A cousin of mine was in the diplomatic service around the world and often had spare time on her hands! No children and only married in her late 40s her life project was to research our family tree. My father was the youngest of 11 children and I have 32 cousins. My father's father was Swiss. Thanks to impeccable tax records in Switzerland my cousin traced the family back to 1564. It cost her quite a bit and she could have gone back another 200 years but at considerable expense.
On the grandmother's side she could trace back until the late 18th century. One ancestor in Newcastle, a doctor, stood trial accused of poisoning his wife. My cousin got copies of the complete trial notes. An incredible read. He was acquitted.
On the other side of my family one ancestor, a great great uncle, owned the land where Gore Court Cricket Club is. In his will he bequeathed it to the Club with a covenant about not selling off any land for development (it was a very large piece of land!). Eventually, in my lifetime, the covenant was overridden and that housing estate to the left of the ground as you go towards Sittingbourne was the result! Teed off the family I can tell you.
I would encourage anyone to trace their family histories and to make sure elderly relatives are asked about their recollections before they are lost forever.
