Hi Jon Have you tried _www.books.google.co.uk_ (http://www.books.google.co.uk) ? Not obits, but there's a reference to a Thomas Coleman of St Albans, Herts, "training groom", patenting some kind of roller for horses (something to do with harnesses) in 1831 - the search terms I used were "Thomas Coleman" together with horse trainer (without inverted commas). Seems to turn up a number of entries that might be of interest. I enjoy fishing trips like this! Mark @ Yetminster PS -- Jon : I have just logged into my Wellcome Library account which gives me remote access to a database of 19th periodicals: images of Bailey's and Bell's journals are on there and can be accessed from home if you belong to a subscribing institution. I suggest that when you are at the Brit Lib you walk up the road to the Wellcome Lib (nearby) and become a member (free to join): then you can access these journals online from home. As you now know, Coleman was in the process of writing a series of 'recollections' for Bailey's when he died and these can be accessed online. Check out the Wellcome Lib's joining requirements via their website before your trip. Long obit in Bailey's - I'd love to send you all the material off-line but there's lots of it! I really would recommend joining the Wellcome Lib to others - it may be a medical history library but it has some fantastic research resources.