Madam, I realise that there is only a faint chance,that I can find anything out about my family but it is worth a try. My Grandfather, William Hickman, was born 100 years before me in 1848, I have his death certificate. In 1931, he lived at Highland cottage, Whitchurch Road, Symonds Yat. His wife Fanny was still alive then as was his son, William, born in 1910. My Dad's marriage to his first wife, in 1915, also has this address, as does my Uncle Charles, so they must have lived there for quite a while.

I have a picture that I believe is of my grandad, but of course I have no way of knowing. I am hoping that there maybe someone who remembers something about the family. On his death certificate, Grandad is down as a chimney sweep, although he was a gas manager by trade when he was younger. It may sound ridiculous asking about someone who died in 1931, but in my genealogy search I found that nothing is impossible. Although I was born in 1948, my grandfather's father was born a month after Charles Dickens, in 1812, and his father in 1775, so here's hoping.

Joyce Lawrence, 28 Vimy Road, Lindslade, Leighton Buzzard, LU7 1FQ.