The newly-formed Medway Discussion Group held its first meeting. It was informal in style and started with tea and biscuits. The subject, which had been agreed in advance, was ‘How and why we started our own genealogy research’. All those present were given the opportunity to share their stories.
People had different reasons for starting their family history journeys. For some it was a retirement hobby, another had run out of other adult education courses to pursue. Some people were fascinated by a particular member of their family, be it their unusual name or their photograph on a mantel piece. One member became engaged in their hobby on finding a particular marriage certificate in a loft. Another had their interest sparked at an early age by a royal family tree in a children’s encyclopaedia. Sometimes interest was sparked by a conversation with an older family member and the tales they told. One person was inspired when the death of an older family member coincided with the birth of a grandchild, so the past and future seemed to collide. Whatever our reasons for starting, that initial spark lead to a hobby that has lasted for years or even decades.
Report by Helen Stenhouse