Long Lost Family (UK) S08E05

for thousands of people across Britain someone is missing from their lives I miss song I need to be able to say the word dad Tim I have to find my brother I just can't let it go I just can't let him go three children kept together one taken away so where is he finding someone when the trails gone cold can feel like an impossible task but that's where we step in offering a last chance to people desperate for help that's the first time in 73 years I've seen me mum with searches taking us to surprising places we've unearthed hidden secrets solving family mysteries and finding people but nobody else could trace Silvana Kristina's father this is wonderful although the answers aren't always what people expect oh my word we resolve questions that have haunted entire lives I only know that she's not dead because of you this week two stories of family secrets a woman whose life was overshadowed by a case of mistaken identity if I saw my name I remember thinking it can't be me but thinking it is because it was there on paper and a mother who concealed the birth of her first baby I was scared there was nobody around me except people I had to hide it from [Music] our first story comes from Bedfordshire and a woman who spent years trying to piece together her own history if I hadn't found what I'd found would I ever have been told it was always in the back of my mind are they really my parents Angela Brennan lives with her husband and three children close to where she grew up in Luton that's in Spain I was about to there I had a happy childhood I mean mum are very close and my dad had a lot of love to give us me and my soul is it save Angelou it's got my name on that case I forgot who I was when Angela was 12 she made a discovery which called into question just who she really was mum had a jewelry box that I know she kept in her bedside drawers I was being nosey don't quite know what I expected to find I opened it up and there were lots of letters in in the bottom of the jewelry box first one I pulled out was like a certificate all I remember seeing on it was adoption and the name Angela I was just so shocked my first thought it was my god that's me I'm adopted I thought what have I discovered I panicked but it all back in the box and put it straight back in the drawer without investigating further all through her teenage years Angela believed she was adopted I was really upset confused not really understanding the doctrine I didn't say anything I was scared of hearing the truth but it was always there always in the back of my mind are they really my parents [Music] it was only when she was 18 that Angela dared to talk to her mum about it I asked mum am i adopted I'm Emma she really shocked really shocked what no why do you think that she then then explained that it wasn't me and that's when she told me the full story Angela discovered that when her parents were young and unmarried they'd had a baby girl eight years older than her who they'd put up for adoption this baby her full sister was also called Angela I was relieved it wasn't me who was adopted but then I was gosh you know I've got a system out there who is she where is she Angela's mum gave her everything she'd kept in the jewelry box from photos to adoption paperwork and hospital records this is the name tag of my sister when she was born here she was tiny little thing hid the fact that my mum kept this means that you know she was never had her thoughts I want you to know about her but it distressed my mum a lot to talk about Angela so I never like to keep questioning her mum and dad it was just too upsetting for them the subject of Angela's sister remained in the shadows until her parents passed away now Angela's only remaining link to her older sister is the box of memories her mum gave her it was something I had that I could you know look at and think that's my sister I wish now I had asked more questions I absorb managed to get more answers I need to know where she is because she's part of me and she's part like my mom and dad [Music] Angela's older sister was born Angela Mary Edwards but when this Angela was adopted and they would have been changed to have any chance to finally her we needed her noon a change of name records are protected by law so we worked with a specialist social worker who's a light to access them they discovered that Angela Mary Edwards was now called Julie wall but with such a common name we needed to narrow the search so for any clues we look to the adoption papers kept safe for all those years in her mother's jewelry box they can take not only Julie's date of birth but also the area where she was adopted dirham hoping that julie may have stayed in the northeast of England we began trawling through local marriage records finally we had a breakthrough we find a record of a Julie wall marrying a Stephen Briggs in Sunderland County Durham in 1992 could this be Angela's sister [Music] using electoral rolls to find a current address our social worker contacted Julie she confirmed we'd found the right person and agreed to meet me still married to Stephen she has two grown-up