To help get you started:

• Start with yourself and work backwards.
• Talk to your older relatives and record what they remember. It's a good idea to make out a list of questions beforehand, to make sure they don't miss anything out.
• Look at family mementos - letters, photographs, news cuttings, family bibles.
• Write down everything that you learn, with a note of where the information has come from. Remember to record negative results as well - it will save you looking in the same place twice.
• Start to draw a family tree, leaving plenty of space to add information as you find it.
• Read a book on genealogy - it will give you a good idea of what sources you will need to use and the information you can expect to get from them.
• Now come to the Community History and Archives Service, bringing with you all the information you have.
  It is best to ring in advance and talk to the staff about what you want to do - many of our records are on microfilm or microfiche and you will need to book a place to look at them.