Start your PicLife

Are you keen to do more to preserve your family memories? Let us help you…

It’s so easy to take things for granted isn’t it?

Your DNA Workshop

In every issue of Family Tree, DNA adviser Karen Evans

Easy ways to record & write your memories

It’s a strange era the perhaps perfect time to write and record our family stories for the future. Here is the Family Tree guide, packed with simple steps from Helen Tovey for getting started – today!

Second World War Medals

Simon Wills takes a look at what medals your ancestor might have earned as a result of their service in WW2

Join the Family Tree Academy & become a skilled family historian

The Family Tree Academy is specially created to help you discover more about the records, resources and research skills you need to become the best genealogist you can be! Read on to find out how join in with Family Tree Academy challenges

The lunch hour genealogist

Being doesn’t mean you have to neglect favourite hobby, you can still learn in your lunch Squeeze just 60 minutes of family into your daily routine and you’ll soon start your tree blossom. It’s time to tuck Rachel Bellerby’s genealogy treats

Mine your memory bank

This month, professional genealogist and Ancestry Hour founder Susie Douglas invites us to tap into our own memories to tease out those unique ancestral nuggets

75 new communities added to Ancestry.com

Ancestry has added 75 new communities to its website for

Plans for a new ‘British Library for the North’

The British Library has issued a statement welcoming the Chancellor’s

New six-part WW2 TV documentary

A+E Networks® UK has commissioned UK production company CIC Media

UK CEMETERIES CLOSED UNTIL ‘FURTHER NOTICE’

Following advice from the government, many councils and cemetery management

New award recognizes ‘selfless dedication’ in Irish family history

The Irish Genealogical Research Society has launched a Valued Service

Bid to keep WW1 soldiers’ club open

A new campaign to save Talbot House from closure has

EXPLORE EARLY TRADE DIRECTORIES

New records from TheGenealogist allow researchers to search for ancestors

Call for transcription volunteers

The National Archives is seeking volunteers to help transcribe First

New study reveals changing ages motherhood

A new study from CompareTheMarket has revealed that the age

Festival cancellation

The organisers of the Daily Mail Chalke Valley History Festival

Show postponement

THE Genealogy Show 2020 has been postponed to June next

YOUR FREE RECORDS

Please find below details of this issue’s records that you,

The day war in Europe came to an end…

Family Tree regular Keith Gregson celebrates the 75th anniversary of VE Day and reflects on its significance to the family historian

The first VE Day

Chris Paton describes the day on which the fighting finally stopped in Europe

Dunkirk 1940 A bittersweet success…

As we remember the 75th Anniversary of VE-Day (Victory in Europe) another significant Anniversary could well be overlooked by all, but a few. John Leete is here to remind us not to forget it. Here he weaves the story of one veteran, Ted, from the time of Dunkirk through to his release as a POW at the end of the war

Dear Paul Dear Paul

We’re delighted to welcome Paul Chiddicks to the ‘genealogical miscellany’ pages of Family Tree. Many of you will recognise Paul from his many inspiring blogs on the FT website, where his nose for a good family history tale is always in evidence – and now he’s looking forward to hearing your stories

Books & co SUMMER READING Histories, novels, memoires & more

A selection of the latest family history reads with Helen Tovey & Rachel Bellerby

Twiglets

Diarist Gill Shaw charts the rollercoaster ride of researching her family history

Getting started with house history

If your house is more than a few years old, the chances are you’ll have wondered who used to live there, what it used to look like and how the area has changed. Here Mike Nutley provides some useful hints to help you learn a little more about the history of your home

Your questions answered

With our experts Jayne Shrimpton, Graham Caldwell, David Annal, Anthony Marr, David Frost, and Simon Fowler

Spotlight on... the Anglo-German Family History Society

If you have ancestors from the German-speaking parts of Europe, the society is here to help you with its publications and advice, writes Jenny Towey

Your LETTERS

Even experts make surprising discoveries ... sometimes after a lifetime of research

GOING DEEPER INTO RECORDS TO FIND YOUR ANCESTORS’ STORIES

Nick Thorne looks at building a family history, using the fascinating life of author Kenneth Grahame as an example, with the early death of his mother and a bizarre workplace shooting just two of the remarkable milestones from his life

DIARY DATES

In the light of Covid-19, the majority of events that we had all looked forward to attending this summer have been cancelled. To try and help you keep busy, learning and entertained, ‘Diary dates’ will be taking a bit of a different format this issue, with a round-up of online courses, exhibitions and webinars to enjoy from your own home

Just following my nose

‘Wake up and smell the coffee’ says the slogan, and late one night recently, Diane Lindsay did just that during a quick final dip into the internet before bed. As you do…