Heir to the throne from Whickham

[Tom_NUFC 0]

http://icnewcastle.icnetwork.co.uk/journal...-name_page.html

 

Meet 'King' Albert Feb 9 2007

By Daniel Thomson, The Journal

 

When Albert Turnbull began looking into his family history he never dreamed of discovering that he was related to the King of England.

 

But the retired engineer, of Whickham, Gateshead, was named yesterday as having one of the strongest claims on the throne, after English Heritage carried out an international search for alternative heirs.

 

Albert, 70, has known about his regal ancestry for 15 years, but stepped forward to reveal his family's lineage when he heard of an appeal to track down the relatives of those who might have been crowned if William the Conqueror had lost the Battle of Hastings.

 

Grandfather-of-four Albert started researching his genealogy 35 years ago and was shocked to discover he was not only related to St Margaret and King Alfred - but also to William the Conqueror.

 

This means Albert may have had a claim on the throne regardless of the result of the Battle of Hastings. Albert, the Prince of Wales's 23rd cousin, said: "I managed to go all the way back to King Cerdic,[correct] the first King of Wessex, who invaded Britain in about 500AD. The Royal Family can trace its line back to King Cerdic and I'm 55 generations descended from him.

 

 

"I was quite shocked when I discovered this meant I had a claim on the throne, but I don't take it too seriously. I've got no delusions of grandeur. Theoretically, everyone alive now who had ancestors in Britain has some sort of claim.

 

 

"And I don't think Prince Charles is going to be looking over his shoulder anytime soon."

 

 

The retired lecturer and engineer became interested in tracing his family history in 1972 after reading a story about William of Rule who was reportedly re-named Turnbull after saving Robert the Bruce from a rampaging bull.

 

 

He was able to trace the family to Henry Turnbull who bought land in Elswick, Newcastle, from the Barony of Benwell in the 1500s. This land was later identified as Turnbull's Nook.

 

 

But it took 20 years of detective work for Albert to discover he was related to royalty.

 

 

He said: "Most people can only trace their family history back to about 1600 because that's how far church records go back, but if you can find a landowner you can go back much further.

 

 

"I was lucky enough to discover my father's grandmother was called Thirkeld and originated in Cumbria where they married into the Barons of Westmorland. This meant I was related to the 10th Baron, who could be traced back to King Edward III in the 1300s.

 

 

"I managed to go back even further to King Cerdic in 500AD using the Anglo Saxon Chronicles, but I can't go back any further than that, although I can still go sideways, so my search isn't over. I've come to really love it. It's detective work."

 

 

Albert is married to Rita, 67, and they have children, Hayley, 42, and Ian, 38, and four grandchildren: Rachel, 14, Alex, 10, Emily, 10, and seven-year-old Lucy.

 

 

Albert worked as an engineer building coaches before lecturing in both engineering and genealogy, at Gateshead Technical College for 34 years.

Edited February 9, 2007 by Tom_NUFC

[Guest alex]

Aye, If only his relatives hadn't been defeated a mere 900 years ago Still, quite an impressive family tree.

[Super_Steve_Howey 0]

I'd keep quiet about being the Baron of Benwell if I was him, not the kind of thing you publicise to the authorities