Thank you for finding my long lost family
ASOUTH African woman’s 20-year search for her long lost family came to an end in less than 24 hours after the Visiter published her story.
Burnadine Potgieter, 42, has been searching for her grandfather, Sylvester William Eden, and with the little information she had managed to gather, she asked for the public’s help in uniting her with his side of the family.
After seeing our article online, her grandfather’s adopted son, Ernie, has came forward and contacted Burnadine.
He told her that her grandfather had no more biological children but that as far as he knows there are two brothers and one sister still alive with whom he doesn’t have much contact.
Burnadine, who was a social worker for more than 10 years and now works as a sales manager for a South African company called Tiger Brrands, said: “I am over the moon. Thank you and and the Southport Visiter for your help.
“I can’t believe the wonderful response from your article in less than 24 hours. Bless you all.”
Her grandfather had moved to South Africa to work as a merchant marine. He married Burnadine’s grandmother, Joey, and together they had a Burnadine’s mother, Burna Evelyn Eden.
After they later divorced, Sylvester remarried a woman called Joice whose son, Ernie. has now contacted Burnadine.
However, when Burnadine’s mother was about eight years old Sylvester decided he wanted to travel back to the UK and tried to take Burna with him but was stopped in his tracks at the harbour.
Burnadine, said: “Apparently Sylvester adored my mother and he knew my gran would never let her go with him and that is why he tried to ‘abduct’ her.
“This, of course, infuriated my gran and she stopped all communication between my mom and her biological father.
“Apparently he did try to contact her and sent her letters but everything was destroyed by my gran before it even got to my mom.
“I am really happy and blessed in my life but I have very little family left and I often wonder about the family I never met.
“I often wonder if my nose is an Eden family trait because it doesn’t look like any other family member’s nose!”
The 42-year-old believed that her grandfather – who had a sis- ter called Evelyn and a brother – was born about 1923 and died in 1993.
And after years of thinking that he had moved to Southampton she discovered that it was in fact Southport.
Burnadine who lives with her partner and three dogs said: “In 2003 my mom suddenly died after a neck operation.
“A couple of hours before she had the operation we talked and I promised her I will find her father.
“My grandmother was still alive and I started questioning her about him. It was always a forbidden subject but to my sur- prise was willing to tell me the little she remembered.
“I went through some of her old documents and photos and found my mother’s baptism certificate and his full name on there was Sylvester William Eden, I also found blank postcards from Southport.
“When I asked her where they came from, she told me it was where ‘Syl’ came from. This made me realise my mom got confused between Southampton and Southport.”
Ernie says he will try to do his best to find out more about the family and is looking forward to hearing back from Burnadine.