Long-lost brothers meet for first time in 'dream come true'

Allen Swinbank, 87, who was born in Bradford in 1935, and his long-lost half-brother John Robson, 85, recently met for the first time after only just finding out about each other in January.

Allen Swinbank, 87 (Image: Newsquest)

"We were both overwhelmed to see each other," said an overjoyed Mr Swinbank, who now lives in Goole.

"It's a long-lost family," said Mr Swinbank. "We might have beaten a record.

"We each didn't know we had a brother until a few weeks ago.

John Robson, 85 (Image: UGC)

"The funny thing was not long before I said to my wife 'I wish I had a brother or sister'.

"It's like a dream come true. God works in mysterious ways."

Mr Robson drove down from Frazerburgh in Aberdeenshire for the meeting.

"He came on a Friday and went on Saturday evening, so we had a day together.

"I had never met him before, and I'm 87 now and he's 85.

John Spence-Swinbank, father of Allen Swinbank and John Robson (Image: UGC)

"We have the same father but a different mother."

The two half-brothers were brought together by John's granddaughter Natasha.

She contacted me in January and told me 'I believe my grandfather is your brother.'

Natasha found out by researching family trees on the internet.

"She's thrilled to bits about it," said Mr Swinbank. "She rings me nearly every day."

John Spence-Swinbank who served as POW in Germany for five years (Image: UGC)

Mr Swinbank explained that he and Mr Robson have the same father, John Spence-Swinbank, but different mothers.

He said: "My father got captured in Dunkirk and he got marched to serve in a stalag, a German prisoner-of-war camp for five years.

"I never knew my father until I was 26. He and my mother separated shortly after my birth."

Mr Swinbank left Bradford 12 years ago after spending 75 years of his life in the city.

"I did general property repairs and worked as a joiner and plumber for 42 years," he said.

And Mr Robson has been away Yorkshire for quite some time, the last time being 1973, when he lived in Bridlington.

Although they had not spent their lifetimes together, Mr Swinbank says he plans to keep in regular contact and he and his wife are hoping to visit his brother in Scotland soon.

"We'll go up and see him," he said. "We want to keep in touch."

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