by Sid Whitworth

A family has been reunited after being separated through adoption more than 70 years.

Nesta O'Neill-Jones, 78, from south Wales was parted from her brother Lawrence Robinson in 1929 when he was just two, after their mother died in childbirth leaving seven children, too many for their grieving father to look after.

Lawrence grew up without even knowing of his older sister's existence and moved to Australia.

But last week the long years apart melted away after Nesta's half brother Ian Aitken went to Heathrow to collect Lawrence and his daughter Jackie.

Five months ago Mr Aitken had the shock of his life when he received a surprise phone call Lawrence who had decided to track down his family.

Nesta, a mother-of-two of Brynglas, Penygroes, said: "He was trying to contact Aitkens or Robinsons in the Tumble area.

"He didn't even know I existed," said Nesta. "I'm the only one of his elder sisters still alive.

"Funnily enough I've been to Australia three times as I have a son over there. I could have seen him and not known it.

"I always wondered what happened to him. I thought of getting in touch with Cilla Black but didn't get around to it.

"It is a sad story but it will have a happy ending."

Mr Aitken, 67, of Nantgaredig, said: "My half sister only remembers him as a little boy of two with a shock of hair.

"Lawrence and one of his sisters were adopted by my father's brother-in-law after my father's first wife died and they were brought up in Salisbury before going to Australia. We just lost touch with each other.

"It was totally out of the blue. As far as we knew he was long dead, so it was a very welcome surprise."

Mr Aitken said the meeting at Heathrow was very emotional. "I stood there with my card but I needn't have done," he said.

"I knew him straightaway even though we had never met before. He looks exactly like our father - as I do.

"It was all very emotional for us both. Nesta was really chuffed that it was all happening. We are taking them around the area, the coast, the Black Mountains and we will have a big family reunion dinner on May 18."

Used courtesy of the South Wales Evening Post