Hi everyone -- I see that the offer made yesterday (31 Jan) by Roy <royday@dial.pipex.com> to share names/info from the records of Protestants deported/held prisoner has caused a bit of a stir! <g> That is, we've already had people post with requests to Roy for look-ups. I think this is great but I also think some some things need to be clarified before this flurry of requests gets bigger......... First, I think Shirley's idea about posting the info on the list website is a good one. I hope Roy is willing to do that but I think it will take him some time to put the information together (in his words, the info is "very long"). Second, I also think posting the information on the list (as well as the website) is a good idea -- I don't regard it as "clutter" (Roy's word) -- goodness knows I clutter up the list enough myself <g>. Look-ups are also a fine idea. This list is here for the purpose of sharing information -- that's what it's all about. It's really up to Roy as to how he wants to handle it because, after all, he will be the one doing the work. Whenever look-ups are requested on the list, however, I must ask those listers making the requests to please take some care with those posts. This is very important. For example, in this situation, please <snip> (delete) all of Roy's post from the end of your own message before you send it to the list. Otherwise, we will have duplicates (triplicates, etc, etc) of Roy's post on the list and in the archives (this has already happened). And please, take a few moments to add a few details in your request, referring back to the original look-up offer (in this case, Roy's post) with the date. This is an opportunity for you to tell us a little bit about your surnames and why you are asking for a look-up. Adding such details is also for the benefit of new subscribers who've just joined us. They will have no idea who you are directing your question to, what you asking for and why you're asking if you don't give them some reference to go by. Finally, this is what Roy said at the end of his post -- < I will be away on holiday until the 17th February and it will take a day or two to plough through the mail that arrives during that period before I reappear. > I may be wrong but I think Roy is saying here that he will *not* be available to read any list posts until he gets back from his holiday on 17 Feb. Therefore, I don't think look-up requests will be dealt with by Roy for over two weeks. I have sent a personal message to Roy, asking him to clarify and also to ask him how he would like to go about sharing his material. Please stay tuned for further information -- but this may not be until mid-February, unless Roy reads this post (or the personal message I sent him) before he leaves for his holiday and has time to respond. Andrea