Daily Mirror

REUNITED WITH MY DAD AFTER 50 YEARS

Tears of happiness as pair meet

- BY KALI LINDSAY and JEREMY ARMSTRONG mirrornews@mirror.co.uk @DailyMirro­r

AFTER an emotional reunion with her father after 50 years apart a woman has described her joy at finding her “missing piece”.

Jane Graham lost contact with James McGarvie, 77, aged just three after the breakdown of her parents’ marriage.

But she always longed to see him again and joined Ancestry. com to track him down. After 10 years of following up various leads without success, she finally traced her dad’s second wife.

An online message was not seen for more than a year – before she discovered her dad was living in Newcastle just four miles from her own home.

She was told that he was still alive and then called him to speak for the first time since childhood.

James said: “I could not believe it. I was over the moon, there were tears of happiness. I am chuffed to bits and could not ask for a better daughter.”

James often thought about Jane but had little informatio­n on her whereabout­s. He did trace her work place but added: “I was at the bus stop, but I was too nervous to go in.”

Jane was shaking when they met up again. “It had been such a long time,” she said. “It was so overwhelmi­ng. He was just lovely. When I met him I was in tears, I’m so grateful.”

Jane, now living in Cullercoat­s, North Tyneside, added: “It was like the missing piece of me. We are so alike.”

Her late mum did not like to speak about her father. “When my mum passed away that made me search again as I didn’t feel like I was going behind her back,” she said.

She is now organising a trip to take him to see Newcastle United play at St James’ Park before the end of the season. She explained: “He is 78 on June 4 and this will be our first birthday together. He has never been to a game at James’ Park. I just want to give him an experience and memory he will never forget.”

I could not believe it... There were tears of happiness, I am chuffed

JAMES McGARVIE REUNITED WITH DAUGHTER

 ?? ??
 ?? ?? EARLY Jane was just three when the pair lost contact
EARLY Jane was just three when the pair lost contact
 ?? ?? HAPPY Jane & James are reunited, top
HAPPY Jane & James are reunited, top

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