Episode 4 of Who Do You Think You Are? continues tonight on BBC1 at 9pm with actress Lesley Sharp. Widely acclaimed star of films such as The Full Monty, Vera Drake and the Scott and Bailey TV Series, she has played many varied roles. Adopted at just six weeks old, the show promises to discover the family of her birth father whom she knew so little about.
As well as Lesley's own adoption, the programme also covers her great great grandfather and his work taking in Barnardo's children. Although not a wealthy man, he looked after a number of children before they were shipped to Canada to work as farm hands and provide much needed labour for Canadian farmers.
It promises to be an other fascinating episode in an excellent series so far. Will you be watching?
TheGenealogist has taken a look into Lesley’s family history, if you’d like a preview before the show tonight, go to http://www.thegenealogist.co.uk/featuredarticles/wdytya2013_sharp.php
Lesley Sharp, featuring on Who Do You Think You Are?
After watching the third episode of Who Do You Think You Are? on BBC1 last night, I feel the series so far has been excellent and the intriguing family history story of Minnie Driver and her ancestors did not disappoint.
Last night's episode had family scandal with love affairs and illegitimate births, brave war hero exploits and the psychological scars of war and the discovery of relatives (both living and dead) she had previously not known ever existed. A very interesting discovery of family history!
Ronnie Driver pictured with his mother Jessie after returning home a war hero
What did you think? Let us know! The next episode features the actress Lesley Sharp who also has a very interesting ancestral history by all accounts!
Minnie featured with her late father Ronnie Driver and son Henry
The excellent series of 'Who Do You Think You Are? continues on BBC1 tonight, featuring Hollywood actress and singer songwriter, Minnie Driver. Born Amelia Fiona Driver in 1970, Minnie has had a successful film and TV career, appearing in a number of roles. Her family history also maps out like a script from a film with a number of unexpected events! Her father and grandfather both led double lives and her father also became a reluctant war hero after his exploits at the Battle of Heligoland Bight in 1939. It promises to be a very interesting programme.
TheGenealogist has done some initial research into Minnie's family history, so if you'd like a snapshot before the show please visit their website.
Minnie Driver features tonight on BBC Who Do You Think You Are?
Latest news from The National Archives features the release of hundreds of UK government files from the year 1983, to the TNA, as the government begins the ten year transition to a '20 year rule', down from the previous 30 years, for transfer and release of files and information.
The National Archives website states that two years' worth of government records will be released every year until 2022 and files from 1984 will be released by December.
The latest files detail the end of Mrs Thatcher's first term in office as victory in the Falklands War helped propel her to a second successive election triumph in June 1983. There are files on the US-led invasion of Grenada which was one of a number of foreign policy challenges that year. There was also the arrival of American cruise missiles in Greenham Common amid a general deterioration in East-West relations.
There's more information available from The National Archives website.
I found the Nigel Havers episode of Who Do You Think You Are? last night on BBC1 another interesting and very watchable programme, following on from Una Stubbs and her journey last week. The series so far does seem to have improved in format, coupled with some very interesting family history stories.
Last night's episode was both interesting and varied. Ranging from a clever businessman in Colchester who suffered ill-fortune and bankruptcy after building up a very successful set of businesses, to the life and times of his ancestors who worked in a mill in Cornwall who suffered both personal tragedy and scandal. All a far cry from the posh actor from a recent legal dynasty!
Hopefully the TV series continues to be as good as the first two episodes. I'm already looking forward to the Minnie Driver programme next week!
Not quite as posh as we expected, Nigel Havers on Who Do You Think You Are?
The second episode of the popular series 'Who Do You Think You Are?' continues tonight on BBC1 at 9pm. Featuring actor Nigel Havers, it promises to be another great episode after the emotional and 'coincidental' journey of Una Stubbs last week.
Nigel Havers has played many upper class roles over the years and it was assumed his family history would produce a long line of aristocratic characters. However, despite his immediate family consisting of a number of high profile, successful legal professionals, it appears Nigel comes from a family of far more humble origins!
TheGenealogist has looked into his background if you'd like to know more before the show tonight. The featured article can be found here.
Nigel Havers features tonight on Who Do You Think You Are? on BBC1 at 9pm
Here at Family History Social, we've just received the latest e-mail news from S&N Genealogy Supplies with the latest developments.
Firstly, there's news of the new release of nearly 500,000 Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen Ship Crew records on TheGenealogist, now available to view.There's also some great offers on archival products and new data CDs now available.
There's an article on royal babies and the new series of Who Do You Think You Are? and a special research offer to subscribe to TheGenealogist available for a limited time. It’s all available here.
TheGenealogist has launched a new resource for those with sea going ancestors. The new 'Ship Crew Lists' give details of over 439,000 Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen records which are searchable by name, rank, age and ship. The full crew list can be displayed for any of the ships.
Covering the years 1851-1911, these include lists and agreements for those involved in merchant shipping and ship crews for those at home ports, sea and abroad. Details given may include age, place of birth, rank and ticket number, previous and current ships with ports of registration, dates and places of joining and leaving and reason for leaving.
The records are taken from a variety of sources including the unique TNA ‘BT98’ records, not available online from any other source. There's more information available from TheGenealogist website.
TheGenealogist has now added over 439,000 Royal Navy and Merchant Seamen records
Latest news from S&N Genealogy Supplies and TheGenealogist is the announcement of a new promotional partnership with 'Unlock the Past' Cruises.
Offering an international programme of history and genealogy cruises, ‘Unlock the Past’ provides the perfect opportunity for a relaxing holiday and to learn more about genealogy at the same time.
All the major conference cruises feature an international team of presenters and a programme with international appeal.
The expanded cruise commitment follows on from the success of the first three ‘Unlock the Past’ cruises. With over 70 different topics and 38 different sessions, the next tour to Southern Australia in February 2014 is fast booking up.
Nigel Bayley, Managing Director of S&N comments: “We are pleased to develop a promotional partnership with ‘Unlock the Past’ Cruises. Their previous cruises have been very highly regarded and with well- known speakers such as Chris Paton, Else Churchill and many more from around the world, it is the perfect way to combine a cruise and learn more about your family history whilst you holiday! We look forward to supporting ‘Unlock the Past’ in their future genealogy cruises.”
To book on the next cruise, travelling around the coast of Southern Australia, please go to http://www.unlockthepastcruises.com/
Don't forget the new series of Who Do You Think You Are? starts tonight! It's at 9pm on BBC1 with what promises to be a great first episode on Una Stubbs. The link between Una and one of the founders of two new towns in Hertfordshire promises to be one of a number of interesting family history stories. Will you be watching?
