Long-lost family members have been re-united against the odds - thanks to an article in MK NEWS.
In May this paper reported how former mayor of Milton Keynes Bill Jones, 94, and his 93-year-old wife Glenys would be celebrating their 70th wedding anniversary this year.
For years Howard Hodges, who works for Home Retail Base in CMK, had been researching his family tree, but became stuck when he discovered a branch of his family was named Jones and came from south Wales - a professional even suggested he give up. But there were rumours one of their relatives was a mayor of Milton Keynes - he had checked this with councillors but did not have Bill’s name.
So after reading the article about Bill and Glenys, who are originally from Aberdare, Howard got in touch to say he thought he might be related to the pair.
He said: “It was by chance that I saw the article.
“MK NEWS put me in touch with their daughter Shirley who I e-mailed, and she said it seemed almost certain we were related.
“My brother had a copy of Bill’s father’s birth certificate - it turns out Bill is my late dad’s cousin.”
Bill was so pleased to hear from Howard that he invited him to the 70th wedding anniversary party, which took place on Sunday, July 22.
Although Bill was not available for an interview, his daughter Shirley Wright said he was ‘thrilled’ tomeet Howard.
She added: “He got quite emotional because he doesn’t have any family left on his side, so to find someone from his side was really good.
“They chatted for ages, and Howard brought lots of information and photographs of the family.”
