In 2021 I wrote an article for Family Tree pleading for the Baby Boomers of my generation to make sure their stories were passed on. Many of us regret not asking our own grandparents about their lives, times and experiences before it was too late, so let’s not leave our descendants in the same predicament. Fortunately for me, both my parents and grandparents, who saw active service in the World Wars, were proactive and left me well-organised and detailed accounts of their deeds – so I really appreciate how precious these personal accounts are.
Easier said than done, though. How do you actually go about writing up your own life, and that of your ancestors? Well I think I may have something to help. While tidying up some old cupboards recently I came across a course I had written as a history teacher to help my 13/14 year-old pupils to develop a sense of time. The result was ‘A Family Line’. Over the following pages, I’ll show you how to go about creating one yourself. The only limits will be your time and imagination (and those pesky brickwalls of course!).
Creating a family line
Step 1
Choose a
