49 How can I trace my relatives and friends in
Britain?
50 Where can I get information for my family tree?
51 Where
do I get birth, marriage and death certificates and divorce
records?
52 How
do I find pen friends in Britain?
53 How
do I organise youth exchanges with Britain?
54 How
do I organise school exchanges with Britain?
55 How
can I twin my town with one in Britain?
49 How can I trace my relatives and friends in Britain?
It is
sometimes helpful to place an advertisement in the personal column of
local newspapers in the area where relatives or friends were last known to
be living. Addresses of local newspapers in Britain can be obtained from
‘Willings Press Guide’, published annually by Reed Information Services,
Windsor Court, East Grinstead House, East Grinstead, West Sussex RH19
1XA.Visitors to Britain can trace relatives and friends through local electoral registers, which contain the names and addresses of everyone living in an area over the age of 18, or current telephone directories. Electoral registers and current telephone directories for the whole country can be viewed at most libraries. Telephone directories dating from the end of the 19th century to the recent past may be viewed at:
|
British Telecom Archives Telephone House, 2-4 Temple Avenue, London EC4Y OHL Tel +44 (0) 171 822 1022 |
At least a day’s notice should be given for an appointment
Birth, marriage and death certificates feature addresses of individuals. Copies may be viewed and purchased at offices listed in question 51.
Family members: the following registered charities offer a tracing service in urgent cases for immediate family members only:
|
Salvation Army Family Tracing Service 105-109 Judd Street, London WC1H 9TS Tel +44 (0) 171 383 2772 |
Note: Persons living outside Britain should initially contact the Salvation Army in their country.
|
International Social Service of the UK Cranmer House, 39 Brixton Road, London SW9 6DD Tel +44 (0) 171 735 8491 |
|
Section A, Department of Social Security Longbenton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE98 1YX Tel +44 (0) 191 213 5000 |
|
Association of British Investigators Ltd 10 Bonner Hill Road, Kingston upon Thames, Surrey KT1 3EP Tel +44 (0) 181 546 3368 |
|
Association of Genealogists and Record Agents 29 Badgers Close, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 5RU Tel +44 (0) 1403 263119 |
|
Institute of Professional Investigators 31a Wellington Street, St John’s, Blackburn BB1 8AF Tel +44 (0) 1254 680072 |
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50 Where can I get information for my family tree?
Sources of information for those undertaking genealogical research include birth, marriage and death certificates which are available from the appropriate register office (see question 51); parish registers (information available from county or district record offices) and divorce records (available from the appropriate office - see question 51).In addition, public records are valuable sources of information. Copies of material such as legal documents, property and succession records, census returns, taxation records, old parish registers, etc. should be sought from the following offices. Please note that offices can answer specific enquiries, but will not undertake research:
England and Wales
|
Family Records Centre 1 Myddleton Street, London EC1R 1UW Tel +44 (0) 181 392 5300 |
|
Scottish Record Office HM General Register House, Edinburgh EH1 3YY Tel +44 (0) 131 556 6585 |
|
Public Record Office 66 Balmoral Avenue, Belfast BT9 6NY Tel +44 (0) 1232 661 621 |
Genealogical researchers: Those wishing to enlist the services of an independent agent to conduct research on their behalf may contact the Record Office concerned for a list of reputable researchers, or write to:
|
Association of Genealogists and Record Agents 29 Badgers Close, Horsham, West Sussex RH12 5RU Tel +44 (0) 1403 263119 |
Further advice can be found in:
‘Tracing your Ancestors in the Public Record Office’,
by Amanda Bevin and Andrea Duncan
(HMSO (now The Stationery Office Limited), 1990).
General enquiries about Stationery Office publications should be sent to The Publications Centre, PO Box 276, London SW8 5DT
Tel +44 (0) 171 873 0011
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51 Where do I get birth, marriage and death certificates and divorce records?
