A brother and sister from Moray who were adopted separately have been reunited with each other in their 80s.
Eileen Mitchell, 85, and Brian Anderson, 82, were given up for adoption by their mother as babies.
Both were raised in Moray only a few miles from each other. But they never knew the other existed.
Mrs Mitchell said “I had a lovely childhood, although a little lonely as an only child. My adoptive mother had lost her own daughter aged 10 and adopted me at three months.”
As an adult Mrs Mitchell began searching for her birth family.
She even issued an appeal in The Press and Journal, but unfortunately was unable to find them.
It was only after her children submitted her DNA to a family ancestry website that her luck turned around.
A long search finally over
Eileen’s daughter Audrey and Brian’s son Ian submitted their parent’s DNA as part of general research and were surprised to receive a notification that they were close relatives.
Mrs Mitchell said: “When she then told me I had a brother, Brian, it was disbelief really…took my breath away. It was fantastic.”
After a lifetime apart, the siblings first met at a garden centre in Elgin on December, 23, 2021.
At the gathering was Mr Anderson’s wife Rena, and his son Ian. While Mrs Mitchell was joined by her son Peter and daughter Audrey
The group spent more than three-and-a-half hours having lunch and coffee together.
Mrs Mitchell said: “It was emotional but also easy – we got on straight away.”
Mr Anderson said: “It was emotional!
“Once I received my real birth certificate it confirmed that my mum and Eileen’s mum were the same person, and that I have a sister.
“I felt firstly elated, excited and then just a bit apprehensive.”
Lives lived apart
Although, they enjoyed the meeting the pair had spent their entire lives apart and had a lot of catching up to do.
Mr Anderson became a hydraulic engineer in Aberdeen and married his wife Rena 64 years ago in 1958. They had five children, six grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Mrs Mitchell worked in retail, as a driving instructor and as a community care worker. She got married in 1956 to her husband Peter who worked for British Rail and the couple lived in London for some years.
She has three children and two grandchildren.
Making up for lost time
The pair are now trying to make up for the time they have lost.
Speaking to each other two or three times a week on the phone.
Mrs Mitchell added: “It’s a shame we lost all those years but we just need to make the most of the time now.
“We really do get on, it’s all genuine.
“Time is precious and we are making the most of our time together as brother and sister.”
Conversation