> Are your parents interested in the English genealogy of your immediate family... or is this a generalized interest?
>
> I recall the great fervor generated by the BBC report that a Somerset schoolteacher, Adrian Targett, was determined by a 99% genetic mDNA matchup to be a mitochondrial descendant -- on his mother's side -- of a 9000-year-old male ancestor found in Cheddar Gorge (the oldest complete skeleton found in Britain). The question the newspapers humourously posed to the public was, "How far back can you trace YOUR family tree?"
>

Just my experience with geneology:

My father tried to put together the family tree a few years ago. However, his father refuses to cooperate.

Dad: Can you tell me some of the history of the Burkett family?

Grampa: They were all coalminers.

Dad: Ok...but what were their names? Where did they come from?

Grampa: Nothing but coalminers! Don't bother looking, you'll just find coalminers! [walks away]

Heh. I guess Grampa thinks geneology is an uppity activity. My dad's not hoping for royalty, he's just curious, but no luck. Maybe I'll trace my own tree through the maternal line someday.

---Jez"coalminer's daughter"zika