Families of reunited Bob and Anne meet
FAMILIES of a brother and sister who were separated at birth but grew up only miles apart have come together for the first time.
Bob White and Anne Vincent spent most of their lives living 15 miles apart but neither knew the other existed until last year, when their natural mother’s daughter-in-law, Jean Dolby, tracked them both down.
The pair met for the first time in Harborough’s Three Swans hotel in November last year.
And on Saturday both their families, including Bob’s daughters Sophie and Amanda and Anne’s adopted brother Roger and children Dina, Darrel and David, met each other for the first time at a get-together at Bob’s house in Kibworth.
Bob said: “It was absolutely wonderful. I was a bit nervous about it beforehand but we had a great afternoon and evening with a few drinks, food and a champagne toast. It was lovely to see our families gelling so well together.
“We were going to meet up at Christmas but everyone had different commitments and Saturday was my 61st birthday – so it was a double celebration.”
Anne said: “The children really enjoyed themselves and Bob’s wife Fran put on a lovely spread. It was a bit strange at first but it was lovely. I’m 60 in August so we will be having another celebration then but I’m sure we’ll meet up again before that.”
Bob said he was particularly pleased that his 93-year-old adopted mother Lily was able to meet Anne for the first time because she had met the pair’s birth mother Doris Dolby.
Born in Harby, near Melton Mowbray, Bob and Anne were adopted at birth.
Bob grew up in Leicester with his adopted mother Lily and late brother Graham and moved to Kibworth ten years ago.
Anne was raised in Harborough by Stan and Olive Leach with adopted brother Roger and now lives in Desborough.
Their natural mother Doris Dolby emigrated to Australia and went on to have five children but shortly before her death in 2000 asked her family to track down Anne and Bob.
And after a seven-year search, which saw her daughter-in-law Jean Dolby contacting various people in Harborough as well as looking on sites such as Friends Reunited, the pair were united at last.
Incredibly, one of the cleaners at Stuart Court – a retirement home for clergy where Bob is the manager – turned out to be Anne’s best friend.
Since their first meeting, Bob and his wife Fran and Anne and her husband Steve have met up a number of times and keep in regular contact by email and phone.
Bob said they were hoping to get the two families together again for a day out in the summer and added: “It’s going to be a long lasting relationship.”
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Weather for Market Harborough
Tuesday 18 June 2013
Today
Light rain
Temperature: 13 C to 21 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North east
Tomorrow
Light showers
Temperature: 14 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 12 mph
Wind direction: North west
