2024 REUNION

We are very excited to announce that after a break of 5 years, we will be holding a GI TRACE Reunion in October 2024 at the Cambridge Belfry Hotel which is situated just 7 miles west of Cambridge, with easy links to the A14, Cambridge railway station and Stansted Airport.

With a growing number of new members, this is a wonderful chance for people to come together and enjoy the ‘family of GI TRACE’ along with the opportunity of listening to some interesting speakers during the day.

Not only will this be an opportunity to meet with people who have experienced the same journey in life ……it is a chance to visit a very interesting area.

Cambridge with its beautiful river and many museums, is home to the prestigious University of Cambridge dating back to 1209 – plus a chance to visit Kings College and listen to the world renowned Choir

Monday 21st October – Evening - Private Dinner

A Private 3-Course Dinner which is an ever-popular part of our reunions and gives people a chance to catch up and socialise - we do urge you to stay for this part of the GI TRACE event.

Payment of £36 per head for the Private 3-Course Dinner following the conference will be required by 1st September at the latest, using the above account details and quoting your name as a reference.

Tuesday 22nd October - Morning visit to the Cambridge American Cemetery and Memorial at Madingley, just 5 miles from the hotel.

Dedicated in 1956, this is the only American Cemetery on British soil.

As it is the 80th Anniversary of D-Day we felt it a fitting year to include a visit to the American Memorial – to stand on American soil.

Many of you may never get the chance to visit your own American birth-father’s grave and so we have made arrangements, for people who so wish, to individually lay a poppy/flower/wreath at the Flag Pole/Memorial in honour of their birth-father/grandfather’s Military Service.

‘Taps Bugle Call’, the USA version of ‘The Last Post’ will be played during our short dedication.

Please email: reunion@gitrace.org if you have any questions

Participation can be day only, day and private dinner, or hopefully - day, private dinner and a night or two’s stay as well!

Please remember that attendance is not just for GI TRACE members – we are more than happy to welcome husbands/wives/partners/sons/daughters and anyone else who may be interested in taking part - especially people who would like to know more about how DNA research works and how it has been so successful in finding more and more GIs and/or their families

The proposed time-table for the reunion is:

Sunday 20th October – dedicated dining area for those arriving that evening

Monday 21st October - Conference

Conference registration will be from 10am with the conference commencing at 10:30 and concluding around 16:30.

Guest Speakers:

Lieutenant Colonel (Rtd) Niels J Zussblatt Ph.D.

Formerly of the National Personnel Records Center in St Louis, for over 20 years Niels was our dedicated ‘War Babe’ contact. He retired in 2023. Many of you will have reasons to thank Niels for his help and dedication in providing information that enabled eventual success in finding birth-fathers. This will be everyone’s opportunity to thank him personally for the great work he did for us all over the years.

Terry Harrison

Terry has a story that is intriguing with many twists and turns. A black baby (one of a twin) born June 1944 in Leicester to a white mother and black GI father.

Terry is a former Royal Marines Commando living a life dedicated to others culminating in him being awarded an MBE for his participation, as part of his job as Leicester Leisure Services Officer, in forming the Special Olympics for people with disabilities.

Terry’s life is currently the subject of a film in which GI TRACE plays a life-changing part.

Julia Bell

Julia has been one of our very own GI TRACE members for over 20 years. Julia is now a renowned expert in DNA research and has been involved in many media projects including ITV's ‘Long Lost Families’. Her speciality is difficult to solve ‘Foundling Cases’.

Conference Fee

Conference Fee - £45 per person which includes Coffee/Teas/Pastries throughout the day and a Hot and Cold 2-Course Buffet Lunch

To formally book your place at the conference itself we need you to pay a £20 per head deposit

as soon as possible, as numbers are limited.

Please use the following bank details:-

Account Name: GI TRACE.ORG

Sort Code: 30-90-85

Account Number: 01224216

Please use your name as a reference.

The balance of £25 per head will become due on 1st September 2024.

For those wishing to stay, we have negotiated very competitive rates for both Sunday 20th and Monday 21st October.

Double Occupancy - £115 per room per night inclusive of Full English Breakfast

Single Occupancy - £105 per room per night inclusive of Full English Breakfast

To reserve your accommodation at the hotel, you need to call the hotel's central reservations line on

0330 107 1599 (Option 1) and advise them you are wanting to book at The Cambridge Belfry as part of the

'GI Trace' allocation.

For overseas/international calls to the central reservations team, please use: 00 44 1954 714 600

Please note that reservation and payment for your accommodation is your personal responsibility and direct with the hotel.

Although not essential, it would be extremely useful if you could email: reunion@gitrace.org if/when you do reserve one of the bedrooms we have on hold as part of our allocation.