A WOMAN who was parted from her brother at an orphanage when she was two years old has found him again - after 58 years.

Margaret Stones, 60, of Kinross Walk, Audley, Blackburn, last saw her brother Bernard in 1939, when they were both at the Stile Cottage orphanage in Manchester.

Her brother Bernard, 65, says: "I didn't know if Margaret realised she had a brother. She was so young when I left the orphanage with my other sister Pat. I don't know why they couldn't keep us together or at least let me know where Margaret was."

Bernard, whose surname is Sheffield, tried to track down Margaret a few years ago, but could not find her. Then in September this year Margaret, who is a retired cleaner, contacted the Salvation Army to find out what had become of her brother.

The Salvation Army used pension records to track Bernard, a former shopfitter, down to his home in Manchester.

Margaret says: "I'm so happy to meet Bernard after all these years, and I've now caught up with my older sister Pat, who lives near York. She did very well for herself, and went on to be a nurse. Bernard's partner is always saying how similar the three of us are, and Bernard and I are getting on just fine."

They both recall their time at the orphanage, which is now a women's prison.

Margaret says it was very strict, and Bernard added: "It's a prison now, and conditions weren't much better when we were there!"

The family will not be able to celebrate together until after Christmas, because Margaret has a dog and Bernard lives in a small flat with his partner and three cats.

Older sister Pat Sheffield, 66, suffers from poor health, and so a reunion is planned in York when the weather is warmer.

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