I have today received an email from Katy, the daughter of one of my cousins, about researching the family tree.

Among other things she wants to know about her great-grandfather. She is very lucky as she has good sources of memories of Grandad and Nan. For proper memories she could go to her two older aunts who would have been, I think, 7 and rising 9 when he died and should have some good substantial memories. Even better she can ask her grandparents while they are still there to ask - on a good day they should both have plenty to say.

However most interestingly to me her own mother Patsy - just one year my senior, and thus 2 when grandad died - has virtually identical memories to mine of being pushed in her pram, but set identifiably in her childhood hometown of Kingston-on-Thames. On the other hand, from the point of view of adding to her knowledge of family history, I don't suppose the news that her great-grandfather was inclined to take his baby grand-daughters out in their prams will set either the Thames or the Humber on fire.