Monday 8 September 2014

Labour MSP finds family treasures whilst canvassing on Scottish referendum trail

There has been a Scottish independence referendum campaign running for the last two years, with the culmination taking place next week, on Thursday September 18th, when here in Scotland we will decide whether to leave the United Kingdom after 300 years, and to reconvene as an independent nation. The latest polls over the weekend show that the Yes campaign (for independence) has just taken the lead for the first time, though there is no complacency on either side about the result - it's a very closely fought contest, and something I have been actively involved in myself on the Yes side for a few months now. I have kept the referendum and its politics out of this blog for the most part, but there was one story that did grab my eye this morning - and it actually involves a remarkable genealogy tale concerning an MSP out canvassing for the No side!

Labour's Neil ­Findlay MSP was out canvassing in Pumpherston, West Lothian, when he decided to knock on the door of his grandmother's old house to solicit support for his side in the campaign. What he discovered is probably something all of us would give our eye teeth for! The full story is at http://www.sundaypost.com/news-views/scotland/independence-referendum/family-treasure-find-for-canvassing-msp-1.562465

I should add that this is all the publicity that I am giving to the No campaign! lol :) But a great tale, that shows you just never know where those family history resources may lie, and why tracking down where your family once lived may be more fruitful than you think!

(With thanks to Stewart Stevenson MSP via @zsstevens on Twitter)

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

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