Three quarters of Doncaster people wish they'd known more about their grandparents before they died

The majority of people from Doncaster wish they’d known more about their grandparents before they died, with a third unable to recall what their grandparents did for a living, a study has found.

Researchers from non-profit life story organisation Augr surveyed 2000 people in a bid to find out how much the nation knows about their families’ past.

The study found that just 15% of people from Doncaster know how their grandparents met, with over a third admitting they don’t know how their parents met either.

Justin Hopkins, co-founder of Augr, said:“For as long as history, ordinary people’s life stories have remained untold and unremembered. Only the lives of the rich and famous (and royalty of course) are officially documented.

“It’s clear from the results of our study that this remains the case. Only a handful of people are able to confidently recall information about their immediate relatives, never mind their ancestors of old. It’s very sad.

“We want to change that. Our mission is to give everyone the opportunity to record and share the story of their life with friends, family and the wider world. We hope the launch of Augr will enable more people to document their stories for future generations to look back on with fondness and pride.”

Despite this, 68% of people involved in the study said they would be interested to find out more about their family’s history, and 40% wish they’d kept a diary of their own stories to help to bring the past to life for their family in the future.

Thinking about their own lives, 85% of participants involved in the research confided that there are stories from their past that their families don’t know about, with a third of those aged over 65 believing that their stories will die with them.

From nude photoshoots, to teenage mischief, more than 30% of respondents admitted that some stories from their younger days would be a shock to their families today, and, perhaps unsurprisingly, an additional 28% claimed to have found out things about family members after they died that they did not know when they were alive.

When it comes to remembering loved ones, the majority of respondents enjoy reliving the past by telling stories with friends and family, while 70% believe it’s important to keep loved ones’ memories alive after they’ve passed.

In light in of findings, the boffins behind tech-start-up, Augr, are launching a campaign to encourage people to share their stories, before it’s too late.

In these confusing and worrying times, local journalism is more vital than ever. Thanks to everyone who helps us ask the questions that matter by taking out a subscription or buying a paper. We stand together. Liam Hoden, editor.