Welcome to Search My Past

Forthcoming 2020 (Please check time zones when booking)

• 2 September Online webinar: 7.30pm UK time Have you ever found your ‘’real’’ family? Researching your tree when you’re adopted (utilising DNA results), Ryedale Family History Group. To register and receive details for joining the webinar please email:

• 3 September, Online webinar: 2pm UK time, Mixing DNA Results and a Paper Trail, Sussex Family History Group. Register here:

• 21 September, Online webinar: 7.30pm BST ‘Ethical dilemmas in genealogy’ Northants FHS  Register for on-line talks by emailing 

• 26 September Online webinar:  ‘The Psychology of Searching’ and ‘Ethical dilemmas in genealogy’ British Isles Family History Society of Greater Ottawa (BIFHSGO) Registration is required; cost for the half-day is $20 

• 2 October Online webinar: ‘Ethical dilemmas in genealogy’ Vivid-Pix  $1.99

• 12 October Online webinar: 10am BST, 'Mixing DNA with a paper trail' (Course 1013 – Mixing DNA) the Heraldry and Genealogy Society of Canberra  $20 Australian (approx. £11; $14 US)  

• 16 October Online webinar: ‘Ethical dilemmas in African American genealogy’ AAHGS

• 14 November Online webinar: 'Mixing DNA with a paper trail' Family History Federation annual conference 

• 18 November Online webinar: ‘Ethical dilemmas in genealogy’ Society of Australian Genealogists

2020

• The Psychology of Searching’ and ‘Ethical dilemmas in genealogy’ webinars Orange County California Genealogical Society Online webinar: 1 August: 

• ‘Mixing DNA with a paper trail’ Online webinar: 2 August Quebec FHS 

• ‘The Psychology of Searching’ Online webinar: 5 August: Chesterfield & District Family History Society 

• ‘The Psychology of Searching’  Online webinar: 15 August, Whittier Area Genealogical Society  

• ‘1939 Register’ Online webinar: 18 August: Dorset FHS 

• 'Searching for ancestors when you're adopted' Utah Virtual Genealogical Society, Online webinar: 20 August 

• Webinars: Legacy 'Black British family history research,' 'The 1939 Register,' 'Why did the Welsh leave Wales?'   

• Online webinar:'The Psychology of Searching' Vivid-Pix 28 May. Watch the recording here:  (1h,3m)

• Online webinars:‘Ethical dilemmas in genealogy’ (21m32s) ‘The Psychology of Searching,’ (27m07s) ‘The 1939 Register’ (30m26s) and ‘Searching for family when you’re adopted: have you ever found your ‘real’ family?’ (38m0s) 17-18 April, Family Tree Live

• ‘Giving unexpected or bad news to clients’ Utah Genealogical Society (UGA) Pro-talk online webinar: 7 April   

• ‘Ethical dilemmas in genealogy’ Search My Past Online webinar series: 25 March

• ‘Searching for ancestors when you’re adopted’ 11 February, Southampton FHS

• ‘Starting a tree’ Withywood Community Centre, Bristol, 11 February

• ‘Mixing DNA results with a paper trail’ 12 February, Stalbridge FHS

• ‘The Psychology of Searching,’ ‘The 1939 Register’ and ‘The Future of Genealogy’  26-29 February, Roots Tech USA

2020 booked, but postponed

• ‘Drimoleague Diaspora: In Search of Family Ancestry’ Irish Famine Summer School, Roscommon, Ireland, 14 June

• ‘Drimoleague Diaspora’ Donovan Gathering, Drimoleague, County Cork, Ireland, 10 June

• ‘Which DNA test? ‘Drimoleague Diaspora’ Clonakilty, County Cork, Ireland,  8 June

• ‘Mixing DNA results with a paper trail’  Cumbria FHS, 6 June

• ‘Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy’ AGRA study day, London, 30 May

• ‘Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy’  Manchester Jewish Genealogy Society, 17 May

• ‘Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy’ 16 May, Swindon Parish clerks annual conference

• ‘Searching for family when you’re adopted: have you ever found your ‘real’ family?’ and ‘The Psychology of Searching’ 2 May, Society of Genealogists, London

• ‘Genealogy as history’  8 week course, University of Bristol, 22 April- 17 June

• ‘Ethical dilemmas in genealogy,’ ‘The Psychology of Searching,’ ‘The 1939 Register’ and ‘Searching for family when you’re adopted: have you ever found your ‘real’ family?’ 17-18 April, Family Tree Live, London

• ‘Ethical dilemmas in genealogy’ 15 April, Huntingdon FHS

• ‘Mixing DNA results with a paper trail’ 21 March, Dorset FHS

• ‘Using DNA to identify biological relatives’ Dorset FHS, Poole, 17 March

international speaker

• adoption issues
  

• diaspora

• ethics

• black British family history

• the psycholoy of searching

• Irish heritage

'Feedback:

