I can’t recommend it enough. About ten years ago I decided to write to some of my grandparents’ remaining cousins and second cousins. Of course there were hundreds of candidates if you branch out enough, so I was selective in trying to write to those about whom there was some online trace that suggested they’d be a good contact - much like 4b2 noting the church gardening point.
One was a journalist with an interest in local history so I thought she’d be a good candidate - and indeed she was the ‘keeper’ of that branch’s family history. Her birthday is one day after mine and we send each other something each year - she’s in her mid 90s now.
Another was a then-95 year old retired headmaster. He actually helped me with my English project, and after I shared with him all about his great-grandmother (one of my favourite ancestors), he wrote a poem dedicated to her. Before he died he wrote an incredible poem about family history - the connections between generations - and he sent it to me, incomplete, and asked me to one day continue it. What an honour! (And something I want to also pass down to a future generation to continue further - so it’s a living document from memories stretching back to 1832!)
These were probably standouts - more generally I have had good fortune with receiving photographs (or identifications of photographs I sent for that purpose) and basic family information.
I need to take my own advice though, as there’s many relatives I’ve been meaning to write to but haven’t yet. And then there’s the sadness upon coming across an obituary etc and finding out a relative has died before you got the chance to make contact, and with them all the family knowledge they held. Like Jebber, I’ve received a reply from the new owners of a deceased relative’s home who had found the letter - just too late!
4b2, thank you very much for that link to the postal service - I’m not in the UK either though all my paternal family are, so that’s a real game changer. I’m going to give it a go!
