Every family has a story.
Navigate your way through yours
With North Star Genealogy
Research & Consultation
Workshops
Guest Speaker Bookings
Over 30 Years of Experience
I’m Diane , founder of North Star Genealogy — a business name inspired by my late father, whose incredible sense of direction shaped both my childhood and my calling. He always told me, “If you feel lost, look for the North Star and you’ll find your way home.” Today, I help others find their way through their family history using thoughtful research, workshops, and personalised guidance. North Star Genealogy is my way of honouring his memory and helping you discover the stories that guide you home.
Let My Experience and Passion Be Your Guide and Inspiration
Genealogy is more than names and dates — it’s about the people who came before us and the stories they left behind. With decades of hands-on experience, including professional and voluntary work, I offer careful, ethical research alongside a supportive, personal approach, taking the time to listen and truly understand what you’re hoping to discover. With particular expertise in Northern Irish family history and its unique challenges.
Whether you’re just starting out or facing a particular challenge, you’ll find clarity, reassurance, and someone who genuinely cares about your journey. From fresh eyes on a brick wall to hands-on guidance or someone to lead the way for you, I’ll help you move forward with confidence and respect for every story involved.
Workshops
Small, friendly workshops covering a range of topics, from getting started to breaking brick walls and understanding historical records.
Guest Talks
Engaging talks based on real discoveries, exploring identity, heritage, and the rewarding journey of uncovering the people who shaped us.
Consultations
Dedicated half-day or full-day One to One sessions, working together on your research challenges, either in person or remotely.
Research Services
Professional research for those short on time, whether building a family tree from scratch or exploring a specific line in more depth.
Guest Speaker Bookings
APPROVED SPEAKER FOR THE FEDERATION OF WOMEN’S INSTITUTE
My talks are rooted in real discoveries and lived experience, sharing what genealogy can reveal about identity, resilience, and the people who shaped us. Through stories drawn from my own family history — particularly my Irish ancestors — I explore the pride, gratitude, and deeper understanding that comes from uncovering where we come from.
Whether speaking to community groups or students, I aim to make family history accessible, engaging, and meaningful, showing how honouring those who came before us can help us better understand ourselves today.
Available for groups and schools across Essex, Suffolk, Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and beyond.
Overseas Help
If you are like me and have Ancestors that emigrated, it can be a minefield. If you live overseas I can help you research the UK side of your family tree
Record Look Ups
Targeted record searches to confirm details, fill gaps, or locate original records, with copies provided wherever possible. Marriage, Census, Military, etc
Community & Forum
THE NORTH STAR CIRCLE A forthcoming subscription space for shared learning, discussion, exclusive content, and discounts on workshops and events.
Northern Ireland
Specialist guidance through the complexities of Northern Irish research, including townlands, migration, and hard-to-trace records.
Workshops
My half-day workshops are designed for small, friendly groups of 10–25, held in welcoming village halls or similar venues. A range of workshops are available, from beginner sessions on getting started, to more focused topics such as Northern Ireland research, and advanced workshops where I share practical tricks to help you avoid common mistakes and make faster progress in your own research.
I share insights and tips from decades of experience, and then invite participants to share their own experience. It concludes with a question-and-answer session, giving you the chance to explore your own questions in a supportive, engaging environment.