children and lives in a village outside of Newcastle angela was stunned when she found out she had a sister and ever since then she's been desperate to find her but how is Julie feeling Anne has the news that she's got a sister come as a shock to her too [Music] I like it hello Nikita nice to meet you fine thank you you lead the way Australia so how did you feel Julie when you find out that Angela was searching for you huge shock because I didn't know I had a sister but it's just amazing humbling I've always wanted a sister and I can't believe I've got one why have you always wanted a sister no no I just I think it's nice and you've got a system you can do girly things to go oh yeah blown away so your own adoption what was that like just had a lovely nobody of Britain I've always known I being a doctor that was never a secret but I didn't really know I knew where I was born um and I knew what my birth name was but that's about it really did you ever think about searching for your birth mother no I think cuz I had such a lonely childhood with lovely parents I've often thought obviously wearing where do I come from I wondered if I had siblings and Angela in find out she had a sister for sister mm that was another thing as well I was so shocked and I find out what actually four siblings isn't that great okay so how did you find out about me she was 12 she found these letters about adoption and the name Angela and she thought you know my name is Angela so she went through the next five years thinking that she was adopted and then she was 18 she struck up the courage to ask her mother mm-hmm she told her that she wasn't adopted but she'd had another little girl 8 8 years previously and that was you so she was 18 she wanted to meet you I've got a letter here from Angela this is probably the hardest letter I will ever have to write since founding out I have a big sister I have always thought what it would be like to meet you I grew up always wanting a big sister I don't know the full reason why mom and dad made the decision to put you up for adoption but one thing I know for sure is that mom never stopped thinking of you I cannot wait to meet you your little sister [Music] Oh that's your sister Oh Oh I think we've got the same smile just as a physical action there straightaway [Music] sorry okay sorry you don't know all these years and then you find out you have a sister I feel like I've known her forever now [Music] stop smile thank you so much [Music] before we tell Angela her sister's been found our second search comes from Canada and a woman longing to find her son I tried to be a good mum but I just felt completely inadequate I loved Ben but loving him is what made me give him up retired aid worker Bronwyn Hook lives in rural Nova Scotia Canada she has two daughters 38 year old Chloe and Keshi who's she adopted while working in Rwanda in the 1980s we just picture her she that was pretty much the day you came I think I wanted to adopt because having had a child who I had to give up weight on me so it seemed to me a balance the youngest of four children Bronwyn herself had spent a lot of her childhood at boarding school her father was in the colonial service and her parents were often away it was a kind of fractured family life but loving my father adored my mother they had a very strong relationship but when Brahman was a teenager her mother unexpectedly passed away from cancer I remember my father bursting into tears saying I wish it had been me I was stunned I remember going for a walk crying as I was walking still only 18 Bronwen struggled with her grief a few months later I slept with my boyfriend for the first time I think my mother having died I was searching for comfort but it wasn't long until Brahman realized she was pregnant I remember feeling my baby kick for the first time and the reality setting in of I'm going to have a baby I [Music] didn't know what to do but one thing was for sure I felt I couldn't tell my father because he was still grieving my mother Bronwen decided to conceal her pregnancy and never tell her father but the future was hugely daunting I was scared of having a baby I was scared of the decision I would have to make and I was on my own [Music] when she became pregnant at the age of 18 Bronwen hook decided to keep it secret she'd moved to London for work and never told her father she was having a baby in April 1969 she gave birth to a boy when he was born I felt in love with him just being able to cuddle him was wonderful I named him Benjamin despite the monumental task ahead Bronwyn attempted to look after her baby her brother was also living in London so she confided in him and went to stay at his house this is where I lived with Ben Ben was wonderful he was beautiful I tried to be a good mum but it made me feel a mix of joy and desperation I felt I'm just no good at this there was a weekend when I ran out of formula and I didn't have anything to feed him so I thought I'd try the shops I put Ben in his pram he was crying and the shops were shut he was hungry and it was my fault that was the moment when I really knew he needed somebody who was grown-up