What I remember is the ornate Victorian architecture and the distinctive smell of the old building, the wooden floors that creaked wherever you went and the colourful heraldic pictures on the walls. As a 19-year-old, I was persuaded to join, to my eternal gratitude, by a Colonel Grant, a keen genealogist and a jeweller in South Shields. He acted as my "sponsor" which you had to have in those days. Hew Stevenson, member since 1959 Jobs for the Boys: the Story of a Family in Britain's Imperial Heyday by Hew Stevenson (ISBN 978-1-902563-02-2). £15 + £5 p&p. _www.dovebooks.co.uk_ (http://www.dovebooks.co.uk/)

'The Times' was available in the members' room. The SOG subscription was a better deal than buying a daily paper, and you had a wonderful place in which to read it. Much better than my dingy bedsit of those days. At one of the Saturday afternoon teas I met Alan Rolfe and was friendly with him until he passed on in 2005. Peter Bennett, member since 1974. On 24 April 2014 08:55, Kim Travis <kimztravis@hotmail.com> wrote: > I didn't know about the move, but I do remember Harrington Gardens. Went > there on a day ticket a few times. It seemed extremely old-fashioned, > especially for a teenager. A lovely building full of hidden treasure. I > seem to recall that Boyd's marriage index ran along the top of a grand > mantelpiece. Good memories, but the new place is way more practical to use, > > Kim Travis > > On 23 Apr 2014, at 18:23, jjgduffus@gmail.com wrote: > > > > > Does anyone on the list remember their reactions to the move to New > Building > > from the wonderfully ramshackle premises in Harrington Gardens. > > > > I can recall how nicely accessible the Great Card Index was in its new > > home. > > > > I missed the character and style of the old place and slipping out in > the > > private gardens to have lunch > > > > Wonder if the society plans to mark this anniversary? > > > > Julian Duffus > > > > SoG member 1978 to present > > > > Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. > > > > ------------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

Dear all Harrington Gardens had so many magical nooks and corners , one could never be sure that you had explored the full extent of the library. I thought it a nice touch to have various rooms named after the founding members of the society. The furniture was very comfortable, if a little shabby in presentation. The only bit of high tec on site was the microfitch readers for the 1978 issue of the IGI I can still recall how frustrating it was if a fitch was misfiled More use was made of the special collections each seemed to be contained in its own lovely wooden set of drawers. The MSS collection was on open access and what an amazing lucky dip it was. When I first joined there was an attic flat that was occupied, but soon the rental income was dispensed with the make room for ever expanding Library. Mr Lawson Edwards often used to be seen at the front counter which was at the foot of the rather grand staircases. He used to popout from his little cubby hole if he heard anything of interest going on. In the common room there was a 4pm tea ceremony heralded by a hand bell being rung. I think the bell was rung at closing time too to wake the readers up!! The great sales point of the society in those days was cross county research being done under the same roof rather than having to buzz of to different county record offices. The jewel in the crown of the library was the parish registers so laboriously transcribed by our members long past. Sections of the Great Card Index was housed in an old kitchen range and to make the best use of the space the shelves where rather on the high side with wonky step ladders all around to help you rise and retreave your book. On the whole Charterhouse Buildings are far better suited to the needs of an important collection like our I guess I'll have to start regarding our library not as the New one anymore but the settled home. Julian Duffus Sog member 1978 to present Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.

