As another overseas SFHG member I was sad to read of Colin's passing. I met Colin and Judy in April 2014 at The Keep and then later at the SFHG conference. They made me feel so welcome. For some reason the image and memory of meeting Colin has stayed with me as the most memorable event of my trip, and I think it was because I was so impressed by the quality of the man. He was energetic, caring, intelligent and I could tell that he was a very good leader for the SFHG. His speeches at the conference re-affirmed this. I could also tell that he and Judy were not just husband and wife, but life-long friends. So sad to see a person of this calibre leave us and I want to say how grateful I am for his contribution to the SFHG. I am constantly amazed at the work done by the SFHG with the county-wide indexes, the wills depository, etc. In my experience there is no other family history group in the UK which has done so much (and got it right!). Geoffrey Barber Perth Western Australia On 11 September 2015 at 05:50, DeAnn McAllan via <sfhg@rootsweb.com> wrote: > 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 > > > > > > > ------------------------------- > 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 >