enough to be a mother because however much I loved him I wasn't grown-up yet when he was six weeks old Bronwyn handed Benjamin over to an adoption agency months later she moved to North America to try and start a new life but she's still haunted by the decision she made forty-eight years ago that absence is always there she's a very loving and kind and sweet person but she has the deep sadness about it absolutely even though we don't know him we have a lot of love for him I've always hoped that he would come searching for me now I don't want to wait anymore I still love him I want him to be part of my family [Music] when Benjamin was adopted he was almost certainly given a new name so that's where we needed to start our search so again we turn to our specialist social worker who's legally able to access that change of name and make contact they discovered the Benjamin had been adopted by a couple from hartfordshire and they changed his name to mark but there was no trace of him living anywhere in the UK it seemed likely he'd moved abroad but where had he gone most Brits who emigrate moved to an english-speaking country like Australia Canada or America so using marks date of birth we searched each of these countries in turn and eventually we got lucky a match came up in an American telephone directory a mark of the right age range living on the outskirts of Atlanta Georgia [Music] we wrote to him and he confirmed we had found the right person mark her up in the UK but in the early 90s he moved to North America just like his birth month he's married and has two sons Bronwyn has always held on to the hope that her son might one day come looking for her but he never did has Mark thought about his birth mother and how does he feel about the fact she's come looking for him hello how you doing good I'm in thank you so how are you feeling about all this was that surprised it was a big shock I have to say because it's been so long my parents have always been upfront that I was adopted so when you're I guess a child you kind of look at it a bit you know I wonder what my mom was like and that sort of stuff and slowly over the years being adopted just becomes another part of who you are but also I have very loving and wonderful parents so I didn't have the desire to look because I didn't want to make them feel that they had somehow been inadequate cuz they weren't but now my curiosity has been aroused about you know well who is this woman what is her what was her life being like when Bronwyn felt pregnant with you when she was 18 you she'd find that she was pregnant myself to her mother had died of stomach cancer her whole family were grieving so she decided to conceal her pregnancy and then when you were born Braun went to find it all so difficult on her own so she made what she believed was the right decision that she was going to have you adopted Wow that's a that's amazing I did not know that it must have been incredibly hard for her I would like to let her know that hey everything turned out okay you know I'm good I'm happy I'm not resentful and I'm kind of curious to see how much of me is in her so his I can see that she's my birth mother I could almost pick her out of a crowd it's it's pretty pretty special well she's written you a letter dear child of mine how I have hoped that your life has been good when I made the decision to give you up my heartbreak had to be balanced by what I felt to be my inadequacy to take care of you I just didn't know what else to do I loved you and kept on loving you and oh how I hope that you will want to meet me I send you my blessings your birth mother I'm a little lost for words starting to understand how hard it's been for her she she loved me enough to understand that she wasn't able to take care of me how she wanted to and that she was prepared to make that sort of sacrifice it makes a huge difference to me that connection is just getting stronger and stronger I can't even imagine not seeing her now [Music] it's gonna be a it's gonna be a good day we have only meet with her before we tell Bronwyn her son's been found I'm on my way to see Angela Brennan throughout her teenage years Angela believed she was adopted before her mother revealed that she actually had an older sister with the same name who'd been given up for adoption Angela's sister now called Julie has been found living near Newcastle Angela's sister was a family secret and whilst her parents were alive she just felt unable to search but now more than 25 years after discovering she existed Angela can finally meet her [Music] all right honey thank you Thanks for seeing me coming through you know when I heard your story I think the thing that hit me was you thought that you were adopted for five years I was 12 when I thought I was adopted it was life-changing really and he never said anything never said a word no I once mom told me at 18 it wasn't how I've got a big sister um that I had absolutely no idea I had even existed and even after I knew it stayed a secret how does it affect you I always think about knowing that she is a full sister she's so cool you know couldn't be any closer