Happy 30th Birthday to Family Tree magazine!

Two important things happening tomorrow on October 1st - 1) my brother gets to be the same age as me for 5 days - and 2) Family Tree magazine celebrates its 30th birthday! Happy birthday to both - and here's the press release from Family Tree!

Britain’s oldest family history newstrade magazine celebrates its 30th birthday

Britain’s first popular magazine for family historians is celebrating its 30th anniversary with a special souvenir edition.

Family Tree started life on a dining room table in Cambridgeshire in 1984 and is now read by thousands around the globe.

It remains the UK’s only independent newstrade magazine for a hobby that it has helped to nurture and support from its earliest days.

Originally called Family Tree Magazine, it was the brainchild of family historian Michael Armstrong and his wife Mary. They recognised the need for a national, ‘glossy’ genealogy magazine for the rapidly growing hobby.

Helen Tovey, editor of Family Tree, said: “Readers’ letters from our earliest days reveal that family historians were delighted to have a hobby magazine. It unified them and gave them a voice and a place to share their discoveries and knowledge in the pre-internet age.

“Thirty years on and we’re proud of our heritage. We’re still a small, independent publisher owned by the same family, trusted and respected in our field.

“Our strengths lie in our roots and our friendly, forward-thinking outlook, as we embrace all the advances the digital age brings for genealogists.”

She added: “For our readers, we’re still the place to go to share and discover family history stories, learn new research skills and keep up to date with the very latest developments in the world of family history. Our branches reach around the world, with a loyal following in Australia, New Zealand, the USA and Canada as well as the UK.

“As we mark our 30th anniversary, we’d love to thank all our readers, subscribers, contributors and advertisers for their much-valued support. We couldn’t have done it without you.”

The November souvenir issue goes on sale in the UK and on digital platforms on Wednesday, 1 October.

It features special anniversary giveaways, 30-minute ideas for quick family-history fixes, genealogy software reviews, a timeline to the First World War on the Home Front, advice on how best to collaborate with fellow researchers, plus all the regular favourites such as dating old photos, Dear Tom, Diane Lindsay, Q&As, diary dates, news and reviews. Published by owners ABM Publishing Ltd, it is on sale in the UK until 30 October in WH Smiths, supermarkets and independent newsagents.

Find out more at www.family-tree.co.uk

Issue 1

(With thanks to Karen Clare)

Chris

Now available for UK research is the new second edition of the best selling Tracing Your Family History on the Internet: A Guide for Family Historians, whilst my new book British and Irish Newspapers is also now out. And please consider purchasing the great new version of Caledonia by The Libations at 79p via www.caledonia2014.com - all profits go to help fund Scottish foodbanks