CRADLEY WI met in Storridge Village Hall for a most interesting evening.

Christine Abbott welcomed members and explained that they would listen to the speaker, Brenda Allen, and conclude the regular WI business after the usual tea and coffee break.

Brenda Allen told members about her family tree, and gave an insight into just how much work and research goes into tracing one’s family history.

It always looks so easy when one watches Who Do You Think You Are? The truth is so much more complicated. Members saw how she started with a box of old family photos and the mystery of one woman’s portrait.

Mrs Allen explained the various documents she needed to find, from birth and death certificates to parish records.

She showed how the early census details can be used to sort out how families have moved.

Members heard how farm returns and local directories can fill in some gaps and shared her amazement when she discovered that the families of herself and her husband both originally came from the same small hamlet in Sussex.

Many members had heard of Ancestry, the internet resource that many avid family tree researchers use. Members learned of the different documents and records that one can use to fill in some details of family background.

Certainly, we will be more careful now to label family photos, and take note of family stories told by older relatives.

After tea, president Di Cale reminded members of events they can look forward to in coming months.

Members are invited to the twinned WI, Woolhope, for a musical soiree and supper on Wednesday, April 11.

Lunch Club meets on April 12 at Blue Ginger, Cradley. HFWI have organised a trip to Lichfield Cathedral on June 19.

Members will be able to give more details next month.

On April 5 members return to Cradley Village Hall for the April meeting, when they welcome Penny Platts who will be talking about our market towns.