A family has been emotionally reunited after more than 50 years - thanks to the Evening Gazette.
Johanna Lund lost touch with her Colchester roots when a family rift saw her move to Lancashire as a little girl.
But yesterday her newly-found north Essex family told her over the phone: "We're never going to let you go."
She has been reunited with the Davis family, who are still dotted around Colchester, Manningtree and Clacton, after half-a-century.
They include two long-lost aunties and a half-sister.
Mrs Lund, previously known as Myra, said she was nervous and excited when she picked up the phone to speak to her 70-year-old auntie Eileen, who lives in Lexden.
She said: "I rang up and said 'I'm your long-lost niece'. There were a few 'Oh my God's' said.
"It was very difficult to know what to say at first. She said 'You're not lost any more as we've found you and we're not going to let you go.'"
Mrs Lund, who lives in Fulwood, Preston, with her husband Gordon, left Colchester with her parents as a three-year-old to live in Blackpool.
Published Thursday, September 23, 2004
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article