I always use local registrars for certificates because most of them are so helpful and go well beyond the call of duty - at no extra cost. There are exceptions like Islington! I also prefer the fee to go into the local Council coffers rather than the Treasury!. Barry Hepburn On 24 Sep 2011, at 08:01, [email protected] wrote: > Message: 1 > Date: Fri, 23 Sep 2011 09:46:50 +0100 > From: "Diana Bouglas" <[email protected]> > Subject: [SOG-UK] GRO Certificate Ordering (was Principal Probate > Registry One Hour Service) > To: <[email protected]> > Message-ID: <[email protected]> > Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1" > > Geoff Swinfield was invited to attend a small, one-off focus group > meeting, with three other users of the certificate ordering system. > I wonder if this might have been connected to John's approach by > GRO. It was hosted by IPS/GRO representatives on Tuesday (21 Sep). > One was from Southport and the others were London-based and weren't > so familiar with the specifics of the service. He was by far the > heaviest user present (about 20 certs a month). The other three had > used the system very little. > > > > They seemed to be concerned about why people might not use their > online ordering service, eg ordering from local registrars or > through intermediaries such as Ancestry and also not ordering at > all, perhaps using parish register versions of marriages or just > relying on the index entries.

Geoff Swinfield was invited to attend a small, one-off focus group meeting, with three other users of the certificate ordering system. I wonder if this might have been connected to John's approach by GRO. It was hosted by IPS/GRO representatives on Tuesday (21 Sep). One was from Southport and the others were London-based and weren't so familiar with the specifics of the service. He was by far the heaviest user present (about 20 certs a month). The other three had used the system very little. They seemed to be concerned about why people might not use their online ordering service, eg ordering from local registrars or through intermediaries such as Ancestry and also not ordering at all, perhaps using parish register versions of marriages or just relying on the index entries. The one thing they were very definite about was that their digitisation program (DOVE, MAGPIE etc) is now half complete but will not be continuing because of lack of funding. Recent BMD indexes will continue to be produced on fiche but will not be placed online. Also discussed were the possibility of obtaining cheaper, uncertified copies of historical records (as with ScotlandsPeople) and also the withdrawal of the checking point option. My first thought was that this might have been set up in order to satisfy some IPS obligation to consult. Diana Bouglas Geoff Swinfield Genealogical Services www.gsgs.co.uk http://www.researchlondon.info/ <This really is not a fair comparison. I can't imagine that many applications for probate records are potentially life-saving, if any. There must also be far fewer people affected by the changes to the probate service than would be by a dramatic reduction in A & E services. The reduction in service is, nonetheless, regrettable but also inevitable given the state of government budgets. The real answer is surely to make the probate records, along with BMD certificates, available to download thus eliminating any delays in service. Sadly, this also has a cost which is unlikely to be one that can be met at the moment or in the foreseeable future. That said, I was contacted by the GRO a few months ago regarding possible changes to their certificate service; does anyone know if anything has happened more recently ? John B Leic., Eng >

I attended a users' meeting where this was explained.  There were two reasons for deciding to close on Fridays, low visitor numbers and not wanting close on Mondays the same day that TNA is closed.  Jenny --- On Thu, 22/9/11, J K gen <[email protected]> wrote: From: J K gen <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [SOG-UK] London Metropolitan Archives revised opening hours To: [email protected] Date: Thursday, 22 September, 2011, 12:07 I believe the decision to close on Fridays was based on visitor numbers. Since there were fewer people going in on Fridays then fewer people would be affected. Use it or ... you've lost it! J ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Dear Jill Thank you - I have followed up on your suggestions. April Wood Ashton On 20 Sep 2011, at 23:46, Jill Williams wrote: > Hi April > > Sorry not really a subject I know anything about. > > I had a look on google and the only entry of possible use I could see is an > item > > "British Exhibitions and their Postcards Part 1. 1900-1914. > > by Fred Fletcher & Andrew Brooks. > The first comprehensive book on exhibition postcards, for many years the > "Bible" that helped many collectors, and was partly responsible for the > formation of the Exhibition Study Group. Only 18 copies left. > > Published : - March 1978. Publisher : - Fred Fletcher & Andrew Brooks. > ISBN : - > > From : - Mike Perkins, 4 Churchill Drive, Amblecote, Stourbridge, Worcs.. > DY8 4JS. Price : - £2.50 post paid in UK." > > Have you contacted the Exhibitions Study Group to see if they have anything > useful in their journal - http://www.studygroup.org.uk > > If you want to identify Cork dignitaries of the time you may find the > following book of use - Hodges Cork and County Cork in the Twentieth > Century. Its Contemporary biographies section is edited by W. T. Pike & is > described as a unique ‘who’s who’ of the nobility and gentry of Cork city > and county at the beginning of the 20th century, many of them accompanied by > photographs. It is available online at > http://www.corkpastandpresent.ie/genealogy/pikescontemporarybiographies/ > > Failing that I suggest a message on the Cork City or County rootsweb mailing > list or facebook pages or contacting the Cork Genealogical Society at > http://www.corkgenealogicalsociety.com/ > > Jill Williams > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

