WDYTYA?Live 2016

What a fantastic few days of jam-packed genealogy at the 10th year of Who Do You Think You Are? Live!

There was the usual tempting timetable of talks, and for the second year running Family Tree’s expert brickwall researcher Mary Evans’ talk was sold out (we’re not surprised - her advice is top-notch and we take our hat off to her).

Many other familiar names from the magazine were sharing their expertise giving excellent talks too - Adele Emm, Simon Fowler, Keith Gregson, Celia Heritage, Mike Sharpe and Simon Wills to name a few.

With the ask-the-experts’ advice sessions, plus the family history societies and the giant data website stands, world-class one-to-one family history advice was right at hand throughout the hall. And with stands brimming with all sorts of genealogy books, tree charts, software, tools and treats, there was everything you ever needed for your family history all under one massive roof at the NEC.

A big thanks to everyone who popped over to our stand to say hello - it was wonderful to catch up with friendly faces old and new. It’s always intriguing and exciting to hear what people are discovering in their family history research. Here we share just some of the gems:

Gareth and Elaine won a DNA test kit, prizes awarded by Tony Robinson. With the help of family history enthusiast wife Elaine, Gareth is hoping to prove a family tie to an Australian Prime Minister.

With just 2 minutes to go at the end of an ‘Ask the expert’ slot, in which Simon Wills was advising on naval family history - he made a remarkable discovery. The ancestor in question, named Pollard (who family lore maintained had served with Nelson), turned out to be the person who shot the sharp-shooter who shot Nelson at the Battle of Trafalgar in 1805!

And subscriber Mr Cowherd shared his impressively dishevelled tree with us at the stand. Mr Cowherd’s family connections link to WW1 poet Wilfred Owen, Beatle George Harrison and the assistant of telephone inventor Alexander Graham Bell. How’s that for a mix?

You really never know what genealogy will turn up do you? Til next year!

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1. Gareth and Elaine who are hoping to use the DNA test they won to prove a link to an Australian Prime Minister.
2. The stylish Hall of Names stand – over a million surname histories to choose from.
3. Mr Cowherd proudly displaying his remarkably battered tree – which has links to George Harrison, Wilfred Owen and Alexander Graham Bell’s assistant!
4. Rosalind Anderson’s beautifully illustrated Edwardian album which she shared with us at the stand.
5. At the end of WW1 many local communities clubbed together to buy thank you gifts for their returning servicemen. Here Sarah Lee shows a valuable solid gold example, presented by Barrow in Furness.
6. A close-up of Sarah Lee’s WW1 solid gold servicemen’s thank you present from the Bowness community.
7. Simon Wills – who discovered a descendant of the man who shot the sharp shooter who shot Nelson at Trafalgar!
8. The replica spitfire at the show.
9. The Hartas couple – of extremely useful website Local BMD.
10. The Western Front Association stand.
11. The Family Tree stand at Who Do You Think You Are? Live at the NEC, 7-9 April.