General Chat

Love Annie but found it similar to doing my own tree illegitimate babies included.

Very sad about Mary's life and little Jessie liiving in such povery around the corner from the 'upstanding member of the community'. Wonder if he sat on the Kirk Council to admonish the mothers. Sad that Jessie died so young after having such a short time with her own family.

Nice to see that the descendents appeared to live much more comfortable lives.

Vera

after hearing that poor Mary was summoned before the church council I was heartened to hear that they also brought the men before the council too!! quite a surprise - I thought "here we go again" the poor female admonished and the men get away with it, but not so

I take it back.....good episode last night.

As an Aberdonian, living in Aberdeen knew all places
she visited, very surprised to see she was able to get
into Broadford's derelict factory.

Also enjoyed seeing other areas which I haven't visited
in ages, must make a point (weather permitting) next year
to go there.

Emma

One thing they could have included to educate FH researchers.

On one of the census searches, there were two results. If she had looked at the other one and then dismissed it (or wondered if it was correct) it would have given a better impression of real life research problems.

I much prefer programmes which go back to the early 20thC or before. Although WW1 is 'history' to me, WW2 is 'Living Memory' to our parents if not to us and not quite so interesting. It's probably a generation thing.

Annie Lennox's programme was interesting, even for someone without Scottish connections.

Something I learned last night was that the name 'Jessie' was a form of Janet, I wouldn't have picked up on that if I had been looking for the name. So does that mean I should re christen myself Jessie..................nah.-jl

Found the story gripping last night. They answered a lotof questions. Also seemed to fit a lot in in the time allowed.

Only (small) quibble was I would have liked to know how many families/people lived in the court and in how many houses, where the widowed Mary lived with her children, just around the corner from her father and half-sisters.
I think that that info. would have made the contrast even more massive.

Janet, I thought that it was useful to know that in Scotland Jessie could be another name for Janet. Might come in useful in my research.



:-) :-) :-)

I enjoyed last night's prog too. My only wish is that it is all made to look so simple and that there is someone you can call on wherever you visit to provide you with all the info you need. It presents false ideas that it is all too easy-peasy and all you need is a relative or two and a computer.

What about us writing to the BBC to ask for a programme explaining how it all works - or doesn't?

It kind of reminds me of Ground Force. You too can be Tommy Walsh and Alan Titchmarsh at the weekend if you just watch 30 minutes a week.

Hugh Dennis I believe is in tonights episode.

I know him from 'Mock The Week' programme

Emma

A bit disappointed

Too only do research on two members of his family which was all WW1 got a bit boring

It was the most boring one I have watched,more of a history lesson than family related.

Maryb.

I found it very interesting last night myself. It was different to what I had expected. I knew Hugh's father had been an Anglican Bishop and assumed he came from a blue-blooded family. Coal miners from Scargill's heartland was not what I expected at all.

Most of us probably lost close family in WW1. And we tend to record "KIA. Buried in Henin" or similar. But, up until now, only the final Blackadder has really brought home what the brothers of both my grandfathers actually went through - and how totally brave they were.

The programme last night drove that home even more to me. Both survivors (luckily for Hugh) but it affected his family tremendously.

And, although I have no roots at all in Scotland and Annie Lennox seemed to have no roots south of the lands of the thane of Cawdor and must have been a direct descendant of Macbeth, I enjoyed last week's too.

I also felt disappointed in last nights episode, but
saying that can understand how John and others
could find it interesting.

Emma

Again I found this boring.
It was only about two people and not about showing as the program states Who do you think you are.
Nothing about his ancestors apart from the two featured, very disappointing.
This series unfortunately is getting worse instead of better, perhaps its because GR have a hand in it.? don't know.
Yes, the part about the first world war was interesting, but apart from that, nothing.

George.

Next week Alex Kingston researches her family tree.
She investigates the military life of her great grandfather,
and her possible Jewish roots which goes back several
generations on a x times grandmother.

Emma

I also found it rather boring...much prefer when they go further back and not concentrate solely on the war...maybe the men like that ..but I find it a bit maudlin even though the soldiers were very brave.

I find it getting a bit Boring and repetetive,most people on here have grandparents who served inWW1 and some in WW2 also.get some one of interest on and show us how we can get the same results and help in the same manner the BBC does,after all its our licence money that pays for it. :-S

I also found it a bit boring

Maybe because an hour before I had watched a repeat of Gerry Springer's family during the war.Those who were murdered and those who escaped.

Genuinely heart breaking story and wonderful when he was surprized to meet a family member.

I have watched all of them so far. Good series, I think my favourite was Gregg Wallace. What a hard life his ancestors had.

Very good viewing in my oppinion. Can't wait for next week - hoping it is Alex Kingston. She is a good actress. Enjoyed her in Molly Flanders.

Dee

I found it boring,,and his voice was boring as well

Mmmmm............ not too interesting but I guess once the groundwork has been done it must be difficult for a production team to say to a celebrity 'sorry but there is nothing of interest in your past'. Not to mention what it has already cost to come to that decision. That isn't the fault of the celebrity but more the team for not seeing what might be of interest.

I believe that Michael Parkinson was told his past in Barnsley was nothing special ,but going down a mine where most of his relatives worked can be made interesting. There is a mining museum just a few miles away and showing what conditions children as young as 6 had to endure can give some background to what many children and adults had to endure to earn a crust.

Its sometimes 'reality checks' that make us appreciate what our forefathers endured in order for us to benefit in modern times. Whilst the carnage of WW1 cannot be compared numerically with being down the mine the devastation of injury,death, entombing,gassing etc is no different to the conditions which prevailed in those dark days.-jl