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Messages - Rattus

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1
The Common Room / Re: Peter Calver of Lost Cousins
« on: Friday 23 January 26 14:40 GMT (UK)  »
Very sad news, he has been one of genealogy's most distinctive voices. I've barely exchanged a couple of admin-related messages with him over the years but - as others have said - I felt like I knew him through the LC newsletters.

The final newsletter of 2025 announced that he was stepping back from the site due to unexpected health issues, with a typically forthright sign-off:

"Please don’t send emails of sympathy – it’s your entries on your My Ancestors that will provide me with sustenance during my final days."

(I hope he would forgive a brief 'pull quote' - the link is below.)

https://www.lostcousins.com/newsletters2/latedec25news.htm

RIP.

2
Handwriting Deciphering & Recognition / Re: Handwriting & Location
« on: Sunday 07 September 25 20:30 BST (UK)  »
This might be relevant?

https://www.bruntonfarms.com/contact.php

Brunton Farms
Cuthlie
Arbroath
Angus
DD11 2NT

3
Technical Help / Re: Converting to Windows11 from Win10
« on: Friday 28 March 25 06:52 GMT (UK)  »
Microsoft's PC Health Check app is a good place to start:

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/how-to-use-the-pc-health-check-app-9c8abd9b-03ba-4e67-81ef-36f37caa7844

"If you’re currently running Windows 10, PC Health Check provides a comprehensive eligibility check for your device to ensure it meets the Windows 11 minimum system requirements. You’ll get info on why your device is or isn’t eligible, plus info on what you can do if your device doesn’t meet the requirements."

4
The Lighter Side / Who Do You Think You Are (UK) - series 22 announced
« on: Friday 21 March 25 16:02 GMT (UK)  »
https://cultbox.co.uk/news/who-do-you-think-you-are-series-22-guests-announced

Looking forward to all of these.

5
The Common Room / Re: Does anyone know of any current Ancestry special offers?
« on: Friday 14 March 25 16:16 GMT (UK)  »
Had a couple of years off, but it was time to dive back in again. Renewed today, UK £59.99. Thanks!

6
London and Middlesex / Re: Help trying to find grave
« on: Thursday 13 March 25 17:03 GMT (UK)  »
Quote from: CaroleW on Wednesday 12 March 25 15:35 GMT (UK)
As you now have his exact death date you could contact Brent records office to check for burial or cremation details

This definitely looks like the way forward. I tried to find his mother's details, as her death was also registered in Willesden in 1951. No luck. I came to the conclusion that there must be a problem with the records. And on investigation, even though the LB Brent website directs you to Deceased Online, it looks like DO does not hold the records for Willesden New Cemetery - the most likely location.

The only Brent cemeteries named in DO's page for the borough are: Alperton Cemetery, Carpenders Park Cemetery, Willesden Old Burial Ground (St Mary's), and Wembley Old Burial Ground (St John's).

This page gives details of Brent's charges for family history searches, but it doesn't explain how to book one of their six-hour slots:

https://www.brent.gov.uk/births-deaths-marriages-nationality/deaths-and-funeral-services/family-history-searches

7
London and Middlesex / Re: Help trying to find grave
« on: Wednesday 12 March 25 15:37 GMT (UK)  »
Based on the info in the other thread, I can see a likely death registration for his second wife Alice Evelyn Stanley in Brent Q2 1980 (vol 11, page 828). A burial and/or will might provide clues, but I haven't been able to locate either.

Ancestry is showing a Charles J Stanley on the electoral roll in Willesden East in 1950, 1954 and 1962, but I don't currently have a subscription to see the details. If he married in Willesden in 1935 and then died there in 1967, it would be odd for him to be buried elsewhere.

Who was the informant on the death certificate?

8
The Lighter Side / Can this man find a link to any Welsh person in 60 seconds?
« on: Saturday 08 March 25 08:17 GMT (UK)  »
https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgp85jzkj3o

The Cymru Connection. Essentially: one minute, one country, one degree of separation.

The art of navigating networks, assessing overlaps and finding connections feels like a very familiar skill set in the work of family history research.

I'm glad not to be doing it as a spectator sport on live radio though!

9
Technical Help / Re: Uninstall Win 11
« on: Thursday 31 October 24 20:50 GMT (UK)  »
Having worked in IT for decades, I'm comfortable with technological change. Having said that, I just couldn't warm to the default Windows 11 interface.

This was how I transformed it from bearable to enjoyable:
  • Go into the Settings app from the Start menu
  • Choose Personalisation, Taskbar, 'Taskbar behaviors' and change 'Taskbar alignment' to Left
  • Choose Personalisation, Colours, and change 'Choose your default Windows mode' to Dark
Now when I work occasionally on a Windows 10 laptop, I can't wait to get back to W11.

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