Facebook brings father and daughter together - after 50 years
WHILE many families were celebrating Mother's Day, a Denver man was soaking up a father's day he'll never forget – meeting one of his daughters for the first time in more than 50 years.
Food was the last thing on Bob Fleming's mind during a memorable family lunch at Downham Social Club, in the aptly-named Paradise Road.
All the years seemed to melt away as the Denver pensioner made up for lost time with his daughter Ann Stone, who was merely a child the
last time they met.
And here she was with two of her four children and five of her grandchildren, joining her father and his second wife Eion, and their three children, and eight grandchildren, bringing the family gathering to more than 40.
"It's just out of this world finding them again like this. Brilliant beyond belief, especially as it's so difficult trying to trace women because they take their husband's name," said Bob, who has Suzannah, a daughter from his second marriage, to thank for the reunion.
Bob, a former Barnardo's boy, lost touch with his three eldest daughters
when his first marriage broke up in the late 1950s.
After his divorce Bob, later met Eion and their friendship led to love.
The couple married and had three children, a son Robert, and daughters,
Karen and Suzannah.
"Suzannah has been quite poorly for many years and trying to trace
Bob's lost daughters has given her a focus – it's kept her going," said
Eion.
"She managed to trace other members of his family, including a cousin
in Canada, but always drew a blank with his daughters, until one day say
tried Facebook and that's where all this started," recalled Eion, who received the great 'found-Ann' news on her mobile phone while being driven to work by Bob.
"I waited until Bob parked the car before I told him and when I did, his
face was a picture – he couldn't believe it and then asked if I minded.
Of course I didn't, I was just thrilled for him," said Eion.
Ann soon made contact with Bob's other daughter, Susan, but relayed
the sad news that Alma, the third daughter, died after going into a diabetic coma when she was 16.
Susan, who lives in Bognor Regis, was unable to make Sunday's lunch,
but has vowed to meet up shortly, and Ann is planning to return for a
holiday with Bob and Eion at their Denver home, during Downham Festival
Week.
The reunion is all the sweeter for Bob, who was in a Dr Barnardo's
home for much of his childhood.
"I found myself in an institution and although it was good, it was also
harsh. Looking back I blanked things out as a way of surviving and when
I was 15 I found myself booted out with nowhere to go," said Bob, who
chose a two-year stint in the Merchant Navy to secure a roof over his
head and three meals a day.
This was followed by a further 12 years in the RAF, during which time
he was among the 22,000 servicemen involved in nuclear tests on Christmas Island in the late 50s.
"There are only 2,000 of us alive today, but that's another story," said
Bob, now a member of the British Nuclear Test Veterans Association.
Bob is also well-known for his efforts in the famously- gruelling
Holland's Nijmegan March and plans to complete the 15th one this year in
July, walking with the London Wing of the Air Training Corps.
His thoughts are currently closer to home and he's clearly proud of
the way his family has mixed so well together. "We're all so similar in our ways and our thinking and it's just great," he said.
Meanwhile his wife has bought a new address book in which to record
all the names and details of a family that's suddenly expanded to a total of five children, 13 grandchildren and 22 great grandchildren.
"There are so many new names to remember, what with the husbands,
wives and partners as well. I've had to write them all down and as for
Christmas – it will be a nightmare. But a very nice one!" she added.
LARGE FAMILY PICTURE ON PAGE 3 OF TODAY'S LYNN NEWS.
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Weather for King's Lynn
Sunday 27 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 25 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 10 mph
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