Addicted To The Thrill Of Detection

New Year is a time to cut down on vices – but it’s hard to break the grip of family history, says Alan Crosby

- Alan Crosby

Not long ago I was talking to a gentleman whom I knew was very interested in family history, and I asked him how he was getting on with his research. “Oh, I’ve finished,” was his somewhat surprising reply. “Finished?” I queried. “Yes,” he said. “I’ve done my family history now, so I’ve moved on to other things.”

I didn’t try to find out more, because I knew that I’d have got a bit hot under the collar about the completely absurd notion that anybody can ever finish their family history. I expect, however, that quite a few readers have encountered similar views – such people do take up family history, perhaps because it’s on TV a lot and it all seems so easy, or because someone says, “Hey, if you’re at a loose end then why don’t you try doing your family history? That’ll keep you off the streets.”