Goodbye to the WDYTYA? Live show
I was really sorry to hear that there will not be another WDYTYA? Live Show. This year I was invited, along with Mandy Howard another contributor who took part in the BBC living history series The Victorian Slum, to talk about our experience in the slum and how it connected to our search for our family history.
As well as the talk, my husband and I stayed for the day and met amazing people who helped me in my family research, I found all I spoke to so knowledgeable and helpful and came away with renewed vigour to carry on the good work.
The experience I enjoyed most about the show was talking to people just like me who are passionate about their ancestors, searching for lost roots, self-identification and of course for pleasure.
I felt very privileged to have been invited, as we are just ordinary people, not celebrities.
My family and I were very lucky to be chosen to be part of The Victorian Slum and tell at least part of my story on my father’s side.
The legacy from the programme, which is now being shown in America, will continue as more people view it. A gentleman in the audience suggested programmes like this should be compulsory viewing in schools, after all this was not so very long ago. I feel that by researching our family, we are walking beside them, making them real people again.
Thank you again for inviting us and I do sincerely hope in the future there can be another outlet where ordinary people can get together and share their ancestors’ stories. Heather Potter, by email Editor replies: It was lovely meeting you and Mandy and I’m glad you enjoyed the show. We are all sad here that it is closing. All my family loved
The Victorian Slum ( even my teenagers who usually switch off when I try and get them to sit down and watch ‘educational’ programmes).