Sorbies’ global summit

Stonehouse people with connections to the family name Sorbie took part in a reunion event.

It was held in the Radstone Hotel last weekend and drew Sorbies from across the world as well as from Stonehouse and Larkhall.

Event organiser Andy Potts, whose wife’s grandmother came from Stonehouse, said it was a fantastic occasion.

He said:“we had people from Stonehouse, like George Baker who is 91 years old. His wife was Jean Sorbie, who was born and bred in the village but sadly she passed away last year.

“But there were also three families from the USA, two from Australia and one from New Zealand so people had travelled lots of miles to come to the reunion.”

More than 50 people attended to share stories of their side of the Sorbie family genealogy.

“It was great to see everyone and those who came along thoroughly enjoyed it,”added Andy.

The Sorbie Family Genealogy Group helps Sorbies and their descendants keep in touch and exchange family information.

Nearly all Sorbie family members originate from Stonehouse but they have spread far and wide across the globe.

Andy Potts said:“this e-group gives us the opportunity to establish and maintain links with family members still living in the Lanarkshire area and promote a network throughout the world.”

A website at www.sorbie.net provides comprehensive information on the family name and living descendants.

Andy has been building a family tree of people with a Sorbie background over 20 years.

So far he has found 15,000 people worldwide with the family name.

The event on Saturday was the sixth time that the Sorbie clan have met up.