To obtain certificates of birth, marriage and death in England
and
Wales since 1 July 1837 contact:
|
The General Register Office, PO Box 2, Southport, Merseyside PR8
2JD Tel +44 (0) 1704 563563 |
|
General Register Office St Catherine’s House, 10 Kingsway, London WC2B 6JP Tel +44 (0) 171 242 0262 |
can be obtained by post or in person from:
|
Registrar General, New Register House, Edinburgh EH1 3YT Tel +44 (0) 131 334 0380 (Price £12.00 per certificate) |
by post or in person from:
|
Registrar General Oxford House, Chichester Street, Belfast BT1 4HL Tel +44 (0) 1232 250000 (£6.00 per certificate) |
1864-1922 are also kept at:
|
The General Register Office Joyce House, 8-11 Lombard Street East, Dublin 2 Tel +353 1 671 1968 |
Some records prior to the dates noted are held by parish registers. Local county or district record offices should be contacted for advice on their availability.
Divorce records for England and Wales can be obtained from:
|
Chief Clerk, Divorce Registry Room G45, Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LP |
|
Family Records Centre, 1 Myddleton Street, London EC1R
1UW Tel +44 (0) 171 233 9233 |
Scotland
|
Extractor of the Court of Session 2 Parliament Square, Edinburgh EH11RF Tel +44 (0) 131 225 2595 A fee of £14.00 is charged for each certificate |
|
Chief Registrar, High Court of Justice Chichester Street, Belfast BT1 3JF Tel +44 (0) 1232 235 111 A fee of £5.00 is charged if the case reference is known - if not, an additional £5.00 fee is charged. |
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52 How do I find pen friends in Britain?
The following organisations may be contacted by those wishing to write to people in Britain. When writing, correspondents should give their own age, sex and interests as well as those of their preferred pen friend. A self-addressed envelope and at least one International Reply Coupon (IRC, available from post offices) should be enclosed.Pen Friend League International was established in 1968 to encourage greater understanding between different peoples of the world and to bring about lasting friendships. Pen friends can be arranged from any continent and there is no age limit. Enclose two IRCs to cover the cost of reply postage:
|
Pen Friend League International 143 Oscott School Lane, Great Barr, Birmingham B44 9EL |
Friends by Post is a voluntary organisation which establishes contacts between people of similar ages and interests who wish to exchange news and views. (Note: matrimonial requests cannot be accepted!):
|
Friends by Post, 43 Chatsworth Road, High Lane, Stockport, Cheshire SK6 8DA |
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53 How do I organise youth exchanges with Britain?
The Youth Exchange Centre, a department of the British Council,promotes youth exchange between Britain and other countries. Although its primary function is to establish contacts between youth groups in Britain and abroad, youth groups overseas may be able to advertise in its newsletter, ‘Youth Exchange News’.
|
Youth Exchange Centre The British Council, 10 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2BN Tel +44 (0) 171 389 4030 Fax +44 (0) 389 4033 |
|
Commonwealth Youth Exchange Council 7 Lion Yard, Tremadoc Rd, Clapham, London SW4 7NQ Tel +44 (0) 171 498 6151 Fax +44 (0) 171 720 5403 |
|
European Commission, Directorate-General XXII Education, Training and Youth Unit C.2, Rue de la Loi 200, B-1049, Brussels Tel (32-2) 295 11 00 Fax (32-2) 299 41 58 |
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54 How do I organise school exchanges with Britain?
Those wishing to organise school exchanges should write to : |
The Central Bureau for Educational Visits and Exchanges 10 Spring Gardens, London SW1A 2BN Tel +44 (0) 171 389 4004 Fax +44 (0) 171 389 4426 |
The European School Exchange Databank allows schools seeking a partner to register on a database. The information provided will then be passed on to potential partners across Europe. Registration on the database is free, but a listing of registered schools is charged for.
|
The European School Exchange Databank Stichting Europees Platform voor het Nederlandse Onderwijs Nassauplein 8, 1815 GM Alkmaar, The Netherlands Tel (31) 72 511 85 02 |
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55 How can I twin my town with one in Britain?
Write to the International Links Team at;
|
Local Government International Bureau 35 Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BJ Tel: +44 (0) 171 222 1636 Fax: +44 (0) 171 233 2179 for an information pack on twinning. |
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