Reunited

Sisters back together after 40 years apart
TRAGEDY turned to joy for three Oldham sisters who have been reunited after 40 years apart.

As youngsters, Karen Donnelly lived with her little sister Debbie in Bloom Street, Bank Top, and later in Waterworks Road, in Waterhead.

Their stepsister Christine lived with her dad in Werneth and used to visit at weekends.

But the three girls lost touch when their mother, Mavis Cheetham, was murdered in 1970.

Karen, now 49, went to live with her grandparents in Preston, Debbie went away to attend a deaf boarding school and Christine was living elsewhere in Oldham.

Karen said: “I always wanted to find Christine again but when I visited her last known address when I was 16, a man told me he didn’t know her.

“Debbie was always asking where she was and one day we told her daughter, Laura, who decided to track her down on the internet.”

After some perseverance Laura found a phone number and rang Christine, who put the phone down in shock.

When Laura tried again later, they all spoke for the first time since they were children.

Mum-of-four Karen, who now lives in Salford, said: “Christine didn’t know our mum had died.

“She thought that we didn’t want to know her and that was why we hadn’t been in touch.

“It has been brilliant finding her again and we’ve just had our first Christmas together in 40 years.

“She said she had always wondered what we were up to. My children always knew they had an Auntie Christine somewhere but we didn’t know where she was — all this time we’ve been taking the kids on the 59 bus which goes past her house in Egerton Street!”

Christine (53) was shocked to learn that she has 11 nieces and nephews.

Now the sisters are desperately trying to trace other long-lost relatives.

They think they may have relatives still living in Lord Street, near Oldham market, and are keen to hear from anyone who is related to their grandfather, Norman Cheetham, who war born on December 5, 1909, and who married Ethel Berry, born on March 15, 1915.

They lived in Waterworks Road until the 1970s when they moved to Park Road, Preston.

If anyone can help please contact the Oldham Chronicle on 0161-622 2117.