I am proud to have known Colin Excell. Under his leadership as our Chairman, SFHG moved from the 20th to the 21st Century. There are so many things that were achieved when he was Chairman and the following are but a selection: The growth of the SFHG Web Site; The development of the Frontis site that enables our Members, wherever they are in the World, to advance their research; The partnership with the PRTS that has ensured that the data from all the West Sussex parish registers up to 1900 is now accessible; The creation of the SFHG Events Team that attends family history fairs to advise on research problems from members and Non-Members alike; The SFHG Room at The Keep; And so much more.... Of course, he was supported by our Executive Committee and by all our active volunteers, but It is perhaps only now that he has passed from us, that we will become aware of all the numerous small things that he contributed to our Group. I learned of Colin's passing on Monday evening when our current Chairman, Mick Henry, was kind enough to telephone me with the news. That same evening, I raised a glass to Colin's memory and I encourage you all to do the same. This was a man who deserves to be remembered with every respect. Don't forget Judy Excell either. She has lost a husband, friend, fellow family historian and so much more besides. So, I echo Mick's request that we remember Judy in our thoughts and prayers in the very difficult weeks and months that follow. Marion Woolgar Bognor Regis, West Sussex SFHG Member No: 3323

As someone from the US, I never knew Colin…but after reading the below, I can see that he contributed much to SFHG. I belong to a genealogy group in Wisconsin and it is very hard finding good volunteers—and often it falls on just the shoulders of a few. He seems to have been one of these special people. DeAnn (from Wisconsin, US) > On Sep 10, 2015, at 4:44 PM, Marion Woolgar via <sfhg@rootsweb.com> wrote: > > I am proud to have known Colin Excell. Under his leadership as our > Chairman, SFHG moved from the 20th to the 21st Century. There are so many > things that were achieved when he was Chairman and the following are but a > selection: > > The growth of the SFHG Web Site; > The development of the Frontis site that enables our Members, wherever they > are in the World, to advance their research; > The partnership with the PRTS that has ensured that the data from all the > West Sussex parish registers up to 1900 is now accessible; > The creation of the SFHG Events Team that attends family history fairs to > advise on research problems from members and Non-Members alike; > The SFHG Room at The Keep; > And so much more.... > > Of course, he was supported by our Executive Committee and by all our active > volunteers, but It is perhaps only now that he has passed from us, that we > will become aware of all the numerous small things that he contributed to > our Group. > > I learned of Colin's passing on Monday evening when our current Chairman, > Mick Henry, was kind enough to telephone me with the news. That same > evening, I raised a glass to Colin's memory and I encourage you all to do > the same. This was a man who deserves to be remembered with every respect. > > Don't forget Judy Excell either. She has lost a husband, friend, fellow > family historian and so much more besides. So, I echo Mick's request that > we remember Judy in our thoughts and prayers in the very difficult weeks and > months that follow. > > Marion Woolgar > Bognor Regis, West Sussex > SFHG Member No: 3323 > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SFHG-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message DeAnn McAllan 809 Acacia Lane Madison, WI 53716 510-501-0528