A Family After 70 Years
Nellie Spiers has been reunited with the family she has never known
after 69 years living in Nazareth House, Cheltenham. The pensioner was
put into care at seven months old when her mother died of tuberculosis
in Bristol.
Her seven brothers and sisters were scattered across the country, some in foster homes some in Barnados.
After spending her life being looked after by the nuns at Nazareth House in Cheltenham the 69 year old didn’t think she had any family.
During November life changed dramatically for Nellie when she had a call from Barnados asking would she like to meet one of her brothers. John, now 73, lives in London and he made a rapid journey to meet Nellie in Cheltenham.
Words failed Nellie when she met John “he’s absolutely lovely and it’s been worth waiting for. I had butterflies in my stomach when I knew he was on his way and was really nervous. I didn’t know what to say so I just grabbed him and hugged him really tight.”
John, who lives in Wembley, London, had been trying to track her down for four years ever since Barnados opened up the records of children who had been taken into care. “Barnados were super, they were overwhelmed with thousands of enquiries about families from children who had been put into care decades ago.”
A former personnel officer with Wimpey Construction, John had discovered and met up with his surviving brothers and sister but Nellie had been unable to be traced until very recently.
Nazareth House in Cheltenham was abuzz with excitement and Nellie and John made front page news in the local paper. Channel Five television news came and took film which was shown on TV news.
A family reunion is planned in Bristol, where brothers Alan and Donald together with their sister Audrey now live.
Sister Teresa Fallon, Sister Superior at Nazareth House commented, “Nellie has been quite down recently as she has had a few health problems. This news of her family has given her a tremendous lift. I’ve never seen her so excited and its lifted her spirits beyond belief and given her new found energy”.
David Burke
Her seven brothers and sisters were scattered across the country, some in foster homes some in Barnados.
After spending her life being looked after by the nuns at Nazareth House in Cheltenham the 69 year old didn’t think she had any family.
During November life changed dramatically for Nellie when she had a call from Barnados asking would she like to meet one of her brothers. John, now 73, lives in London and he made a rapid journey to meet Nellie in Cheltenham.
Words failed Nellie when she met John “he’s absolutely lovely and it’s been worth waiting for. I had butterflies in my stomach when I knew he was on his way and was really nervous. I didn’t know what to say so I just grabbed him and hugged him really tight.”
John, who lives in Wembley, London, had been trying to track her down for four years ever since Barnados opened up the records of children who had been taken into care. “Barnados were super, they were overwhelmed with thousands of enquiries about families from children who had been put into care decades ago.”
A former personnel officer with Wimpey Construction, John had discovered and met up with his surviving brothers and sister but Nellie had been unable to be traced until very recently.
Nazareth House in Cheltenham was abuzz with excitement and Nellie and John made front page news in the local paper. Channel Five television news came and took film which was shown on TV news.
A family reunion is planned in Bristol, where brothers Alan and Donald together with their sister Audrey now live.
Sister Teresa Fallon, Sister Superior at Nazareth House commented, “Nellie has been quite down recently as she has had a few health problems. This news of her family has given her a tremendous lift. I’ve never seen her so excited and its lifted her spirits beyond belief and given her new found energy”.
David Burke
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