Island Life Magazine Ltd February/March 2011 | Page 63

Island Life - February/March
2011 at 60...
ISLAND
LIFE is great

Who Do You Think You Are?
Finding out about the past is fashionable
but if you are over 60, you already have much
to contribute yourself.
Whenever family history comes up,
someone invariably says “I wish I had
asked my parents about that.” What
they did in the war, where they went to
school, what was grandmother’s maiden
name? Once the last aunt or uncle dies,
the answer to those questions is buried
with them.
Even if you have no children, first
hand experiences of the past are a
valuable gift to future generations. If
you already have grandchildren then
their descendants will thank you for
your foresight in telling them about life
in the 20th century.
Start with the obvious things:
- Write down your name at birth and
the date and place that you were born,
also adding the names and ages of any
brothers and sisters. Names alone are
a fascinating piece of history. Some
are firmly rooted in a particular time –

Dorothy, Edith, Edna, Nellie, Reginald,
Sidney, Albert – all suggest the first half
of the 20th century. They might also be
a valuable source for anyone looking
for an old fashioned, family name for
the latest arrival.
- Note down the address of the
house(s) you grew up in. Descendants
may well enjoy finding the property that
was once part of their heritage. Record
details like whether it had a bathroom,
coal fire, what grew in the garden. If
it has been demolished then any detail
will add to the picture.
- Make a note of your parents’
occupations, where they were born
and, if applicable, where they were
married. Photos of weddings are
invaluable, not only for revealing family
members, but also as an example of
contemporary fashion. If you can, write
the names of the wedding guests on
the back.

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- Record your mother’s maiden name
and if possible, that of both your
grandmothers – tracing women is
always harder for this reason. If you
know where they were born and if/
where they worked so much the better.
Why not give your mind free rein and
indulge in some good, old fashioned
nostalgia? Where did you go to school
and what was it like - the teacher, the
classroom the uniform the lessons?
How old were you when you left?
What was your first job and how
much did you earn? Anything about the
method of work can throw a fascinating
light onto the way we lived then.
Memories of the war, of national
service, going to the cinema, going to
dances, all flesh out the picture of life
in the last century. These memories may
one day be as treasured as the china
dogs or mantel clock that you pass on
to your dear ones.

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