Peter Calver of Lost Cousins

[PrawnCocktail]

Those of us on Lost Cousins will today have received a newsletter with contents that few of us were expecting.

That Peter Calver passed away last Monday, 19 Jan 2026, aged 75.

This is an inestimable loss to Genealogy. His newsletter alone was always worth reading, containing many things we would not otherwise have known about, and offers for reduced subscriptions to websites, or on items associated with our hobby. We have lost a friend who was always interested in our discoveries.

His last request to us was that we might "add a few more ancestors to the database" at Lost Cousins, which he had lived and breathed for so long. There will be a pause in newsletters until Easter.

RIP Peter, now gathered to his ancestors.

[Pheno]

I haven't received a newsletter yet so thanks for posting this.

A great loss to the genealogy world and as you say extremely helpful.

Pheno

[tomm]

  Always had a lot info for us.


 May he rest in peace.

 Tomm

[LizzieW]

Such a shock to receive the email.  RIP

[nanny jan]

Not received the email yet;  they always had useful details. Such sad news.

[Jebber]

What very sad news in the message this morning.

 Peter will be a great loss to the Genealogy community, we have a lot to thank him for. His passion was so evident in the way he shared  his knowledge and kept us informed of developments that we may otherwise have missed.

May he rest in peace.

[IgorStrav]

I have received the email today from Sian, Peter's wife, as a subscriber to the Lost Cousins Newsletter, which followed up a mail earlier this month I think, saying that Peter had medical issues.

I know that everyone here didn't appreciate Peter's style, but for myself I find that this news is like the loss of a friend, who wrote every month to tell me interesting facts, give me guidance, and add personal details to a 'letter'.  I agree with PrawnCocktail that this is a huge loss to the Family History research community.

I am very sad at his loss, and that of his wife who participated with gardening tips on some of the newsletters.

[Zaphod99]

I've communicated with Peter many times over the years. He did recently announce that he was passing his responsibilities over to another family member, but didn't give any indication that he was ill.

Zaph

[IgorStrav]

I've communicated with Peter many times over the years. He did recently announce that he was passing his responsibilities over to another family member, but didn't give any indication that he was ill.

Zaph

Perhaps his earlier email implied to me the medical issues I mentioned in my post.  I certainly had the impression that it was his health which was a concern.  Didn't mean to be misleading.