"Don Montague" <[email protected]> wrote : Subject: Re: [SOG-UK] Principal Probate Registry One Hour Service > At 08:00 22/09/2011, Diana Bouglas wrote: >>Following Else's post about the impending Friday closure at the LMA, >>a further reduction in services for visitors to London record >>offices is the withdrawal this week of the one hour copy service for >>wills at the Principal Probate Registry at First Avenue House, High >>Holborn. <snip> > If an A&E department at one of our hospitals announced that the > waiting time had been increased from one hour to five 'working days' > there would be a national outcry. > > Does the Principal Probate Registry think it will save staff costs by > taking this measure? Or are they just hoping to decrease demand, so > that they can meet it with fewer staff? This really is not a fair comparison. I can't imagine that many applications for probate records are potentially life-saving, if any. There must also be far fewer people affected by the changes to the probate service than would be by a dramatic reduction in A & E services. The reduction in service is, nonetheless, regrettable but also inevitable given the state of government budgets. The real answer is surely to make the probate records, along with BMD certificates, available to download thus eliminating any delays in service. Sadly, this also has a cost which is unlikely to be one that can be met at the moment or in the foreseeable future. That said, I was contacted by the GRO a few months ago regarding possible changes to their certificate service; does anyone know if anything has happened more recently ? John B Leic., Eng

Loss of one hour service at Holborn is hardly life threatening. J On 22 September 2011 11:18, Don Montague <[email protected]> wrote: > If an A&E department at one of our hospitals announced that the > waiting time had been increased from one hour to five 'working days' > there would be a national outcry. >

I believe the decision to close on Fridays was based on visitor numbers. Since there were fewer people going in on Fridays then fewer people would be affected. Use it or ... you've lost it! J

I get those emails too. I don't think they're about promoting the show, though, so much as promoting Find My Past on the back of each episode :) Will On 22 September 2011 09:53, <[email protected]> wrote: > > Am I the only one who has been receiving regular emails from findmypast > telling about the "Who Do You Think You Are?" programmes? They always tell > me about the subject of the programme and remind me to watch. Problem is - > they arrive every Thu morning telling me to watch the show that has been > transmitted the night before (Wed). I know you can catch it on i-player, > but if they want to urge people to watch "live", shouldn't those promotional > emails be going out earlier? > Mary T > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message >

At 08:00 22/09/2011, Diana Bouglas wrote: >Following Else's post about the impending Friday closure at the LMA, >a further reduction in services for visitors to London record >offices is the withdrawal this week of the one hour copy service for >wills at the Principal Probate Registry at First Avenue House, High Holborn. > >They say this is 'until further notice' but they have also >redesigned their application form and the only two options are now >to collect in five working days or to receive copies by post, which >can take about three weeks. (This postal service is not to be >confused with the one operated from Leeds which, I understand, also >takes quite a long time these days.) If an A&E department at one of our hospitals announced that the waiting time had been increased from one hour to five 'working days' there would be a national outcry. Does the Principal Probate Registry think it will save staff costs by taking this measure? Or are they just hoping to decrease demand, so that they can meet it with fewer staff? Unhappily Don Montague

Hello Mary, You are not the only one receiving the FMP emails pushing WDYTYA. Personally I don't watch it because it is too "celebrity" oriented. I think us lesser mortals have just as fascinating ancestry. However a friend in Australia did send me a video of the programme about Barbara Windsor, from which I found that, like her, my family, on the distaff side, has a link to THE Constable family. Although I think we are a bit closer than her. <grin> Game, set and match? Alan Carcas ----- Original Message ----- From: <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Thursday, September 22, 2011 9:53 AM Subject: [SOG-UK] better late than never? > > Am I the only one who has been receiving regular emails from findmypast > telling about the "Who Do You Think You Are?" programmes? They always > tell me about the subject of the programme and remind me to watch. > Problem is - they arrive every Thu morning telling me to watch the show > that has been transmitted the night before (Wed). I know you can catch it > on i-player, but if they want to urge people to watch "live", shouldn't > those promotional emails be going out earlier? > Mary T > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

I think they intend it to be an afterthought. Just to wet your appetite to use their services having seen what can be achieved. I do think however that the recent two series on the programme have bee a little disappointing - little to do with family history back into the past more to do with what happened in the 1st WW and since. What we want is how to get back beyond that frustrating 1837 block and still be able to research on-line. Being of advanced years does make it impossible to go rushing aro0und the country looking for information. Chris Stupples.