to me well we found her oh my god does she want to see me she really wants um she's now called Julie and she's married to Steve and they've got two kids in their twenties she'll be happy I'll bring him a great adoption oh it's so good yeah she didn't know she had a sister really she was completely blown away but really happy Wow Wow I can't believe it I really can't believe it I just thank you I've got a picture really oh my god well she looks so much like my mum she wrote you something oh I'm shaking dear Angelo when I heard the news that I had a younger sister it was a huge shock but a good one the facts you have found me is amazing I'm so looking forward to meeting you Angela I'm sure you'll have lots of catching up to do see you soon [Music] you [Music] Bronwen hook has been haunted by the decisions she made as a teenager to give her baby son up for adoption I've come to Canada where she now lives to meet her Bronwyn gave mark up for adoption because she felt that she was failing as a mother and she wants to give him a better life but she always hoped that she would get to see him again and I'm gonna tell her that she can [Music] hi how you doing well how about you yeah good thanks it's lovely to see mangie that keeps the same thank you so much come on in yes I'd love to ah well thanks for having me looking after your son for six weeks what was that like fee he was my baby so I was very wrapped up in him you know changing him washing him watching him sleep and you know laughing with him but mixed in with that was the struggle so what was the tipping point for you I just thought I'm not growing up enough to do this you know it's just not I was failing on a really basic level hmm toughest decision of your life I would imagine so why do you need to find him he's kind of ghost that I live with I just want to know that he has had a wonderful life well he has your son's been found that's amazing and does he want to meet he really wants to meet years oh that's lovely thank you that's very precious his name's mark he had a really good upbringing he was extremely happy where does he live well here's the thing he lives in Atlanta Georgia oh gosh you're on the same continent oh well does he have a family he's married he's got two boys Ethan and Sam wonderful marks really close to his adoptive parents out of respect to them he's never looked for you but he's really happy that you looked good I always hoped at him not looking was the sign that was happy this is your son Wow gosh he looks lovely he looks like my brother he looks like you that's he really asks he's the spit and he's written you a few words yeah dear Bronwyn my only family memories involve growing up in a truly loving and supportive environment I hope this is what she wished for me after making an almost impossible selfless decision I also have a family now a wonderful wife and two amazing boys I have shared this happy news with them and they are so very happy and excited about this new part of my life and would like to meet you too with love mark I mean speechless [Music] can't stop them yeah what does that feel like to look at that it feels like love [Music] that's fabulous [Music] today brahmana's travelled from her home in Canada to London the city where she last held her son mark as a baby forty-eight years ago I'm just counting down the time until I actually get to meet him I just want to see him and know that he's okay that he's happy mark too has made the journey across the Atlantic from Georgia to meet his birth mother his wife Karen and sons Ethan and Sam are with him [Music] hi mark hey Nikki good trip yes thank you right so we go sure yeah bit nervous yeah a little bit yeah hi Davina oh maybe I am ready just get my bag you've waited so long for this I know it's pretty big as soon as I saw the photo and read the letter I felt the connection I definitely feel that I want to know him are you feeling more of a connection to Bronwyn no yes which is kind of surprising to me because I'd ever really went looking for her and never really felt the need to I didn't realize you know how much more I would start to feel that's become increasingly important to me well no that's why you're gonna go and meet Bronwyn okay mark is meeting his mother in a pub in West London just around the corner from the adoption agency where Brahman said goodbye to him when he was six weeks old like thanks for everything [Music] I mean when you last saw him he was a little baby yeah he and I had a relationship 48 years ago of mother and an infant now I'm relating to a fully grown adult so it's a completely new relationship well this is it this is where you're gonna meet mark good luck thank you demeanor he's right nice [Music] hello sweetie I shaking yeah and I'm so happy to see you it's good to be here and it's good to meet you at last that was nice to know that you always sort of out there looking for me it was hard to know whether it was the right thing to do or not mm-hmm I didn't want to barge in to your life I always felt a sense of gratitude because I've had a really nice life I'm sure it was a tough decision for you and I think it worked