Henry Darby – Swansea Building Society, Helen Roberts (Lydia’s great-niece), Nick Davies (Ewart – The Sender of the postcard’s Grandson), Margret Spooner (Lydia’s great-niece), and Faith Reynolds (Lydia great -Granddaughter). HENRY DARBY VIA SWNS.
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A postcard delivered 121 years late has reunited a family – who recognized their relatives.
The card dated August 3, 1903, arrived at Swansea Building Society in Wales – on August 16 this year.
It was addressed to a Miss Lydia Davies who likely lived at what is now the Society’s head office.
The card, written by a boy called Ewart to his sister Lydia, was delivered 121 years late.
And now after seeing the story two families came forward and discovered they were related.
Several of Lydia and Ewart’s descendants have met for the first time at the West Glamorgan Archive.
Nick Davies, Ewart’s grandson, was joined by Lydia’s great-nieces, Helen Roberts and Margaret Spooner, as well as Lydia’s great-granddaughter, Faith Reynolds.
The relatives, who traveled from different parts of the UK, were thrilled to meet each other and discover their shared ancestry.
Nick, 65, from West Sussex, described the experience as “extraordinary”.
He said: “It’s like a family reunion, where the only connection you have is a common ancestor dating back to over a hundred years ago.”
He shared that Ewart, who would have been just 13 at the time, was spending his summer holidays at his grandfather’s house in Fishguard when he wrote the postcard to his sister Lydia, who was known to collect them.
The postcard, which contains a message apologizing for not being able to “get the pair of these,” has been interpreted by the family as referring to a pair of postcards.
Ewart also mentioned in the postcard that he had about 10 shillings “in pocket money, not counting the train fare, so I am doing alright.”
Ewart and Lydia were two of six children born to John F. Davies, who ran a tailor’s shop from 11 Craddock Street, and Maria Davies.
Lydia’s great-nieces, Helen Roberts, and Margaret Spooner, from Swansea, recognized her in the story and connected with Faith Reynolds, Lydia’s great-granddaughter, who had been unaware of her relative’s siblings.
Then postcard will be preserved at the West Glamorgan Archive, where it will be available for the family and the public to view and appreciate.
Henry Darby, Marketing and Communications Officer at Swansea Building Society, said:
“For over a century, Swansea Building Society has been dedicated to serving the community, and this story reaffirms that commitment.
”Without the involvement of the community, this piece of history might never have been uncovered, and a long-lost family might never have been reunited.
”We would like to thank everyone who has helped unravel this mystery and reunite Ewart and Lydia’s family.”
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
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