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A gift that lasts far longer than anything bought

Gift them their
family story.

Professionally researched. Beautifully presented. Completely unlike anything else.

A professional family history investigation, given as a gift. For the person who seems to have everything, this is the one thing they do not have yet. Gift vouchers come with a printable certificate, ready to give on the day.

Discuss a Gift Investigation View gift packages from £199

Free consultation  ·  No obligation  ·  Certificate ready to print and give

Why this gift is different

Most gifts are forgotten.
This one is not.

Family history is personal in a way that almost nothing else is. It is about the person giving the gift knowing something important about the person receiving it. It says: your story matters, and I wanted you to know it properly.

Professional investigation goes far beyond what anyone can find with an afternoon on Ancestry. It means archive research, original records, census and church registers, military papers, Irish Griffith's Valuation, estate papers, newspaper archives, and the knowledge to interpret what they actually mean. What comes back is a written family history, not a spreadsheet.

Photo restoration can also be combined with a family history gift for an additional personal touch. See the photo restoration service.

"I booked this as a birthday gift for my mother. She has always wondered about her Irish side and never got anywhere on her own. Gary traced three generations she had never known about and found a cousin still living in County Clare. She was overwhelmed. Best gift I have ever given."

Claire W., Leicestershire
Occasions people gift this
Significant birthdays (60th, 70th, 80th)
Retirement
Mother's Day and Father's Day
Christmas
Milestone wedding anniversaries
Family reunions
Gift packages

Choose the right investigation for them.

All packages are fixed-price, fully done for you, and come with a printable gift certificate. Not sure which fits? Book a free call and we will talk it through.

Starter gift

Starter Roots Investigation

A strong beginning. The first discoveries.

£199

One-time payment. Certificate included.

  • Research into two family lines back two to three generations
  • Census, birth, marriage, and death records
  • Written summary of findings
  • Copies of key original records
  • Printable gift certificate
Enquire about this package
Most popular gift

Roots Investigation

A complete and detailed family history.

£299

One-time payment. Certificate included.

  • Research back three to five generations, multiple lines
  • Full written family history document
  • All original records gathered and annotated
  • Irish records where relevant
  • Personal consultation with Gary
  • Printable gift certificate
Enquire about this package
Deep investigation

Extended Heritage Investigation

For a family with questions that go deep.

From £499

Scoped individually. Certificate included.

  • Extended research, five or more generations
  • Military, occupational, or specialist archive research
  • DNA investigation where required
  • Full written family history, deeply researched
  • Ongoing updates as new records emerge
  • Printable gift certificate
Discuss your requirements

All packages are fixed-price unless the investigation reveals a need to go significantly further, in which case Gary will discuss any additional scope before proceeding. Gift vouchers are valid for 12 months from issue and can be transferred between individuals within the recipient's family.

The process

From your enquiry to their discovery.

The whole process is handled by Gary from start to finish. All you need to do is make the call.

Free consultation

We speak by phone or video call. You tell me what you know about the recipient's family and what they would most like to discover. No preparation needed.

Certificate issued

Once the gift is confirmed, a printable certificate is sent to you by email, typically within 24 hours. You present it on the day. The recipient then contacts Gary to begin the investigation.

Investigation begins

Gary consults with the recipient, gathers whatever they have, and starts the research. The recipient is kept informed as discoveries are made.

History delivered

The finished family history is presented to the recipient. Every relevant original record is included. This is something they will keep and return to for years.

Common questions

Questions about giving a family history investigation as a gift.

If your question is not here, the free call is the easiest way to get an honest answer.

Not much at all. It helps to know their name, roughly where their family comes from, and whether there are any particular questions or mysteries they have always wanted to resolve. But even if all you know is that they have Irish grandparents or a military relative they have always been curious about, that is enough. We will discuss all of this in the free consultation, and Gary can work with very little to begin with.
Once the consultation is complete and the gift is confirmed, the printable certificate is typically sent by email within 24 hours. If you need it quickly for an occasion, mention this when you book the call and Gary will accommodate it.
This depends on the scope of the investigation and how quickly records come back from archives. For a Starter Roots or Roots Investigation, four to eight weeks is typical from the point of first contact with the recipient. Extended investigations with specialist archive requests can take longer. Gary keeps the recipient informed throughout.
Family history sometimes uncovers things that are unexpected or complicated. Adoptions, illegitimacies, criminal records, family secrets that were deliberately buried. Gary handles all of this with discretion and care. Nothing is presented without sensitivity to how the recipient might receive it. If you have specific concerns about what might be found, raise them in the initial consultation and it can be discussed.
Yes. Gift certificates can be transferred within the recipient's immediate family. If circumstances change, contact Gary and the certificate can be reissued in another name. The 12-month validity period remains from the date of original issue.
Yes. Irish ancestry is one of the most common requests and one of Gary's personal areas of expertise. Irish genealogy presents particular challenges because the 1922 fire at the Public Record Office of Ireland destroyed a significant portion of the pre-1901 records. Gary knows which records survived, which substitutes exist, and how to navigate the Griffith's Valuation, Tithe Applotment Books, estate papers, and parish registers that can fill the gaps.
Ready to order

Order a Gift Voucher

Fill in the form below and Gary will be in touch within 24 hours to confirm the details and arrange payment. No obligation at this stage.

The first step

Tell me about the person
you want to give this to.

A short conversation is all it takes. We will talk about what the recipient has always wanted to know, agree on a package, and have a certificate ready for you, typically within 24 hours.

Book a Free Consultation

Free·No obligation·Certificate typically within 24 hours·Gift packages from £199