Am I the only one who has been receiving regular emails from findmypast telling about the "Who Do You Think You Are?" programmes? They always tell me about the subject of the programme and remind me to watch. Problem is - they arrive every Thu morning telling me to watch the show that has been transmitted the night before (Wed). I know you can catch it on i-player, but if they want to urge people to watch "live", shouldn't those promotional emails be going out earlier? Mary T

Following Else's post about the impending Friday closure at the LMA, a further reduction in services for visitors to London record offices is the withdrawal this week of the one hour copy service for wills at the Principal Probate Registry at First Avenue House, High Holborn. They say this is 'until further notice' but they have also redesigned their application form and the only two options are now to collect in five working days or to receive copies by post, which can take about three weeks. (This postal service is not to be confused with the one operated from Leeds which, I understand, also takes quite a long time these days.) Diana Bouglas

Hi April Sorry not really a subject I know anything about. I had a look on google and the only entry of possible use I could see is an item "British Exhibitions and their Postcards Part 1. 1900-1914. by Fred Fletcher & Andrew Brooks. The first comprehensive book on exhibition postcards, for many years the "Bible" that helped many collectors, and was partly responsible for the formation of the Exhibition Study Group. Only 18 copies left. Published : - March 1978. Publisher : - Fred Fletcher & Andrew Brooks. ISBN : - >From : - Mike Perkins, 4 Churchill Drive, Amblecote, Stourbridge, Worcs.. DY8 4JS. Price : - £2.50 post paid in UK." Have you contacted the Exhibitions Study Group to see if they have anything useful in their journal - http://www.studygroup.org.uk If you want to identify Cork dignitaries of the time you may find the following book of use - Hodges Cork and County Cork in the Twentieth Century. Its Contemporary biographies section is edited by W. T. Pike & is described as a unique ‘who’s who’ of the nobility and gentry of Cork city and county at the beginning of the 20th century, many of them accompanied by photographs. It is available online at http://www.corkpastandpresent.ie/genealogy/pikescontemporarybiographies/ Failing that I suggest a message on the Cork City or County rootsweb mailing list or facebook pages or contacting the Cork Genealogical Society at http://www.corkgenealogicalsociety.com/ Jill Williams

Dear Jill Thank you for that - but no luck with my search in Donnybrook. Do you have any knowledge about The Irish Exposition of 1907 and in particular the English Pavilion/ Village or whatever? I have some very old photographs, I believe taken there and I am trying to identify the location and some of the apparently notable people in them. The Canadian Pavilion is the only one I have seen illustrated so far - on a postcard. Or can you guide me as to where I should be looking? April Wood Ashton On 20 Sep 2011, at 19:05, Jill Williams wrote: > Hi April > > Are you just trying to pinpoint a particular individual family if so maybe a > postal directory would be of help. Here is a link to the Donnybrook section > of Guys Cork City & County Postal Directory for 1907 > http://www.corkpastandpresent.ie/places/streetandtradedirectories/1907guyscitycountyalmanacanddirectory/1907pages316to397/ > > There are a number of postal & trade directories covering Cork in existence > from 1787 onwards. Some of them are online. > If you get into London both the Guildhall library and the Irish > Genealogical Research Society libraries hold collections of Irish trade and > postal collections. > > Their websites are at > http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Libraries/City_of_London_libraries/guildhall_lib.htm > and http://www.igrsoc.org/ > > Jill Williams > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hi April Are you just trying to pinpoint a particular individual family if so maybe a postal directory would be of help. Here is a link to the Donnybrook section of Guys Cork City & County Postal Directory for 1907 http://www.corkpastandpresent.ie/places/streetandtradedirectories/1907guyscitycountyalmanacanddirectory/1907pages316to397/ There are a number of postal & trade directories covering Cork in existence from 1787 onwards. Some of them are online. If you get into London both the Guildhall library and the Irish Genealogical Research Society libraries hold collections of Irish trade and postal collections. Their websites are at http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/Corporation/LGNL_Services/Leisure_and_culture/Libraries/City_of_London_libraries/guildhall_lib.htm and http://www.igrsoc.org/ Jill Williams

