family tree. “My fifth great uncle, William Guy was a lifeboat man, and on Christmas day 1836, he received a distress message.” Ann informed me how the forty-one year old was forced to hurry from church and out to the shore as news of an awful wreck spread about the town of Redcar. “He was washed overboard trying to save souls!”

Ann exclaimed. This was turning out to be a very tragic time for the Guy family, and no doubt destroyed any festive joy at what should have been a time for celebration. “His decaying corpse wasn’t discovered until about twelve days later, allegedly found washed up at Saltburn, a small town in North-East England” Mrs Lazenby looks back fondly on William Guy even though he was born over one hundred and fifty years ago. To her, time is no barrier and she is happy to have what was an undeniably brave and courageous man to claim as a relative. The final remarks recounted to me soberly were from one of the few males who attended the Meet. Thirty year old Andy Cook, an I.T consultant, informed me of his on-going efforts to raise money for Cancer Research. However, you won’t catch Andy rattling a box outside your supermarket; he is off on a 100KM trek across the Sahara desert! I did begin to wonder what on earth this has to do with genealogy, but Mr. Cook proceeded to tell me the reason for his intended adventure. “I was inspired to take part in the fundraising idea by a friend called Gaynor Fear. She died in April 2005 after bravely coping with terminal cancer for several months. She was a well-loved member of the GenesReunited community and had many supporters wishing her well.” After hearing of a number of fellow online members thinking about organising the trip to help raise money, Andy leapt at the chance. “Spurred on by Gaynor’s bravery and having known friends of my family die from this terrible disease, I wanted to be part of this monumental challenge.” He and fifteen others will be venturing across Africa later this year. So it appears that the ‘Middlesbrough Meet’ as it was christened, was an unparalleled success! Over the day I heard many more tantalising bits of family sagas being gossiped to and fro. From the struggles with Irish ancestors, to the tribulations of prisoners of war, it was all discussed. It was surprising to see for myself how family history does not just deal in the past, but also brings like-minded individuals together today in the present. It was most certainly a fascinating and worthwhile visit. Daniel Longman

Brilliant, Dan! Well written and well done. If anyone wants to read something intelligent on this Board, they need look no further. CB >|<

:-))))))))))))))))))))))))))))))

Well done Dan ((()))XXXX

Brilliant write up.Dan. Sue

Marvellous read Dan. Very interesting. Think you deserve to write a column every week in one of the tabloids. Could have a career there!! Maureen x

Excellent Dan! Well done

Good in theory Maureen but I don't think I could keep up with the alcohol consumption :-)

*Phew* !!!!! sighs of relief :0) Joan

Err Joan, remember, photos :-)

:-)

Gosh , at the Scottish meet we don`t tell such interesting tales,! Rosalyn

Thank you, Daniel. :-)

Very well written Dan. What's that about the alcohol? I'm quite sure you could keep up with it, from what I saw lol

Tracy you were very quiet (from what I can remember, ha, not much) you should have came over and said hi. I didn't want to interrupt the girly chats you see :-)

I'm sure we could have let you into our little conversations ;) Did I tell you that guys scare me? pmsl Feel much safer talking to females, who I can understand lol

Guys maybe, but I'm a wee child! :-) What was said in those little chats of your's? I couldn't quite hear.

Oh Daniel, I couldn't possibly reveal what we were chatting about. Confidentiality an' all that lol Maybe next time we can include you :)