William Laming

[marylou]

I'm trying to find, for a friend of mine who doesn't have access to the internet........

William Laming - b.April 9th 1923 Baumber Lincs,
He worked at Hemingby Mill and on May 8th 1945 there was an article in the Horncastle News about him as a follow up from a former article in the Old Lincolnshire Chronicle or Echo (not sure which)
He was a corporal in the catering section but regiment not known I'm afraid.
Sorry its a bit vague but its the only info my friend had.
Thankyou

[pamthomas]

I'm trying to find, ............

What, exactly?
If William is still alive? The names of any descendants? What he had for breakfast on January 1st 1966  ?
Do we assume that your friend has a copy of the newspaper article from 1945?

[marylou]

No - she doesn't have a copy of it and has tried at the library but must have asked the wrong questions or something...she didn't get to look at it but someone told her about it from what I gather. She knows little about this chap other than what I've put on here and wants to know things like, did he marry and were there children etc.
She is new to all this sort of thing and really doesnt know where to begin so I said I'd ask for some help on her behalf.
Can't get in touch with her now until after new year but I'll ring her again then

[pamthomas]

Hi Marylou,
Did your friend ask in person at Horncastle library, because I find it a bit hard to believe that they don't have even filmed copies of the local paper(s). The library is supposed tp have a 'local/family history' section and newspapers are probably the major source of local history. (Actually, once you've got the film wound on to the machine the correct way  viewing papers on film is much easier than struggling to  read the old broadsheet ones when they're bound in ledgers.)
If your friend can get to the library then she can also look through the other local papers for that/nearby week(s) to see if there are any other articles  about him. Just depends exactly why he was in the paper.
Horncastle library details
http://www.lincolnshire.gov.uk/libraryDetails.asp?library=NE1&catId=2434&multimap=1
Other Horncastle papers
http://tinyurl.com/23vc2b
If your friend can't get to the library the staff should be able to provide her with a photocopy of the article, though she may have to pay a small charge.
Depending on what the article says (might be he's already married/engaged) then it's a case of searching through the GRO Index till she finds some likely candidates.  If the number of BMDs for William Laming between 1901 and 1920 are any guide the there won't be too many marriages, though she will have to also search the deaths as well.
Has your friend sent for William's birth certificate yet? If so, she will have his mother's maiden name and from that should be able to find siblings on the GRO Index. Sometimes tracing siblings and their descendants can help to find the person you're really looking for.
The online BT phone directory has a Laming in the Horncastle area who may or may not be connected but I would strongly advise her to write and not phone.

[marylou]

Thanks Pam. Don;t think she thought of trying Horncastle library. As I say she's new to all this and really hasn't a clue where to start.
I'll pass all this on to her in the new year anyway and see how she gets on.
Once again, many thanks