I guess my interests are divided into four,
completely unconnected, areas

Genealogy.

 Especially surnames, Kingdon, Tooley, Watkins, Manchee, Delgaty...

French.

 More to the point my French website for the very young.

Web design.

 And my very small portfolio of clients.

Rock music.

 Not just listening to it, I also sing in a couple of bands.

Genealogy

So this is me, and like a lot of people I wanted to know what went into making me. So I started to research my genealogy.
I have got quite a long way back on many lines. My best researched names are Kingdon, Manchee, and Tooley. I also have got details of my grandmother's royal ancestry.
Almost all of this is courtesy of a number of other researchers who are much more dedicated and professional than I am.
I am descended from Frank Kingdon-Ward who was a botanical explorer from 1909 - 1958 (his death) He was responsible for introducing hundreds of new species to western science and thousands of species of seed, and botanical samples.
His most famous introductions were the "himalayan blue poppy" Meconopsis betonicifolia the "giant cowslip" Primula florindae and an eponymous Rhododendron, Rhododendron wardii.
I first started my website about him. I have created a brief biography of his life on this geocities site. This gets about 100 visitors a month and I have been contacted by some very interesting people as a result.
My kingdon information comes from an old book which appears to have been privately published and goes back to about the 17th century.
Manchee (my wife's side) research was done largely by Bob Manchee in the USA. He has been doing a single name project for some time and has more or less linked every Manchee in the world together. Quite some achievement!
Tooley was started by my aunt and I have hardly added anything more. In fact I would not be surprised if she had done more detailed research which has gone into storage.
The discovery of my maternal grandmother in "the plantaganet roll of the blood royal" opened the floodgates for that branch, revealing that I am descended from Henry the 1st 2nd and 3rd. Edward 1st 2nd and 3rd. Robert the Bruce, Prince Llewellyn of Wales, William the conqueror, Charlemagne, Boudica, Old King Cole, Le bon Roi Dagobert, and; if Charlemagne's researchers are to be believed, Mark Anthony, and Julius Ceasar..... the list is very long.
My wife is also descended from the Delgaty family which is a variant spelling of Dalgety, part of the Hay clan from Fyfe in Scotland. I have had a bit more information from other researchers recently so I have lots of info to add to my tree. 		Genealogy links.

My family.
 This is a pictorial diagram of my basic family tree. There are also some relevant links.

Frank Kingdon-Ward genealogy
 Just the briefest family details about my grandfather

Frank Kingdon-Ward biography.
 Start of my biography of my grandfather, the botanical explorer.

IGI
international genalogical index.

French website.

So go on what's all this about your french website? I hear you ask.
Well... I started out by making a page which had a few French nursery rhymes on it. I put English translations next to them and mp3 tunes to download.
This one page on my free geocities site started to get more hits than all the rest put together. (around 600 a month)
After this wewnt on for two years I finally got around to starting a dedicated site with it's own URL. so now at www.french4tots.co.uk there is a new site with not only "comptines" (that's French for nursery rhymes by the way) but also stories, lessons, games, vocabulary, and my new creations Fleur and Rocky.
This site is aimed specifically at young children who's parents have only a basic grasp of French. It is ideal for those wanting to get a headstart before starting school. 		French 4 tots.
 My French website check it out. There is plenty not finished but there is also quite a lot of good stuff there.
I feel I was very fortunate to find my host for the site.
I searched long and hard but eventually had to take the plunge.
I did read a lot of advice all over the web and it looked like a good deal, all things considered.
Since then I have had 100% 24/7 service, and quick and helpful responses to all my queries. (No matter how daft!) They are based in the UK so if you are thinking of setting up your first website in the UK you should definately try these people.

Web design.

I have already designed a website for someone else. This is for my local "surestart" programme which is a government sponsored scheme to help parents and carers of children under four.
I was asked, as a parent, if I was interested in helping to create a website and I was keen to help as it would give me a chance to try out some new ideas and prove I could do it. I don't get paid for this site but there has been talk of getting me a grant to buy a better computer to facilitate working on it.
I have had tentative enquiries from a few small companies who want to have a web presence at a very low price.
Perhaps a career beckons, we shall see. 		Higham Hill Surestart.
My first third party website created free for my local "surestart" project.
Sample site
This is an example of the sort of thing you could have for your company.

Olli the Rockstar.

Well perhaps rock planet.
I am the lead singer in a Led Zeppelin tribute called Led Zep Too.

Led Zep Too played our first gig in July of 2004 and were immediately rebooked to play again, we went down a storm. We have since gone from strength to strength and have played several festivals and famous venues with lots more great stuff to come.

I have been in other bands before, most recently Spooky, a six piece covers band playing all the songs people want to hear. That band is still going on but have had a number of personell changes even since I left.

I am also involved in a small way in the other side of the music industry.
I have invested £50 in a band called Djevara, because I liked their music. They are a hard political punk metal band with RATM overtones. Their album cost £10,000 and they set up a record label for £5,000 all the money was raised from their fans.
 FLY
Covers band based in Essex/north east London.

Led Zep Too
The soundalikest Led Zepellin tribute you're ever likely to see.
SHX Music.com







































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