LilMtnCbn
08-26-2004, 06:36 AM
http://iccoventry.icnetwork.co.uk/0100news/0100localnews/tm_objectid=14574
321&method=full&siteid=50003&headline=-i-held-my-mum-for-the-first-time--n
ame_page.html
'I held my mum for the first time' Aug 26 2004
By Stephen Hallmark
A Coventry woman, who was adopted as a baby during the second world war, has
finally found her mum after 60 years.
June Blakemore, 61, had given up hope of ever tracking down her birth mum - but
after years of searching, she discovered 83-year-old Dorothy Brook was living
on the other side of the world.
The pair have now met for the first time when June flew out to Perth in
Australia.
Mum-of-two June, who lives in Farren Road, Wyken, pledged to track her real mum
as a child when she learned she was adopted.
She said: "I had an ordinary childhood, but one day when my parents were
arguing I was told I was adopted.
"It wasn't a nice way to find out. I was in a state of disbelief. I was so
close to my father and just could-n't accept I wasn't his daughter.
"He was so lovely, but the shock made me want to learn more about who my
parents were. However, I was so anxious not to upset his feelings."
June's adoptive mother Edna Garner died when she was young, and she was raised
by Edna's husband, George. June was born in south Warwickshire and grew up in
Coventry. When she married her first husband John she moved to Saudi Arabia.
June, who has two grandchildren, said: "When I sent for my passport I found my
birth name was Wendy Brook and my mum was Dorothy Maud Brook.
"I stared and stared at it and got really upset.
"George told me I was special, that was why he wanted me as his daughter. But
it was traumatic because I felt unwanted by my real mum."
She returned to Coventry and after George died, vowed to track down her mum.
June said: "I hit a brick wall. I visited London where all the archives are
kept, but I could not face going in the building, and burst into tears."
Help was at hand after June was put in touch with Diane Lindsay, a family
historian who was able to trace Dorothy.
June, now married to Pete, met Dorothy in May. They stayed with her
half-sisters - Jane and Linda - and began to meet her new family.
She said: "Whenever things went wrong, I was always pained by the fact I didn't
know my mum. I didn't feel whole, but what if she rejected me again?
"The first meeting was incredible. I was in floods of tears when I held mum for
the first time. Linda had to run out. I was crying so much I couldn't say
anything.
"Mum spoke first and said 'it's been a long time' and I said 'yes, but I'm here
now'."
June learned that Dorothy, who came from Tunbridge Wells, moved to Coventry
during the war and worked in the Daimler factory, producing munitions.
Dorothy met a Scottish soldier and lived with him for two years - but he did
not reveal he was married.
June said: "Mum told me she had always been the black sheep of the family. She
didn't tell her parents - or even her soldier boy friend - about me and I was
born in a hostel in Shipston-on-Stour in 1943. I feel complete now."
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
321&method=full&siteid=50003&headline=-i-held-my-mum-for-the-first-time--n
ame_page.html
'I held my mum for the first time' Aug 26 2004
By Stephen Hallmark
A Coventry woman, who was adopted as a baby during the second world war, has
finally found her mum after 60 years.
June Blakemore, 61, had given up hope of ever tracking down her birth mum - but
after years of searching, she discovered 83-year-old Dorothy Brook was living
on the other side of the world.
The pair have now met for the first time when June flew out to Perth in
Australia.
Mum-of-two June, who lives in Farren Road, Wyken, pledged to track her real mum
as a child when she learned she was adopted.
She said: "I had an ordinary childhood, but one day when my parents were
arguing I was told I was adopted.
"It wasn't a nice way to find out. I was in a state of disbelief. I was so
close to my father and just could-n't accept I wasn't his daughter.
"He was so lovely, but the shock made me want to learn more about who my
parents were. However, I was so anxious not to upset his feelings."
June's adoptive mother Edna Garner died when she was young, and she was raised
by Edna's husband, George. June was born in south Warwickshire and grew up in
Coventry. When she married her first husband John she moved to Saudi Arabia.
June, who has two grandchildren, said: "When I sent for my passport I found my
birth name was Wendy Brook and my mum was Dorothy Maud Brook.
"I stared and stared at it and got really upset.
"George told me I was special, that was why he wanted me as his daughter. But
it was traumatic because I felt unwanted by my real mum."
She returned to Coventry and after George died, vowed to track down her mum.
June said: "I hit a brick wall. I visited London where all the archives are
kept, but I could not face going in the building, and burst into tears."
Help was at hand after June was put in touch with Diane Lindsay, a family
historian who was able to trace Dorothy.
June, now married to Pete, met Dorothy in May. They stayed with her
half-sisters - Jane and Linda - and began to meet her new family.
She said: "Whenever things went wrong, I was always pained by the fact I didn't
know my mum. I didn't feel whole, but what if she rejected me again?
"The first meeting was incredible. I was in floods of tears when I held mum for
the first time. Linda had to run out. I was crying so much I couldn't say
anything.
"Mum spoke first and said 'it's been a long time' and I said 'yes, but I'm here
now'."
June learned that Dorothy, who came from Tunbridge Wells, moved to Coventry
during the war and worked in the Daimler factory, producing munitions.
Dorothy met a Scottish soldier and lived with him for two years - but he did
not reveal he was married.
June said: "Mum told me she had always been the black sheep of the family. She
didn't tell her parents - or even her soldier boy friend - about me and I was
born in a hostel in Shipston-on-Stour in 1943. I feel complete now."
-------------------------
A good friend will come and bail you out of jail . . . but, a true friend will
be sitting next to you saying, "Damn . . . that was fun!"
-----Unknown
