Before embarking on tracing my own family, I decided I needed to actually know what I was doing. So, I signed up for an Institute of Heraldic and Genealogical Studies (IHGS) course in family history, which formed part of the University of London Extra-Mural Diploma & Certificate in Genealogy and Family History, which I completed in 1990.
I spent long hours in St Catherine’s House, London, poring over the large volumes of birth, marriage, and death records, and even more hours in Portugal Street, scouring microfilms of the census, all in the hope of finding an elusive ancestor – and all-too-often wishing they had lived in a small village rather than the populous streets of London.
It’s a process that requires immense patience, discipline, and organisation. The triumph of discovery is often accompanied by disappointment and frustration. But I was hooked and went on to study for the IHGS Higher Certificate.
This was followed by various courses at the Open University to enhance my understanding of related subjects, such as Religion in Victorian Britain, and Family and Community History, all of which culminated in a BSc (Hons) degree.
After many years of researching my own family, I decided to go back to studying, and in 2021 was awarded a Diploma in Genealogy by IHGS, a qualification for someone who wants to follow a professional genealogical path.
I am an AGRA Associate, a member of the Register of Qualified Genealogists, a member of IHGS and the Society of Genealogists, along with being a member of various local family history societies.
Having enjoyed the process of finding my own ancestors, I am now committed to the path of helping others to discover theirs.