Originally from Northern Ireland, but with both Scottish and Irish roots, I hold a Postgraduate Diploma in Genealogical Studies from the University of Strathclyde, and today work as a professional genealogist, running the Scotland's Greatest Story research service (www.scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk). As well as carrying out research for various clients, I have also carried out research for television productions, including the Australian version of Who Do You Think You Are?, and for Irish Channel TG4.
I live in Ayrshire, Scotland, but in the past I have resided in the
English cities of Plymouth and Bristol (for four and six years
respectively), I spent four years as a child in Helensburgh, and twelve
years in the County Antrim town of Carrickfergus. I am married with two
sons. Other qualifications I hold are a BA Hons in Time-Based Media from the
University of the West of England in Bristol, and an HND in Design
(Commuication) from the University of Ulster. I am an avid learner of Scottish Gaelic (Gàidhlig), and hold a SQA Higher in
Gaelic for Learners, taught online from 2022-2023 via eSgoil (www.e-sgoil.com), and am
currently studying the Advanced Higher in 2023-2024. In August 2023 I completed a short online 3 day Gàidhlig course through Sabhal Mòr Ostaig (www.smo.uhi.ac.uk), at level 7.
As well as teaching Scottish based courses for Pharos Teaching and Tutoring Ltd (www.pharostutors.com) since 2009, I have also tutored for the University of Strathclyde's Genealogical Studies Postgraduate Programme (www.strath.ac.uk/genealogy/).
In addition I am a published author of some twenty-two book titles (see http://scottishgenes.blogspot.com/p/books-2.html) and am a regular contributor to several genealogy and history magazines, such as Who do You Think You Are, Family Tree, Discover Your Ancestors, and Computeractive - in the past I have previously written articles, columns and reviews for Family History Monthly, Your Family Tree, Practical Family History, Scotland Magazine, Discover my Past England, Discover My Past Scotland, Your Family History, Ancestors, History Scotland and Irish Roots magazines. I have also written for various other newspapers and magazines such as the Scotsman, the Herald, Scottish Memories, the Official Windows Magazine, Breathe and Dogs Monthly.
From October 2012 I have been a regular stakeholder forum member of the Public Record Office of Northern Ireland (www.nidirect.gov.uk/proni), and from May 2013-May 2017 I was a director on the board of the Scottish Archive Network Ltd trust (www.scan.org.uk).
I am also a member of the Association of Professional Genealogists (www.apgen.org),
and from Jan-Oct 2021 I was a director at large of the organisation's
Board of Directors. I continue to serve on its International
Committee, and currently edit the organisation's monthly eNews. I am registered with the UK Information Commissioner's Office as
a data controller.
I am a member of the Glasgow and West of Scotland Family History Society (www.gwsfhs.org.uk) and the North of Ireland Family History Society (www.nifhs.org), and regularly provide family history/genealogy talks and lectures for organisations around the world, both in person and online. I have given talks in person in Canada, the United States, Australia, New Zealand, England, Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Portugal, and on three occasions have spoken on conferences aboard cruise ships (through Unlock the Past), around the Baltic, Australia and New Zealand, and will be speaking on a fourth, due to happen in Australia in December 2024.
Prior to my genealogy career, I previously worked for 12 years in factual television production on
behalf of the BBC, Scottish Television and Channel 4 on series such as Eòrpa, The Male Survival Guide, Picture This, Close Up West, Coast, Meet the Ancestors, Secret History, Celtic America, War Walks, Time Flyers, 999, 999 Lifesavers, The Enforcers, ERI
(Edinburgh Royal Infirmary), and more. During my TV career I met and
interviewed RAF fighter pilots who fought at the Battle of Britain,
archaeologists digging away to reveal our ancestral past, liver and kidney transplant surgeons and patients at Edinburgh's Royal
Infirmary, several of Scotland's Trading Standards departments, Driving
School's Maureen Rees, and many other interesting folk. Filming projects
took me to 30 of the 50 United States, Canada, Britain, Ireland,
France, Italy and Sardinia.
With an interest in politics, from Aug 2016-Feb 2017 and from Jan 2018-Jan 2019 I have worked for two Members of the Scottish Parliament, as both a researcher and as a caseworker, and for a member of the UK Parliament from July-Aug 2019. In May 2017 I unsuccessfully stood for election to my local authority in North Ayrshire.
Should you wish to contact me, please do so at enquiry @ scotlandsgreateststory.co.uk
History Now: Chris Paton from Northern Visions NvTv on Vimeo.
In 2022 I also appeared in episode 2, series 3 of the Family Histories Podcast (https://familyhistoriespodcast.com), in an episode entitled 'The Trapped', available on Spotify (click below to listen).
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