out well for me and I hope it worked out well for you I would not have made a good parent at that time and you want the best for your child and it just really makes a difference that you had a happy childhood I did a mom and dad have good parents everything turned out great I'm so happy it is a real relief I've just met my son and it's a wonderful feeling it's extraordinary how similar we are he really feels like family it's becoming more important for me to meet you than I thought it was going to be while I don't feel there's really a beautiful in my life from being adopted I think that you know getting to know you add to it it's ugly so glad it's good to have people in your life I don't think you can have too much family I feel the genuine sense of connection and warmth it's the beginning of something boys I really like to meet you well they're coming today oh that's super clean yet to meet the whole little clan anybody I would like her to be part of my life I'm looking forward to see where things go from here it's lovely to have two more grandsons and I'm looking forward to building my relationship with the whole family [Music] ever since Angela Brennan discovered at the age of 18 that she had an older sister who'd been adopted she's been desperate to find her and today Angela's going to meet her sister Julie for the first time until I actually see her face to face then I might finally believe it's actually happening more nervous and I wasn't on my wedding day [Music] [Music] I do think that you ready Julie has traveled from Newcastle to her birth family's home term to meet her younger sister I have entirely slept I've just been so excited nervous can't believe I'm gonna meet my sister and I've got girl hours fact that just looked for me as well means such a lot hope I don't disappoint them I brought a necklace for her and it's a family tree I want to be part of her family and I should just want to be part of mine that would be lovely [Music] [Music] you okay hello yes I'm fine thank you [Music] so have you been feeling her nervous excited every emotion possible has I've gone through I think yeah and she's probably feeling the same yeah I'm worried if we don't get on or we don't click that's my biggest fear yeah I want it all to be perfect [Music] so what's it feel like knowing that you're going to meet the sister you didn't know you had I can't believe it's here and it's happening now people think I'm dreaming I just thought about nothing else for the last three weeks so looking forward to get tonight [Music] Angela and Julie are meeting at a hotel just outside Luton the town where they were both born [Music] this is it good luck yeah your sisters in there [Music] I like Fayed [Music] okay iced imagine what you'd be like and that a team I had a sister since then I've done nothing but think about you where you are you know what you look like everything I always wondered if I had had any siblings oh yeah you're from here I'm Angela I'm really really yeah there's nothing to worry about cause it's gonna be fine thank you I've brought a few things for you I'd like you to have the jury-box mom Kemp Ruth on things about you in it and I'd like you to have those now oh thank you that's the certificate I first saw I was being a really nosy 12 year old I want you to know hot was in in the jewelry box it's your baby tag and you're born that's you can't believe I was ever that [Laughter] but yeah mom kept it all every little bit of it and that's mom and dad father to lovely I don't see me in there yeah just look at my home front you've got a nice so I just keep staring fantastic I'm so happy immediately is just the thing to just kick good man was here today should be over the main treasure he's suave special thank you so much I just felt a connection straightaway part this is now my little sister when she gave me the jewelry box it was just amazing I'm so privileged that just wanted to give her to me means a lot just for you for me in the hall yeah okay I'll play thank you it's a famous tree [Music] I've always wanted a sister and I've met her and all of that but it's just literally well my sister best thing ever hi [Music] next time on long-lost family two searches looking for their birth mothers a man longing to find out why his mother gave him up fifty years ago was I wanted I hate that I was but I don't know and a woman desperate to know what happened to her mother I have carried the guilts thinking that I hope I haven't ruined her life [Music] [Music]

Channel: Cinelic

Views: 453,299

Rating: 4.8317113 out of 5

Keywords: abandoned, adopt, ancestry, birth parents, children given up, davina mccall, documentary, family reunion, family search, full documentaries, full documentary, full episode, heritage, genetic, long lost family, long lost family uk, long lsot family, lost family, mini documentaries, mini documentary, dna, reality show, reunion, separated at birth, short documentaries, biological, watch online, documentaries, 23 and me, documentary 2018, 2018, finding family, long lost family s08e05

Id: 1vFdmknioSY

Length: 45min 38sec (2738 seconds)

Published: Wed Dec 25 2019