The Daddy of All Mysteries by Jess Welsby

Author:Jess Welsby
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: M. McMullin
Published: 2015-03-15T00:00:00+00:00

16 Brick Walls and Red Herrings

So this was how the team was formed. Just a bunch of faceless, nameless family history buffs making use of free websites for our virtual office to conduct a search for my mystery daddy. I had joined tribalpages.com and given some FTF members an editor’s password as and when they offered their help with the research. I placed myself at the bottom of the pecking order and gave myself the job title of Gofer. Any research at the Liverpool Records Office or other legwork to be done, like trekking through Jewish cemeteries looking for gravestones, writing letters and emails, or ordering BMD certificates would be my department, and I kept a log of everything in my laptop. When I did take a short break to watch some television, I watched the programme Who Do You Think You Are. I just couldn’t let go!

Brian took the username of Columbo and turned himself into a private detective, making discreet enquiries in whatever direction the clues sent us - although he insisted that I assured all the members of FTF that he looked more like Steve McQueen than Peter Falk. In his dreams! My other half has always been delusional about his looks.

I gave OC the title of Project Manager and she had a great team of experts around her with an array of experience including people with legal backgrounds, medics, civil servants, teachers and even an opera singer, and no doubt everything in-between. I didn’t have a clue about the real identities of the members of FTF, nor they of mine. I could only guess their backgrounds by whatever knowledge they displayed over the following months.

A lot of members were retired, and were very experienced in family history research. They were from all over the UK, as well as Italy, Spain and afloat on a boat off the coast of Martinique, which had me intrigued. While we slept, the night shift took over, with members who lived in the southern hemisphere - such as Australia, New Zealand and even Tasmania. We had the search for Harry covered 24/7! It felt like the whole wide world was desperately seeking Harry!

Many were happy to put their subscriptions to various websites to good use, and in return I would often receive private messages via the FTF website to do some research at the Liverpool Records Office for another member who lived in another part of the world and who perhaps had family roots in Liverpool. I had been told that genealogy can become very addictive, and I quickly began to realise why. By this time, I was well and truly hooked.

If I ever see my mother again, Christ … I will be in big trouble! She was so private, but now, as she would often say to me, ‘Yer little twerp. Da whole wide world knows all me friggin’ business!’

By now, we were starting to show signs of battle fatigue. We were convinced that Louis had a reason to come to Liverpool from Leeds.

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