Want to trace your family tree?

Can Kevin George help you with your family tree?

Kevin George, Gloucestershire Family History Society (GFHS) Coordinator, is an expert when it comes to tracing your family tree.

He has been researching family history for 25 years, during which time he has evolved from recording his tree on the back of a roll of wallpaper to using the latest dedicated software to manage a database of 35,000 names.

Kevin could help you with your family history, as he shares his top-tips and experience with listeners to BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

On the first Tuesday of each month he joins David Smith in the studio as a guest on the Afternoon Programme at 3pm.

Kevin is heavily involved in helping both beginners and more experienced researchers trace their families, through the society's Research Centre in Gloucester, and outreach sessions at libraries throughout the county.

Recently he has helped someone trace their family from the East End of London back to William The Conqueror. But can he help you? We hope so!

David Smith: Who do you think you are?

In August 2009 Kevin helped BBC Radio Gloucestershire's David Smith to begin researching his family tree.

Kevin told him the secret is to begin with what you already know: "Begin with your own family. You gain information from what you've got in your own home, within your own family.

How far can David Smith get in researching his family tree?

"Write it all down and do all these things even before you leave home. Phone that aunty you've not phoned in four or five years.

"Then you can say 'What have I got here? What do I know? What do I need to know?'"

After an hour's searching online at the Gloucester Family History Society David was able to discover more about his ancestor Willie Middlebrook, who played cricket for Yorkshire.

He found out that he was a cloth finisher in the 1800s. David found out that Willie's wife Hannah Harriet Pyrah died young in 1896, and he was left to look after his five children.

Two years later, in 1898, he was married an American woman, Mary Jane Clayton.

David said: "I've been watching 'Who Do you think you are?' and always felt the celebrities got slightly over emotional about it all.

"But in actual fact when you do your family tree, only then do you realise what an emotional rollercoaster it can be."

What have you found out about your ancestors?

Have you already begun researching your family tree? What fascinating secrets have you unearthed about your ancestors? Kevin would love to hear from you.

Send Kevin your stories by emailing:

[e-mail]

Do you have a question for Kevin?

You can send your question by emailing:

[e-mail]

What to find out more?

Want to find out more about researching your family tree?

Or need help? These links could be useful:

BBC Family History

BBC Family History links

Gloucestershire Family History Society

GlosGen

When can I listen to Kevin George?

Kevin joins David Smith on BBC Radio Gloucestershire from 3pm on the first Tuesday of each month. Click here to listen live.

Or, if you missed his latest appearance you can listen again (for up to seven days after broadcast) by using the BBC Gloucestershire iPlayer .