Enstone Village

Oxfordshire Libraries Run Family History Day Inspired by TV Series

Three Oxfordshire libraries will be running a Family History Day on Saturday 11 February, inspired by the TV series, Who do you think you are?

Trained staff from the County Council’s Oxfordshire Studies, together with members of the Oxfordshire Family History Society, will be on hand from 10am to 4pm to give free advice to both new and more advanced family history researchers.

The day will be one of many happening across the country, as part of a promotion for the TV series, which has become essential viewing for many people.

A radio crew will be visiting the libraries, interviewing members of the public and staff and snippets will go out live that day.

The opportunity is being offered, free of charge, at Banbury and Witney Libraries and at Oxfordshire Studies in the Central Library, Oxford.

Librarian John Pilling, who is involved in setting up the Family History Day, said: “Oxfordshire Studies is one of the country’s top centres for family history research.

“It has a wealth of local newspapers, Oxfordshire Census Returns going back to from 1841, transcripts of the Oxfordshire parish registers dating back to the 16th century plus national resources such as the General Register Office Index of Births, Marriages and Deaths from 1837.

“It also has Internet access.”

Cllr Don Seale, Cabinet Member for Social & Community Services, said: “Everyone has a family story, and discovering it can be a powerful experience - as it was for Jeremy Paxman, Stephen Fry and others who took part in the TV series.”

For more information about the Oxfordshire event phone Banbury Library on 01295 262282, Witney Library on 01993 703659 or Oxfordshire Studies on 01865 815749.