Friday 27 November 2015

Coming Home - BBC Wales

BBC Wales has it's own answer to Who Do You Think You Are? - it has Coming Home. Coming Home is a series of half-hour programmes looking into the Welsh roots of the famous and semi-famous.

Series 10 (oh yes, this is a long-running series,) features a four-episode run, starring actress Sian Phillips, journalist Jeremy Bowen, comedian and actor Ben Miller, and sports star and One Show presenter Iwan Thomas.

The series starts tonight at 8.30pm on BBC1 Wales with Sian Phillips' episode - the episodes will be available after airing on the BBC's iPlayer for people living in other UK regions.

I usually find the series to be well worth the watch - so if you're interested in history, give it a try.

Monday 23 November 2015

Last Chance For Christmas 2015 Orders

Hurry! My last date for Christmas orders is Friday 27th November!

So, if you want to treat someone with a very special present, you'll have to be quick!

As always, order and price information can be found on my website - www.familyhistorybycerys.co.uk

Looking forward to hearing from you very soon!

Wednesday 11 November 2015

In Flanders Fields

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
 
Scarce heard amid the guns below.
We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.
 
Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.
 
John McCrae
 
 
 
There is an excellent webpage about John McCrae, the author of 'In Flanders Fields' and a Canadian military doctor, on the greatwar.co.uk website. John McCrae was killed in 1918, and is buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery.

Tuesday 3 November 2015

Some Things Never Change

Truly, some things are pretty unchangeable. The sky is blue, and boys will be boys and do stupid and dangerous things on bonfire night.


This article from The South Wales Echo on 15th November 1900:

REMEMBER THE FIFTH OF
NOVEMBER
-----
Some Barry Boys are not likely to readily for-
get it. They attempted to celebrate Guy Fawkes
night by letting off fireworks in the street, and
this morning were called upon to appear before
the magistrates at the Police Court. Five lads -
John Ash, Henry Williams, William Harris,
Emmanuel Williams, and Alfred Williams -
were each fined 5s including costs, while Ree[s]
Jones, a Cadoxton juvenile, who disobeyed the
summons, was ordered to appear at the next
sitting of the court.
 
 
I hope no-one is planning the same on this November 5th - keep yourselves and your pets safe!