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Sally Challoner: Yes, but for one couple that's a more complicated task than you might think. Doug and Vicky Burgum are the publishers of their official family history, which meant contacting relatives from all over the world.
David Garmston: They've never met many of their guests but after fifteen years research and two years planning the reunion is taking place in Gloucestershire this weekend.
Graham Gardner: Signing up for the reunion of a lifetime. Many of them share the same surname - they all stem from the same family tree. At Clearwell Castle in the Forest of Dean the Burgums were registering for their first worldwide get-together in 2000 years! Some had crossed oceans to be here. They'd come from America, Australia, Brazil, South Africa and throughout the UK. Never before could one family be responsible for a mini tourist boom, such as this.
Joe Peltier: Part of the adventure of coming here to a new land where our forefathers were born and raised.
Bob Samuelson: We're going to meet an awful lot of nice people, people we haven't seen before, some of them others we've seen quite recently, but they've all come over here for a good family reunion.
Graham Gardner: They homed in on the Forest because it was here in 1580 the Burgum name first appeared in official records. The family history, currently told in a special exhibition at the Dean Heritage Museum, is a fascinating one.
Henry Burgum was born in Littledean in 1739, but moved to Bristol where he became one of the eighteenth century's most successful pewter makers. Most of the American Burgums are descended from former Cinderford coalminer A.T.Burgum who went to the States so his children wouldn't follow him down the mines. The ornate coachwork on the famous Deadwood stage, at one time owned by the legendary Buffalo Bill, was painted by John Burgum. More recently another family member sang for the Queen at the opening of the Sydney Opera House.
Ruth Bridges: Nothing would keep me back in Sydney missing all this, no way. I would have walked if I had to - or swum!
Graham Gardner: Spanning a hundred years with one snapshot. At just over 12 months old, little Jacob Burgum really is the baby of the family; his 96 year old Great-grandfather Whit its head.
Doug Burgum: I've brought people all over the world. I've brought them together and I'm determined that they should just enjoy themselves. There are people here who are related but never met in their lifetimes. So, you know, I want them to talk about their family history and just get on with each other.
Graham Gardner: Around 300 family members and friends are expected to gather here this weekend. They'll certainly have plenty of old times to talk about. Graham Gardner, BBC Pointswest, Colefold.
David Garmston: Burgums everywhere. The whole Burgum family - have a good time!
Sally Challoner: Shall we call ourselves Sally and David Burgum and go along?
David Garmston: Yes, we could do...
Sally Challoner: Anything for a party, me!
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