''As a 'Zoom' participant for your presentation about the 1939 Register, I just wanted to say thank you. I have used the Register a few times and I found your presentation to be an interesting further insight. As a retired curator I applaud your promotion of the links to and development of family history stories. Personally I place more importance on this than collecting endless names for a family tree.'' Bob, 24 August, 2020 

''I attended another one of your amazing webinars. Have you ever found your "real" family? Ethics of adoption. I appreciate your warmth, sensitivity, ethics, and humor in your webinars.'' Barbara, 23 August, 2020 

''A big thanks for the talk tonight, it was very well received. I am sure everyone learnt something from your presentation.'' Phil, 21 August, 2020 

''Thanks again for your talk, it went well and was attended well, it was our best so far.'' Peter, 18 August, 2020 

''I really enjoyed your talk yesterday and your explanations re DNA.  I have to admit to confusion over the whole subject and terminology I find quite overwhelming. Thanks and I do hope your family are all well and managing during this dreadful situation we are all facing.'' Ena, 3 August, 2020 

''Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge and thought-provoking webinar today. I too was adopted.'' Karen, 2 August, 2020

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2019

• ‘Mixing DNA results with a paper trail’  Dorset FHS, Glastonbury, 12 December

• ‘Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy’  Family History Society annual conference, London, 23 November

• ‘Mixing DNA results with a paper trail’ Gwent FHS, Chepstow, 13 November

• ‘Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy’, and ‘The Psychology of Searching’ lectures; ‘Mixing DNA results with a paper trail’ workshop Roots Tech, London, 24-26 October

• ‘Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy’, Jewish Genealogy Society annual conference, 20 October

• ‘What does the future hold?’ Chippenham FHS AGM, 21 September

• ‘Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy’, ‘Mixing DNA results with a paper trail,’ ‘The Psychology of Searching’ Brigham Young University, Provo, 31 July – 2 August

• ‘Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy’, ‘Searching for Ancestors when you’re adopted’  Family Tree magazine online courses, July

• ‘Searching for Ancestors when you’re adopted’ Fleet & Farnborough FHS, 11 July

• ‘Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy’, Chippenham FHS, 11 June

• ‘Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy’, Wilts FHS, May

• ‘Irish Heritage,’  Bath FHS, 20 May

• ‘Searching for Ancestors when you’re adopted’ Family History Society annual conference, York, 18 May

• ‘Mixing DNA results with a paper trail’ Swindon U3A, 9 May

• ‘Mixing DNA results with a paper trail’  Yate FHS, 8 May

• ‘Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy’, Family Tree Magazine Live, Alexandra Palace, London, 27 April

• ‘The Psychology of Searching and Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy’, Guild of One Name Studies Annual Conference, Leicester, 30 March

• ‘Adoption issues’, Alton HGS Family History Group, 11 March

• ‘The Psychology of Searching’  Romsey, Hampshire FHS, 27 February

• ‘Mixing DNA results with a paper trail’  Bath FHS, 28 January

2018

• ‘Black British family history research’ Birmingham FHS, 17 November

• ‘Hidden Ethnicities in Black British Heritage’ Wiltshire Family History Society, Swindon, UK

• ‘Ethical Dilemmas in Genealogy’, East London Family History Society, Wanstead, 24 October

• ‘What does the future hold?’ Register of Qualified Genealogists (RQG) Conference, York, 20 October

• ‘Searching for Ancestors when you’re adopted’ Glamorgan FHS, 13 October 

• ‘The Psychology of Searching’ APG Professional Management Conference, Kansas City, Missouri, USA, 4 - 6 October

• 'Ethical dilemmas in adoption research' Society of Genealogists, London 29 September

• ‘Black British family history research finding British involvement in the transatlantic slave trade’  Secret Lives Conference, Leicester, July

• ‘Genealogy Tourism: a new niche market’ Irish Famine Summer School:  Irish Journeys - Famine Legacies and Reconnecting Communities, Roscommon, Ireland, June

• ‘Mixing DNA results with a paper trail’ and ‘Searching for Ancestors when you’re adopted’ The Name Event, London, May

• ‘Searching for Ancestors when you’re adopted’ Federation Of Family Histories Annual Conference, Bristol, April

• ‘Searching for Ancestors when you’re adopted’ Bristol & Avon Family History Society, March

• ‘An Introduction to Genealogy’ Bristol Women’s Institute, January

2017

• ‘My Genealogy journey’ Downend Family History Group, Bristol, October

• ‘Searching for Ancestors when you’re adopted’ Bristol & Avon Family History Society Open day, September

• ‘Being From a Diaspora’ Cork Foundation, Cork, Ireland, June

• ‘Searching for Ancestors when you’re adopted’ Clans & Surnames, Nenagh, Ireland, May

• ‘Searching for Ancestors when you’re adopted’ Who Do You Think You Are, Birmingham, April

• ‘Searching for Ancestors when you’re adopted’ and ‘Professionalisation of Genealogy’ Back To Our Past, Cork, Ireland, March