Doug started researching his family tree in 1989. It's now become his become his main past-time and he now spends many hours at his computer trying to tracing his family name of Warner. He's helped in this mammoth task by his wife Angela and his daughter Susan, and together they've sifted through reams of birth, marriage and death certificates held at Swansea University.

What triggered off your interest in family history?

"It all started when we were emptying the contents of my late mother's house. I found an old scrapbook of my father's - he had died when I was nine. I never really knew anything about his side of the family and this made me wonder.
"So I got in touch with my Auntie Minnie who lived in Reading - she had a number of old family photographs which she sent me. I didn't know who these people were, and I wanted to find out more."

Why did you start tracing your family tree?

"My father had died when I was only age nine. He had been a musician and I can remember him taking me down to the Patti Pavilion when I was a young boy. When my Auntie Minnie sent me some old family photographs she also sent down some posters which advertised shows that my father had been in. I knew so little about him."

How did you go about starting to research your family tree?

"First of all I got hold of old photographs relating to my father, grandfather and great-grandfather. I then tried the County Hall archives in Swansea but didn't have much luck there. So my wife went to the library in Swansea and looked at the Electoral Roll - she was able to find out lots of information here. As the Warner family were members of the Catholic Church, we then discovered that Swansea University holds the old parish records. To be able to look at these we had to get permission off a parish priest."

How far back and to where have you traced your family tree?

"I can definitely confirm that I've traced my family back to 1730 in Ireland. I'm ninety-nine percent sure that I've traced it back to 1667 in Ireland - the main problem is that records have been destroyed out there."

Who's the most interesting family member youve found out about?

"That would have to be my great-grandfather Shamus. He was born in Swansea in 1854 and his real name was James. He was a bare-knuckle boxer and he fought in both the UK and the USA, and was part of the Billy Samuel's Boxing Troop.
"In his younger years he used to deliver fruit and vegetables around Swansea. I even found a newspaper report that said that he had appeared before the Police in 1867 charged with being drunk when in charge of a donkey and cart. He was married to Mary and they had seven children. He died in 1912 as a result of an unfortunate accident with the gas supply in the lodging house he was staying at."

What's the most enjoyable aspect of tracing your family tree?

"It has to be getting to know all my relations and what they did. I now know them all by name. So I'm getting to know who I am really."

How far across the world have you traced your family tree?

"South East Wales, the South East of England and Southern Ireland. Also I've discovered I've got relatives in California, Canada and New Zealand."

What's the most useful website you've come across when tracing your family tree?

"The website I use a lot is one based in Ireland - its The Ballingeary and Inchigeela Historical Society website - the address is: www.leevalleyireland.com. It's helped me to find out my family in Southern Ireland as they used to live just outside of Cork.

Have you met anyone through researching your family tree?

I'm in regular contact with Peter O'Leary who is linked to the Ballingeary and Inchigeela Historical Society. We've emailed one another for the past seven or eight years. Also Father John Cotter in Ireland has been a fantastic help."

What lessons have you learnt?

"You need to be a detective - to try all avenues to find information. Keep notes of everything you do. You have to persevere, as it will take time to find things out."

What three pieces of advice would you give to anyone starting to research their family tree?

"1: Find out as much as you can from your living family members."

"2: Keep records of everything you find out - you could try taping family members talking about their past."

"3: Have tunnel vision - know what you're looking for, and be focussed."

Doug has charted his progress on his website, where you can find out more about his family history and his journey into the past. Click here or go to the following web address: http://www.warnerfamilytrees.co.uk/

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