I didn't know about the move, but I do remember Harrington Gardens. Went there on a day ticket a few times. It seemed extremely old-fashioned, especially for a teenager. A lovely building full of hidden treasure. I seem to recall that Boyd's marriage index ran along the top of a grand mantelpiece. Good memories, but the new place is way more practical to use, Kim Travis On 23 Apr 2014, at 18:23, jjgduffus@gmail.com wrote: > > Does anyone on the list remember their reactions to the move to New Building > from the wonderfully ramshackle premises in Harrington Gardens. > > I can recall how nicely accessible the Great Card Index was in its new > home. > > I missed the character and style of the old place and slipping out in the > private gardens to have lunch > > Wonder if the society plans to mark this anniversary? > > Julian Duffus > > SoG member 1978 to present > > Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Yes I can recall my first visit to Somerset house and the upper floors with the huge leather bound volumes. I seem to remember a cert cost the same as a dog licence ie 7/-6d or 35 np . At least then there was somewhere to seek out the index. I think its a great shame that central gov has not satisfactorily replaced the Family History Centre in Middleton street. I believe there is a set of the BMD indexes in the BL but that's not open access and a readers ticket is required. Julian Duffus Sog member 1979 to present Sent from my BlackBerry® smartphone on O2 -----Original Message----- From: Barry Faiers <barry@faiers.org> Sender: sog-uk-bounces@rootsweb.com Date: Wed, 23 Apr 2014 21:33:13 To: Merryl Wells<merryl.wells@one-name.org>; <sog-uk@rootsweb.com> Reply-To: barry@faiers.org, sog-uk@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [SOG-UK] Harrington Gardens 30 years ago now Sadly I was never able to visit Harrington Gardens, as much as I wanted to. I started researching my family history in about 1971 and heard about a strange society that may have been able to help. I eagerly sent off my SAE for details, and in return received a wad of pretty coloured papers, amongst which was an application form. I grabbed my pen (fountain type in those days) and started to fill in the usual details until I came to a question which asked 'Please give references from 2 members of the Society'. Full stop end of application filling. It was another 10 years in the mid '80's before I found out that the rules had changed and a letter from a responsible person or employer would be acceptable as a reference. I typed the letter from my boss, bought him a pint to convince him I was a responsible person, and he duly signed. I was admitted to membership. The boot seems to be on the other foot now with the Society seeking members rather than putting obstacles in the way. I do however remember the good old days at Somerset House and always marvelled that no volumes ever when 'over the edge' into now what we would call the atrium. ----- Original Message ----- From: <jjgduffus@gmail.com> To: <sog-uk@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 6:21 PM Subject: [SOG-UK] Harrington Gardens 30 years ago now >> Does anyone on the list remember their reactions to the move to New >> Building >> from the wonderfully ramshackle premises in Harrington Gardens. >> >> I can recall how nicely accessible the Great Card Index was in its new >> home. >> >> I missed the character and style of the old place and slipping out in >> the >> private gardens to have lunch >> >> Wonder if the society plans to mark this anniversary? >> >> Julian Duffus >> >> SoG member 1978 to present >> >> ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Sadly I was never able to visit Harrington Gardens, as much as I wanted to. I started researching my family history in about 1971 and heard about a strange society that may have been able to help. I eagerly sent off my SAE for details, and in return received a wad of pretty coloured papers, amongst which was an application form. I grabbed my pen (fountain type in those days) and started to fill in the usual details until I came to a question which asked 'Please give references from 2 members of the Society'. Full stop end of application filling. It was another 10 years in the mid '80's before I found out that the rules had changed and a letter from a responsible person or employer would be acceptable as a reference. I typed the letter from my boss, bought him a pint to convince him I was a responsible person, and he duly signed. I was admitted to membership. The boot seems to be on the other foot now with the Society seeking members rather than putting obstacles in the way. I do however remember the good old days at Somerset House and always marvelled that no volumes ever when 'over the edge' into now what we would call the atrium. ----- Original Message ----- From: <jjgduffus@gmail.com> To: <sog-uk@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 6:21 PM Subject: [SOG-UK] Harrington Gardens 30 years ago now >> Does anyone on the list remember their reactions to the move to New >> Building >> from the wonderfully ramshackle premises in Harrington Gardens. >> >> I can recall how nicely accessible the Great Card Index was in its new >> home. >> >> I missed the character and style of the old place and slipping out in >> the >> private gardens to have lunch >> >> Wonder if the society plans to mark this anniversary? >> >> Julian Duffus >> >> SoG member 1978 to present >> >>

