Young Roots

A project for Young People to explore their cultural history and make a permanent record of what they want other people to know about them and their families.

All of the family stories on this site have been written by the young people and detail their unique stories in a way that is relevant to them. The project is funded by the Heritage Lottery Funds Young Roots programme.

Enjoy!

Home Page

My name is David Thornber. I am 21 years old and a student at Leicester University. I live in Leicester with my Mum Jacquie. I have a big extended family with my Nan Pat (my mum's mum) and lots of uncles, aunts, cousins.

We have English, Irish, Scottish and Italian heritage in our family but most of the family (recently) either comes from Leicester or Barnoldswick in Lancashire (although my Grandad always said it was in Yorkshire...)

Family surnames include Robotham, Thornber, Swain, Upton, Kershaw, Johnstone.

My Great Great Grandfather had a shop in Belvoir Street in Leicester called Robotham's - it sold toys and all sorts of things for babies and children. My Great Great Uncle invented the collapsible pram - but unfortunately it collapsed when you didn't want it to...

Medicine, nursing, transport (lorries and coaches etc.), clock making, farming, trains and retail have been trades/careers followed in my family through the years. My Mum's Dad owned his own taxi firm. My Mum is an Office Manager now and has worked in all sorts of jobs, including the Airforce. My uncles are surveyors, glaziers and builders and my aunts work in nursing, sales and retail. My degree course is in studying genetics, but I don't know yet what career I will follow. I have thought of being a science teacher but, if I do o.k. with the degree I might like to continue studying for a doctorate