Last updated at 16:44, Friday, 15 February 2013

LONG-LOST cousins were reunited for the first time in almost half a century – thanks to an Evening Mail article.

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Bessie Fry met Barbara Trippier, who now lives in Thornton-Cleveleys, this week for the first time since they were young girls.

The reunion came about after Mrs Trippier spotted her cousin in an Evening Mail article about her platinum wedding.

The pair hadn’t seen each other in nearly 50 years and Mrs Trippier said she had no idea whether her cousin was still alive.

The pair met at Mrs Fry’s Troutbeck Gardens home in Barrow and the 93-year-old said she was delighted to have Mrs Trippier back in her life.

She said: “I can’t believe it. It is quite queer how it has all come about, but we have so much to talk about!”

Mrs Fry added: “It’s great the Evening Mail put the piece in the paper so we could meet. It’s incredible.”

Mrs Fry’s mother, Margaret Cameron, and Mrs Trippier’s mother, Sophia Ballantyne, were sisters and part of a family of 14 children.

Mrs Trippier said: “It’s so good to see each other. It’s really lovely.”

Mrs Trippier was thrilled Mrs Fry was able to give her more information about her late father, Jack Ballantyne, and the cousins spoke fondly of shared memories of their time growing up together in Barrow.

Mrs Fry said: “We had a very happy childhood, but we were poor.”

She particularly remembered the treat of being able to play “the crab apple dive” game they loved.

She explained: “My father would go round to the market at night for apples that were damaged or had fallen off the tree for us to ‘dive’ for.”

Mrs Fry explained that these apples, along with a few nuts, were then put in a bucket of water for the children to “bob” for.

Mrs Trippier’s children, Hilary Kennerley and Liam Trippier, also went along to meet Mrs Fry and her husband Roly for the first time. Mrs Fry said it was “really nice” to meet them.

First published at 15:47, Friday, 15 February 2013
Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk