BS: Finding Obits in Wales?

Subject: BS: Finding Obits in Wales?
From: Bee
Date: 27 Oct 08 - 04:17 PM

An odd one, I know. I'm hoping a UK catter can suggest the most likely publication/place where one would find recent (last couple days) either obits or just deaths reported in Wales.

Back story. A good poster, very learned geologist living in Wales posts on a sciencey board I belong to - a huge board. A friend of his posted briefly and very convincingly, just a couple of times, to say that he had died suddenly. We are saddened, of course, but given the possibility of hoaxing, a few posters are finding it hard to believe. I thought, given the info I do have - first name, profession, and reported circumstances, I might be able to match this up with an obit or death notice in Wales.

But of course, I have no idea what newspapers, etc. might be likely ones, so I'd be most grateful for some advice. Thank you all.

Subject: RE: BS: Finding Obits in Wales?
From: GUEST,BanjoRay
Date: 27 Oct 08 - 08:09 PM

If it was South Wales (Monmouth, Glamorgan, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Breconshire) then the South Wales Evening Post or the Western Mail are the papers to go for.
Cheers
Ray

Subject: RE: BS: Finding Obits in Wales?
From: Bee
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 12:12 AM

Thank you, I will try those.

It's a very sad situation, and knowing for sure would ease some people's minds.

Subject: RE: BS: Finding Obits in Wales?
From: Splott Man
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 04:27 AM

You could try the BBC Wales on-line news pages.
Ditto ITV Wales.

South Wales Argus.
South Wales Echo (although that will probably be covered by the Western mail).

Or try searching here

Subject: RE: BS: Finding Obits in Wales?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 05:42 AM

Western Mail obituaries seem to be here.

If he lived in North Wales, it would more likely be in the Daily Post / Echo (Liverpool).

sian

Subject: RE: BS: Finding Obits in Wales?
From: Bee
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 07:00 AM

Thanks, Sian.

Not found yet, but I will check these again, as it is only a day or two since the reported death.

Subject: RE: BS: Finding Obits in Wales?
From: Llanfair
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 01:17 PM

If it's borders, it'll be in the Shropshire Star, or the County Times.

Subject: RE: BS: Finding Obits in Wales?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 01:20 PM

first name, profession, and reported circumstances

I'd just ring up the logical professional association.

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Finding Obits in Wales?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 01:23 PM

You could also contact the board's mods to ask them to look into it. They often have info other members will not have.... phrase your request right: "Hi, I'd like to send a card, I'm not asking you for their info but can you forward something if I send it to you...." (Snail or e-card of course)......

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Finding Obits in Wales?
From: Bee
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 03:21 PM

Susan, admin at the board is supposed to be checking it out. I'm not going to name the board, but it is huge, multi-topical, and in steep decline as a result of relatively recent new ownership. Admin has been changing more often than I change my underwear. Tech staff disappears without warning and without replacement. It wouldn't surprise me at all to discover no one there knows how to send an email.

Which is why I'm sleuthing. I've checked out a couple of professional associations he might have belonged to, but given it's Wales, I don't really know if there's twenty associations or just one or two, or if there are even more specific to specialty associations.

I may have figured out his last name, if it is the right person. The reported circumstances of his death may delay death notices - lived alone, found by daughter, and only in his forties. he was about to embark on a two week working holiday.

I'm not giving up, though. I went to the Netherlands as a Canadian with the first names of an American-Dutch artist couple and a hint about their lifestyle. The first week I was in Amsterdam, I was in a bar chatting with some locals. For fun I said, do you happen to know ____? "Why sure" was the reply "They're in such-and-such bar on Liedseplein every Tuesday night from about seven to ten". And so they were. Passed on the message the very next Tuesday.

Anybody can be found.

Subject: RE: BS: Finding Obits in Wales?
From: wysiwyg
Date: 28 Oct 08 - 04:35 PM

Yes, they can. Email to the relevant associations may also turn up a clue you can follow. Go git 'em! :~)

~S~

Subject: RE: BS: Finding Obits in Wales?
From: sian, west wales
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 06:14 AM

The chances would be good that he either worked for the National Museum of Wales or a University Geology Dept.

Once you have a name, you could contact them and make enquiries perhaps. For the Universities, you could start with University of Wales Aberystwyth They'd probably know staff at other Welsh HE/FE places as well.


sian

Subject: RE: BS: Finding Obits in Wales?
From: HuwG
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 08:58 AM

You might try contacting The Geological Society

Not this gentleman surely; the details don't seem to fit.

Subject: RE: BS: Finding Obits in Wales?
From: Bee
Date: 29 Oct 08 - 12:21 PM

No, HuwG - a much younger person. It appears there may be a delay on the obit appearing, since an autopsy had to be done. I'm confident in a day or two I'll have found it by using the publications people here have kindly provided. I knew the 'catters could help!

I myself am confident that it is no hoax - the story is too plainly told and sincere to be a nasty joke, but some of the younger posters are unable to believe it so easily.

This incident brought up a previous event, where a liked poster was dead for six months before anyone knew of it on the board, and then only because someone who had his email address squirrelled away found it and sent a message to which his family responded. That led to a discussion of 'Upon my death please notify...' lists, which to my surprise more than a few older posters, particularly those with professional internet-connected colleagues, keep, and which include any online/email contacts they wish to be notified.

I'm thinking I may do this.

Subject: RE: BS: Finding Obits in Wales?
From: Bee
Date: 30 Oct 08 - 09:39 PM

Thanks, 'catters. The death notice was finally posted yesterday, and I found the one I thought it might be. Shortly after, the deceased's friend gave us the information, which was good - I wasn't sure enough at the time. Minds have been put at rest.