I agree! When I was employed, with school age daughter, I worked 4 days a week and Friday was my day off. So Friday would have been my best day to go to London for genealogy research. I suspect that they polled the staff and found they'd sooner have Friday off (in order to work Saturdays). But it doesn't show much consideration of the customer. Luckily we can still go to TNA at Kew and the Westminster Archives on a Friday. I guess we should count our blessings! Rosemary Morgan London Roots Research www.londonrootsresearch.blogspot.com On 20/09/2011 17:57, "[email protected]" <[email protected]> wrote: >Why do record offices, libraries etc pick Friday for their closures? If >you live out of London, Friday night is one of the cheapest for hotels. >So >it makes sense to come up on a Friday, visit a record office, stay over >night, visit the record office on Saturday (if it's open) and then buzz >off >home. Sunday night is also cheaper in London hotels but the record >offices >are open that day so you'd only have Monday to do your research. > >Midweek is usually the most expensive in London hotels. > >I know everyone won't agree but I just needed to get that off my chest! > >Mark @ Yetminster (which isn't in London) > > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >[email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hello Christopher Apologies for not contacting you off list but I can't see your direct email. If you contact me direct at [email protected] I can see if the event you have in mind is suitable and will post accordingly.   Else Churchill Genealogist Society of Genealogists 14 Charterhouse Buildings Goswell Road London EC1M 7BA direct phone 020 7702 5488 visit the Society of Genealogists' Website www.sog.org.uk   www.Findmypast.co.uk proud to sponsor the Society's centenary year   WOULD YOU LIKE ADVICE ON YOUR FAMILY HISTORY? >From beginners onwards: all queries and problems welcomed.  Phone our dedicated family history advice line on 020 7490 8911 Thursdays 6pm - 7.45 pm;  Saturdays 11 am - 1pm  and 2pm - 4 pm The Society also runs regular one-to-one advice half hour advice sessions with experts at the Society’s library on alternate Saturdays from 2pm. Telephone the library direct on 020 7702 5485 to book an advice session or library tour.   This email and any attachments are confidential and intended for the addressee only. You must not use, disclose, reproduce, copy or distribute the contents of this communication unless explicitly permitted to do so. If you have received this in error, please contact the sender and then delete this email from your system without further distribution or use. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message and attachments that do not relate to the official business of The Society of Genealogists are neither given nor endorsed by it.   Registered Charity No. 233701.  Company limited by guarantee.  Registered No. 115703.  Registered office as above     -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[email protected]] On Behalf Of Christopher M Richards Sent: 13 September 2011 17:02 To: [email protected] Subject: [SOG-UK] Publicising non SOG genealogical events Every now and again somebody puts a list of forthcoming genealogical events on this list. I have an event in mind but don't want to misuse the list: so please will the person who compiles list of events contact me off list so that a decision can be made about whether it can be included. Christopher Richards ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

I have been asked to distribute the following London Metropolitan Archives will be operating revised opening times from Monday 14th November Revised opening hours for London Metropolitan Archives >From Monday 14 November 2011 there will be changes to weekday openings at LMA. LMA will close on Fridays, but there will be an extra late night opening on Wednesdays (as well as Tuesdays and Thursdays) until 7.30 pm. The new opening times are:- Monday 9:30am - 4:45pm Tuesday 9:30am - 7:30pm Wednesday 9:30am - 7:30pm Thursday 9:30am - 7:30pm Friday CLOSED For Saturday openings please check the website <http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma> http://www.cityoflondon.gov.uk/lma Else Churchill Genealogist Society of Genealogists 14 Charterhouse Buildings Goswell Road London EC1M 7BA direct phone 020 7702 5488 visit the Society of Genealogists' Website <http://www.sog.org.uk/> www.sog.org.uk www.Findmypast.co.uk proud to sponsor the Society's centenary year WOULD YOU LIKE ADVICE ON YOUR FAMILY HISTORY? >From beginners onwards: all queries and problems welcomed. Phone our dedicated family history advice line on 020 7490 8911 Thursdays 6pm - 7.45 pm; Saturdays 11 am - 1pm and 2pm - 4 pm The Society also runs regular one-to-one advice half hour advice sessions with experts at the Society's library on alternate Saturdays from 2pm. Telephone the library direct on 020 7702 5485 to book an advice session or library tour. This email and any attachments are confidential and intended for the addressee only. You must not use, disclose, reproduce, copy or distribute the contents of this communication unless explicitly permitted to do so. If you have received this in error, please contact the sender and then delete this email from your system without further distribution or use. Opinions, conclusions and other information in this message and attachments that do not relate to the official business of The Society of Genealogists are neither given nor endorsed by it. Registered Charity No. 233701. Company limited by guarantee. Registered No. 115703. Registered office as above

In a message dated 20/09/2011 17:57:34 GMT Daylight Time, [email protected] writes: but the record offices are open that day so you'd only have Monday to do your research Obviously I meant *are not* open that day .... and I wondered how long it would take for someone to mention Poet's Day ;-)