CHRISTMAS is a time for family and sharing stories.

So what better time of the year to start your family tree says Bolton and District Family History Society.

According to Jane Milne from Bolton and District Family History Society Christmas can be seen as the perfect opportunity to gather as much information as possible.

Starting a family tree — joining one of the many online family history sites such as Ancestry.co.uk will help — is something many people are thinking about at the moment judging by the number of readers who get in touch with their own interesting stories.

Probably the best source of help and information locally will be Bolton and District Family History Society who meet monthly and can advise on anything connected with genealogy, particularly if you are a beginner and do not know where to start.

Here is what one member of the society said about tracing her family tree.

"It was 10 years ago when I started looking for my historical family and my mother’s cousin offered to share her findings of our shared ancestors.

"During our conversations Vera commented that she had been unable to find her father’s World War One records and so as my confidence grew I searched for my great uncle but I too failed to find him, despite his relatively distinctive name.

"Over the passing years I have made the occasional repeated search but never found anything.

" With all the World War One data currently being added to the major databases I decided to make yet another search and this time it was successful. There he is, a one page record for Reginald Hinchcliffe, sheet metal worker of Leeds, a member of the RAF, complete with a man number which will obviously aid further research.

"A simple example that shows as data is added to the major genealogical websites it is essential to revisit those brick walls and check to see if more information has become available since you last looked. And in this case it got me some brownie points with our Vera."

For more help with family trees and news of courses starting in the New Year readers are encouraged to attend the next meeting of the society at Bolton Cricket Club on Wednesday February 4 or visit Bolton@mlfhs.org.uk for more information.