I visited both but could only get to Harrington Gardens with someone driving me, found it quaint and cosy. The 'new building' was rather stark and lacked character but at the time was easier to get to by train and tube. From Merryl Wells of Luton, Beds. E-Mail: merryl.wells@one-name.org GOONS Mem. No. 1757 Reg. ONS: Bawtree; Gullick/ock, Moist/Moyst. ----- Original Message ----- From: <jjgduffus@gmail.com> To: <sog-uk@rootsweb.com> Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 6:21 PM Subject: [SOG-UK] Harrington Gardens 30 years ago now > > Does anyone on the list remember their reactions to the move to New > Building > from the wonderfully ramshackle premises in Harrington Gardens. > > I can recall how nicely accessible the Great Card Index was in its new > home. > > I missed the character and style of the old place and slipping out in > the > private gardens to have lunch > > Wonder if the society plans to mark this anniversary? > > Julian Duffus > > SoG member 1978 to present > > Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes > in the subject and the body of the message

Dear all Harrington Gardens had so many magical nooks and corners , one could never be sure that you had explored the full extent of the library. I thought it a nice touch to have various rooms named after the founding members of the society. The furniture was very comfortable, if a little shabby in presentation. The only bit of high tec on site was the microfitch  readers for the 1978 issue of the IGI I can still recall how frustrating it was if a fitch was misfiled  More use was made of the special collections each seemed to be contained in its own lovely wooden set of drawers. The MSS collection was on open access and what an amazing lucky dip it was. When I first joined there was an attic flat that was occupied, but soon the rental income was dispensed with the make room for ever expanding Library.  Mr Lawson Edwards often used to be seen at the front counter which was at the foot of the rather grand staircases. He used to popout from his little cubby hole if he heard anything of interest going on.  In the common room there was a 4pm tea ceremony heralded by a hand bell being rung. I think the bell was rung at closing time too to wake the readers up!! The great sales point of the society in those days was cross county research being done under the same roof rather than having to buzz of to different county record offices. The jewel in the crown of the library was the parish registers so laboriously transcribed by our members long past.  Sections of the Great Card Index was housed in an old kitchen range and to make the best use of the space the shelves where rather on the high side with wonky step ladders all around to help you rise and retreave your book.  On the whole Charterhouse Buildings are far better suited to the needs of an important collection like our  I guess I'll have to start regarding our library not as the New one anymore but the settled home. Julian Duffus Sog member 1978 to present Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.   Original Message   From: Richard Heaton Sent: Wednesday, 23 April 2014 19:15 To: sog-uk@rootsweb.com Reply To: sog-uk@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [SOG-UK] Harrington Gardens 30 years ago now My abiding memory of Harrington Gardens (I was a teenager then) was after paying for a I guess a day ticket - wandering about passing shelf after shelf of books until turning a corner I found an elderly gentleman sleeping in old but comfortable looking arm chair ... and oddly I also remember the late Victorian or early Edwardian plant stand which found its way to the new building On my next visit (always with Arthur Willis book Genealogy for Beginners in my rucksack) there was a notice - in the window I think .... redirecting me to Harrington Gardens ... I must have been 19. Very Best Regards Richard Heaton -----Original Message----- From: jjgduffus@gmail.com Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 6:21 PM To: sog-uk@rootsweb.com Subject: [SOG-UK] Harrington Gardens 30 years ago now Does anyone on the list remember their reactions to the move to New Building from the wonderfully ramshackle premises in Harrington Gardens. I can recall how nicely accessible the Great Card Index was in its new home. I missed the character and style of the old place and slipping out in the private gardens to have lunch Wonder if the society plans to mark this anniversary? Julian Duffus SoG member 1978 to present Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

