Sat 17 September, time tbc
Caribbean Evening [talk]
at Holy Trinity Church, Aston, Birmingham
[S/B]

Sat 1 + Sun 2 October, 10am-5pm
Black History Live [event]
at Wembley Stadium, London
www.blackhistorylive.com
[S/B]

Sat 1 October, 2pm
Introduction to Caribbean Family History [workshop]
at Lambeth Archives Open Day, Minet Library, 52 Knatchbull Road, London SE5
www.lambeth.gov.uk/archivesopenday
[LAM]

Thu 7th + 13th October, 6.45pm
Beginning your Family History [workshop]
at The Drum, Birmingham
www.the-drum.org.uk
[S/B]

So while we recover and start planning for next year we thought we’d share  Carlston’s reflections on the Caribbean Family History Group’s first time at the world largest family history event.

(l-r) Fathia + Carlston – Caribbean Family History Group Solihull and Sharon Tomlin – www.familyhistoryjamaica.com

“I know that I went feeling excited and thinking that we could at least say we had been there and perhaps have visits from the odd person, but the reality has been far different!

It has become clear to me that Caribbean Family History is not a side show in within Genealogy/Family History but a mainstream activity!

On Friday, and continued on Saturday, it has been the normal ‘punters’ to the show – ‘White/European’ British enthusiasts – that have been coming along and saying:
‘I have a family member who was from or went to Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago etc….. What can you tell me?’ In hind sight this should not be a surprise, but it was! A gratifying one.

Other things they have said – ‘Can I have your information for a friend of mine, or my son in law etc… who wants to/or to help them do their research in Jamaica…?’ One woman was even trying to get gemmed up so that she could surprise her  friend on her 50th birthday, with a family tree!

Yesterday, the attendee mix was greater – many more with African Caribbean descent and with a focus of starting their trees or extending further back.  But once again we were busy all day with all sorts of enquiries, ending in Fathia and I giving our workshop with Sharon Tomlin in the afternoon.  I had visits from the show organiser’s asking us how it was going and I had the chance to share with them what I had learned from the first day.  I heard enough to think that they were glad that we were there.

Thank yous so far must go to:

• Kelly and Ayshah from Caribbean Family Group (Lambeth) and all their hard work in conjunction with ours to get things sorted and adding the great knowledge to what we had to share!
• Fathia of course!
• Sharon Tomlin of www.familyhistoryjamaica.com and www.familysearch.org
• All the Solihull group that has attended to visit the show and help out at the stand – Cynthia, Sharon C, Dennis L, Dawn, Marilyn, Fiona, also…. (have I forgotten anyone?)
• Guy Grannum who has made his booklet on starting Caribbean Family History available for sale, along with some other books – and they have been selling well. He also came across and spent the afternoon on our stall helping the public with advice, which was very helpful! Also someone from Ancestry.co.uk did the same thing on his time off!  They had wider expertise to help with some of the questions about the islands outside our main focus as a group.  However, these questions are that we intend to get to grips with in due course.
• Others who I should have remembered but have forgotten (forgive)  and some I have yet to speak to but will comment on in due course.”

The Caribbean Family History Group will have a presence at this weekends Who Do You Think You Are? Live, an entire weekend dedicated to family history research.

We’re really exciting to take part and represent  in Caribbean family historians. You can find us at Stand No. 311 so do pop along and say hello.

Ticket are still available and the event is on until Sunday 27th February.

For more information go to www.whodoyouthinkyouarelive.co.uk

1. Welcome and Update of our activity – including a) Nottingham Exhibition, b) talk in Nottingham on Feb 12th, c) Who Do You Think You Are Live – family history show (recommended attendance for 26th Feb 2011), Update of Microfilm Records coming to Midlands.
2. Starting/Recording your research – If you have not started your research we will get you started on paper pedigree charts and on computer using PAF (Personal Ancestral File) Family History Software.  Help will be on hand for you.
3. Extended your use experience and completion of your family tree on PAF - led by Fathia, and supported by others
4. Internet Researching - Using the internet to become more familiar with websites we know and those that we are new to
5. Short Presentation by Cynthia McClaren – a new member of our group – on how she got started with the aid of a website showing a good deal of detail of her father on the ship to England.
6. AOB – Plans for the near future a) working with Newstyle Radio.

It may be that point 1. will fall into AOB if everyone is too engrossed in starting their research.  We will play it by ear.

 A special invite to new members who we met at the Exhibition who have not attended yet.  We do want to help you start your research, but we don’t have the time to do it for you.  However, if you make the time in your diaries and come along, we will help you start.

 Regards,

 Carlston

Join us at the final day of the exhibition (Saturday 12th February) where there will be a worksop to get you started on your own family tree.

Address and Location: Nottingham Central Library, Angel Row, Nottingham, NG1 6HP

The exhibition and Workshop day was a success – a great success – and all those involved essentially found it rewarding.  As a first event – a well done all round!  At the meeting on Saturday 27th November where we did a review, it was said by some present that we should not have been having a review, but rather having a celebration! 

For those who asked about military records, check our Military section in a day or so – I will upload some links and articles.

On a final note, get down to the family history centre in Kensington. Once you get started you will be hooked!