Have you been inspired by the stories featured in 'Who do you think you are?' on television? Have you already made a start on your family tree? Do you need a bit of extra help to take you back another generation or to find out more about your ancestors? Whatever your experience in family history, the Dyfed Family History Society has something special for you.
On Saturday, February 21, at Carmarthen Library, St. Peter's Street, Carmarthen, the society is holding an all-day event on family history. Admission is free and everyone is welcome between 10 am and 4 pm.
The day starts with the society's AGM and is followed, at 11.15 am, by the guest speaker who, this year, is Brian Picton Swann, regional co-ordinator for the International Society of Genetic Genealogy. During the remainder of the day, there will be practical help and research materials available on family history. Visitors are invited to bring along their own family history queries and share in the experience of the society's members.
'DNA and Welsh Family History: past, present and future' is the official title of the talk to be given by Brian Swann. The aim will be to give an overview of how DNA testing can be employed in family history, both to augment conventional genealogy and to bridge the gap where original documents have not survived.
This will be illustrated by practical examples from the Picton and Williams families, illustrating what can be achieved today with relatively uncommon and very common Welsh surnames. Mr. Swann's talk will form the basis of a presentation on DNA and Family History to be given during 'Who Do You Think You Are? Live' at London's Olympia the following weekend.
Brian Swann, a keen family historian from his university days onwards and a member of the Dyfed Family History Society since its inception, works in the pharmaceutical industry and was the first human volunteer to take a product manufactured by r-DNA technology. He is now involved in obtaining agreement from Regulatory Agencies around the world to conduct human clinical trials on a wide variety of experimental medicines. Thus he is in an unusual position whereby his hobby and his career are continually moving closer together. This has enabled him to appreciate the fast-moving development of DNA testing and its benefits to family historians.