My abiding memory of Harrington Gardens (I was a teenager then) was after paying for a I guess a day ticket - wandering about passing shelf after shelf of books until turning a corner I found an elderly gentleman sleeping in old but comfortable looking arm chair ... and oddly I also remember the late Victorian or early Edwardian plant stand which found its way to the new building On my next visit (always with Arthur Willis book Genealogy for Beginners in my rucksack) there was a notice - in the window I think .... redirecting me to Harrington Gardens ... I must have been 19. Very Best Regards Richard Heaton -----Original Message----- From: jjgduffus@gmail.com Sent: Wednesday, April 23, 2014 6:21 PM To: sog-uk@rootsweb.com Subject: [SOG-UK] Harrington Gardens 30 years ago now Does anyone on the list remember their reactions to the move to New Building from the wonderfully ramshackle premises in Harrington Gardens. I can recall how nicely accessible the Great Card Index was in its new home. I missed the character and style of the old place and slipping out in the private gardens to have lunch Wonder if the society plans to mark this anniversary? Julian Duffus SoG member 1978 to present Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Hard to believe it really was 30years ago! Wasn't a member then, but decided "I must join"! Arthur Thomson On 23/04/2014 18:35, Carole wrote: > where did those 30 years go ?! > > Carole > > Sent from my iPad > >> On 23 Apr 2014, at 18:21, jjgduffus@gmail.com wrote: >> >> >> Does anyone on the list remember their reactions to the move to New Building >> from the wonderfully ramshackle premises in Harrington Gardens. >> >> I can recall how nicely accessible the Great Card Index was in its new >> home. >> >> I missed the character and style of the old place and slipping out in the >> private gardens to have lunch >> >> Wonder if the society plans to mark this anniversary? >> >> Julian Duffus >> >> SoG member 1978 to present >> >> Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > >

where did those 30 years go ?! Carole Sent from my iPad > On 23 Apr 2014, at 18:21, jjgduffus@gmail.com wrote: > > > Does anyone on the list remember their reactions to the move to New Building > from the wonderfully ramshackle premises in Harrington Gardens. > > I can recall how nicely accessible the Great Card Index was in its new > home. > > I missed the character and style of the old place and slipping out in the > private gardens to have lunch > > Wonder if the society plans to mark this anniversary? > > Julian Duffus > > SoG member 1978 to present > > Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone. > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Does anyone on the list remember their reactions to the move to New Building from the wonderfully ramshackle premises in Harrington Gardens. I can recall how nicely accessible the Great Card Index was in its new home. I missed the character and style of the old place and slipping out in the private gardens to have lunch Wonder if the society plans to mark this anniversary? Julian Duffus SoG member 1978 to present Sent from my BlackBerry 10 smartphone.

I'm on Firefox and XP Maybe I'll try IE later. Just not a MS/IE fan. <<snipped>> I think Firefox is the problem although it would be good if everything worked the same in all browsers! <<snipped>> (I'm on Firefox, Windows 7). <<snipped>> On 17/04/2014 20:43, Rae Knight wrote: > I had terrible trouble with images (on FamilySearch) taking forever to load > at my local LDS Family History Centre this week. Their default browser was > Firefox but when I switched to Chrome (which I use at home) all the images > opened in seconds. I think Firefox is the problem although it would be good > if everything worked the same in all browsers! > > Rae Knight > > > On 17 April 2014 20:22, Adrian Bruce <abruce@madasafish.com> wrote: > >> <<snipped>> >> Is anyone else suffering from impossibly slow times for originals to >> load? I mean in excess of 20 minutes? ... Search results take a minute >> or so but then when I try to view the original, the problems start. >> Since the change over I have only managed to view one original. >> <<snipped>> >> >> I may be tempting fate - but no, I've had nothing like that. It has >> definitely been very patchy - sometimes taking no more than a second or >> two, >> sometimes it gets pretty much stuck on the green circle of death. >> Occasionally I'll re-click the view button for a stuck image and the new >> one >> will flash up. (I'm on Firefox, Windows 7). >> >> All sounds like a database that is in dire need of tuning -

