Our pleasure (From Barry And District News)

Our pleasure

MEMBERS of a family who lost touch many years ago are celebrating on both sides of the Atlantic, after they were put back in contact - by the Barry and District News!

Joy Merriman, from Indiana in the USA, had lost touch with her family in Barry, and decided to look on the Internet.

After typing her aunt's name into Google, she was directed straight to the Barry and District News website (www.thisisbarry.co.uk) where she saw her photograph.

The 52-year-old said: "I searched the website and saw an Easter article featuring my aunt and uncle.

"I cried when I saw the photograph. I had last corresponded with them eight or ten years ago. I prayed that God would help me to connect with them somehow.

"You can't imagine the shock and excitement I felt when I saw the picture."

She contacted us via our website feedback form, and we called her family in Barry to pass on Joy's details.

And aunt and uncle Joy and Roger Estala got straight in touch.

Aunt Joy said: "We spent two hours on the phone talking, and there are still things I have to tell her.

"I knew we would manage to get in contact with each other, somehow. I did not think we would never speak again.

"It was great to hear from her and hear about the other members of the family. Her children are grown up and have their own children."

Aunt Joy, 66, and Uncle Roger, 54, lived in Ohio for many years, but decided to come back to Barry in 1991 when Roger retired from the US Airforce. They now live in George Street.