A MELTHAM woman has had an emotional reunion with the family she never knew she had.
And it is all thanks to her long-lost brother's curiosity to discover more about his family tree.
Joan Edge, 69, of Helme Lane, had been unaware of the existence of her brother and two sisters.
But in June she received a letter from the Protestant Adoption Society in Ireland.
They were writing on behalf of her brother, Richard Lamb, who had learned about Mrs Edge while he was researching his family tree.
He had already found his half-sisters - twins Dorothy Dunwoody and Marie Thomas - 12 months earlier.
Mr Lamb, 67, lives in Dublin, as do Mrs Thomas and Mrs Dunwoody, who are both 58.
Mrs Edge was born in Dublin, but moved to Huddersfield 45 years ago with her husband, who has now died.
She only saw her mother during the first two years of her life and was then brought up by her aunt and uncle.
Mr Lamb was adopted when he was born.
The twins were born 10 years later after Mrs Edge's mother remarried.
None of the siblings knew of each other's existence until Mr Lamb began his research.
Now, they are delighted to be reunited.
Mrs Edge said: "It was such a nice surprise. I haven't got over the shock yet."
Mrs Edge went to visit her family in Dublin for a week in August.
She said: "They put on a big dinner for me.
"I met their children and grandchildren and lots of cousins. I couldn't believe it.
"I found out a lot about our history. It was wonderful."
Mrs Edge has a 43-year-old daughter, Elizabeth, two grand-daughters and a grandson, who all live in Huddersfield.
She said she does not plan to visit Ireland again until next year, but is in regular phone contact with her new-found relatives.