I had terrible trouble with images (on FamilySearch) taking forever to load at my local LDS Family History Centre this week. Their default browser was Firefox but when I switched to Chrome (which I use at home) all the images opened in seconds. I think Firefox is the problem although it would be good if everything worked the same in all browsers! Rae Knight On 17 April 2014 20:22, Adrian Bruce <abruce@madasafish.com> wrote: > <<snipped>> > Is anyone else suffering from impossibly slow times for originals to > load? I mean in excess of 20 minutes? ... Search results take a minute > or so but then when I try to view the original, the problems start. > Since the change over I have only managed to view one original. > <<snipped>> > > I may be tempting fate - but no, I've had nothing like that. It has > definitely been very patchy - sometimes taking no more than a second or > two, > sometimes it gets pretty much stuck on the green circle of death. > Occasionally I'll re-click the view button for a stuck image and the new > one > will flash up. (I'm on Firefox, Windows 7). > > All sounds like a database that is in dire need of tuning - and no, that's > not something that can be done by someone with minimal experience between > sorting out a couple of census screens. I've had guys tearing their hair > out > at work over database tuning when normal tuning tactics have made no > difference, and things that rightly should have made zero difference > proving > to be the answer to life, the universe and everything. Nearly. > > Adrian B > > > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the > quotes in the subject and the body of the message >

<<snipped>> Is anyone else suffering from impossibly slow times for originals to load? I mean in excess of 20 minutes? ... Search results take a minute or so but then when I try to view the original, the problems start. Since the change over I have only managed to view one original. <<snipped>> I may be tempting fate - but no, I've had nothing like that. It has definitely been very patchy - sometimes taking no more than a second or two, sometimes it gets pretty much stuck on the green circle of death. Occasionally I'll re-click the view button for a stuck image and the new one will flash up. (I'm on Firefox, Windows 7). All sounds like a database that is in dire need of tuning - and no, that's not something that can be done by someone with minimal experience between sorting out a couple of census screens. I've had guys tearing their hair out at work over database tuning when normal tuning tactics have made no difference, and things that rightly should have made zero difference proving to be the answer to life, the universe and everything. Nearly. Adrian B

> Is anyone else suffering from impossibly slow times for originals to > load? I mean in excess of 20 minutes? - My broadband speed is good > and on Ancestry results appear within seconds. Search results take a > minute or so but then when I try to view the original, the problems > start. Since the change over I have only managed to view one > original. Even at the TNA yesterday things were very slow - about 90 > secs to load an original. Strangely I don't have any speed problems at findmypast - I typically get the results of my searches in a fraction of a second, and when I view an image it usually doesn't take more than 3 or 4 seconds to load (and can be quicker). I've looked at hundreds of images over the past couple of weeks and can only think of a few occasions when I felt that I was waiting longer than I ought. Even newspaper articles appear pretty quickly (although we seem to have lost the option of downloading the images???). My broadband speed is pretty good for a rural location (8mb) but according to Which? that's slow compared to the average in towns and cities. I'm using Chrome, which might make a difference. The longest wait I've had by far was not using findmypast, but using the computers in the SoG library earlier this week. However I won't be cancelling my SoG subscription! Peter

