Brother and sister reunited after spending over 50 years apart

Published by Max Salsbury for 24dash.com in Housing and also in Communities

A 67-year-old social housing tenant has been reunited with his older sister after being apart for over 50 years.

John Griffiths, who has been a Riverside tenant for 11 years, was delighted to meet his sister, Pauline Murphy, who managed to track him down after finding their older brother, Ronald, 68, last week.

The family spent their early years in Liverpool children’s homes, until Pauline was adopted at the age of five and lost touch with her two brothers.

Pauline, who has now returned to her home in New Zealand after a three-week visit to Liverpool, spent 10 years searching for her brothers.

Pauline said: “When I met Ronald I contacted the Liverpool Echo to appeal to anyone who might know John to get in touch. I really didn’t even know if he was still alive. Sure enough a neighbouring shop worker, who recognised John’s resemblance to us, called at Hamlet Court to see if he was the brother I was searching for.

“My brother Ronald has some health problems and had to go into hospital on the day I visited John, and I only had three days left in the UK. It’s been amazing to find them both, but a shame the three of us couldn’t get together at the same time.”

John, who is a resident at Hamlet Court sheltered accommodation on Aigburth Road in Liverpool, said: “This has been the surprise of my life. I’m thrilled to find my family after such a long time apart. My big sister has started to boss me about already!”