I've held my tongue and read a lot about the new FMP and waited for things to get better, but the haven't . Is anyone else suffering from impossibly slow times for originals to load? I mean in excess of 20 minutes? - My broadband speed is good and on Ancestry results appear within seconds. Search results take a minute or so but then when I try to view the original, the problems start. Since the change over I have only managed to view one original. Even at the TNA yesterday things were very slow - about 90 secs to load an original. I'm now logging in to FMP un-tick the box. I feel like writing and demanding a refund as they are not giving me the service I paid for, in fact hardly any service at all. On 17/04/2014 17:05, Rosemary Morgan wrote: > I would like the Society to take up these issues directly with FMP. The > more Genealogy organisations that complain - and I know that others are > doing so - the better! > > The lack of proper testing and the diabolical presentation of the Parish > records (which after all is what of us more experienced genealogists are > looking for these days) is unforgivable. I complained specifically about > the Westminster Results page (but I did point out that the same problem > probably occurred in other Parish record sets), which is maybe why those > have been slightly improved. They put the Parish name back on the > Westminster Baptisms and Marriages but still no date; and on the Burial > records, there is a Date but no Parish! But when the burial gives no date > of death, they've put in a "0" and calculated the Year of Birth to be the > same as the Year of Death - hopeless!! I've given them more feedback! > > I've also un-ticked the auto-renew box but will admit to having been given > a two extra month extension as I have given them a lot of feedback! > > Rosemary Morgan > > > On 17/04/2014 16:50, "John Haggerstone" <john@hp43tq.fsnet.co.uk> wrote: > >> With some reluctance I renewed in January but I have regretted it ever >> since >> the 'new' FMP site was introduced. I find it so time wasting trawling >> through records that I don't need. It seems to me that the new system is >> designed to quickly use up credits of those who pay as they go! >> Thanks for the auto-renew tip Rae; I've unticked that box! >> John Haggerstone >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: sog-uk-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:sog-uk-bounces@rootsweb.com] On >> Behalf Of Rae Knight >> Sent: 17 April 2014 15:39 >> To: SOG-UK@rootsweb.com >> Subject: [SOG-UK] 'New' FindMyPast >> >> Well enough is enough. Luckily for me my subscription was up for renewal >> - I >> won't be resubscribing, not until the 'new' site is at least as good as >> the >> old. I know I am lucky because this is a hobby for me and not my >> livelihood. >> >> A major frustration for me was the disappearance of the parish name in >> many >> of the record sets. A search for a family name in Kent Baptisms helpfully >> gave the 'place' as Kent - I KNOW THAT! I don't want to search on just one >> parish as my family moved between neighbouring parishes. Even the >> Westminster records which do show the parish names seems to have lost the >> ability to sort them alphabetically which enabled a quick scroll down >> before. >> >> The site can't have been tested properly with genealogists before being >> released. FMP's handling of the whole affair has been disastrous from a PR >> point of view - apart from a brief message on Facebook on the 4th April >> there has been no real communication from FMP - just vague promises on >> their >> forum that certain things are being looked at. Not good enough - we are >> (were) paying for this rubbish! >> >> People should be aware that the 'new' site has everybody down to >> auto-renew >> by default so unless you are happy for this to happen make sure you untick >> that particular box! >> >> Rae Knight >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes >> in the subject and the body of the message >> >> >> ------------------------------- >> To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >> SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >> quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message > > > ----- > No virus found in this message. > Checked by AVG - www.avg.com > Version: 2014.0.4355 / Virus Database: 3882/7354 - Release Date: 04/16/14 > >

I would like the Society to take up these issues directly with FMP. The more Genealogy organisations that complain - and I know that others are doing so - the better! The lack of proper testing and the diabolical presentation of the Parish records (which after all is what of us more experienced genealogists are looking for these days) is unforgivable. I complained specifically about the Westminster Results page (but I did point out that the same problem probably occurred in other Parish record sets), which is maybe why those have been slightly improved. They put the Parish name back on the Westminster Baptisms and Marriages but still no date; and on the Burial records, there is a Date but no Parish! But when the burial gives no date of death, they've put in a "0" and calculated the Year of Birth to be the same as the Year of Death - hopeless!! I've given them more feedback! I've also un-ticked the auto-renew box but will admit to having been given a two extra month extension as I have given them a lot of feedback! Rosemary Morgan On 17/04/2014 16:50, "John Haggerstone" <john@hp43tq.fsnet.co.uk> wrote: >With some reluctance I renewed in January but I have regretted it ever >since >the 'new' FMP site was introduced. I find it so time wasting trawling >through records that I don't need. It seems to me that the new system is >designed to quickly use up credits of those who pay as they go! >Thanks for the auto-renew tip Rae; I've unticked that box! >John Haggerstone > >-----Original Message----- >From: sog-uk-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:sog-uk-bounces@rootsweb.com] On >Behalf Of Rae Knight >Sent: 17 April 2014 15:39 >To: SOG-UK@rootsweb.com >Subject: [SOG-UK] 'New' FindMyPast > >Well enough is enough. Luckily for me my subscription was up for renewal >- I >won't be resubscribing, not until the 'new' site is at least as good as >the >old. I know I am lucky because this is a hobby for me and not my >livelihood. > >A major frustration for me was the disappearance of the parish name in >many >of the record sets. A search for a family name in Kent Baptisms helpfully >gave the 'place' as Kent - I KNOW THAT! I don't want to search on just one >parish as my family moved between neighbouring parishes. Even the >Westminster records which do show the parish names seems to have lost the >ability to sort them alphabetically which enabled a quick scroll down >before. > >The site can't have been tested properly with genealogists before being >released. FMP's handling of the whole affair has been disastrous from a PR >point of view - apart from a brief message on Facebook on the 4th April >there has been no real communication from FMP - just vague promises on >their >forum that certain things are being looked at. Not good enough - we are >(were) paying for this rubbish! > >People should be aware that the 'new' site has everybody down to >auto-renew >by default so unless you are happy for this to happen make sure you untick >that particular box! > >Rae Knight > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes >in the subject and the body of the message > > >------------------------------- >To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to >SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the >quotes in the subject and the body of the message

With some reluctance I renewed in January but I have regretted it ever since the 'new' FMP site was introduced. I find it so time wasting trawling through records that I don't need. It seems to me that the new system is designed to quickly use up credits of those who pay as they go! Thanks for the auto-renew tip Rae; I've unticked that box! John Haggerstone -----Original Message----- From: sog-uk-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:sog-uk-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of Rae Knight Sent: 17 April 2014 15:39 To: SOG-UK@rootsweb.com Subject: [SOG-UK] 'New' FindMyPast Well enough is enough. Luckily for me my subscription was up for renewal - I won't be resubscribing, not until the 'new' site is at least as good as the old. I know I am lucky because this is a hobby for me and not my livelihood. A major frustration for me was the disappearance of the parish name in many of the record sets. A search for a family name in Kent Baptisms helpfully gave the 'place' as Kent - I KNOW THAT! I don't want to search on just one parish as my family moved between neighbouring parishes. Even the Westminster records which do show the parish names seems to have lost the ability to sort them alphabetically which enabled a quick scroll down before. The site can't have been tested properly with genealogists before being released. FMP's handling of the whole affair has been disastrous from a PR point of view - apart from a brief message on Facebook on the 4th April there has been no real communication from FMP - just vague promises on their forum that certain things are being looked at. Not good enough - we are (were) paying for this rubbish! People should be aware that the 'new' site has everybody down to auto-renew by default so unless you are happy for this to happen make sure you untick that particular box! Rae Knight ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to SOG-UK-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message

Well enough is enough. Luckily for me my subscription was up for renewal - I won't be resubscribing, not until the 'new' site is at least as good as the old. I know I am lucky because this is a hobby for me and not my livelihood. A major frustration for me was the disappearance of the parish name in many of the record sets. A search for a family name in Kent Baptisms helpfully gave the 'place' as Kent - I KNOW THAT! I don't want to search on just one parish as my family moved between neighbouring parishes. Even the Westminster records which do show the parish names seems to have lost the ability to sort them alphabetically which enabled a quick scroll down before. The site can't have been tested properly with genealogists before being released. FMP's handling of the whole affair has been disastrous from a PR point of view - apart from a brief message on Facebook on the 4th April there has been no real communication from FMP - just vague promises on their forum that certain things are being looked at. Not good enough - we are (were) paying for this rubbish! People should be aware that the 'new' site has everybody down to auto-renew by default so unless you are happy for this to happen make sure you untick that particular box! Rae Knight