WHEN a letter with an Isle of Man postmark dropped onto Norman Berry’s doormat a month ago he almost threw it straight in the bin, not realising its contents would change his life.

Curiosity got the better of him, and the 73-year-old opened the letter – and discovered he had a sister he knew nothing about.

The pair are to meet for the first time next month, and Norman is determined to find out more about his ‘lost’ family, including the mother who left home when he was just 18 months old.

Norman, who is originally from Hollinwood and now lives in Northamptonshire, is appealing to Advertiser readers to help "fill in the blanks"about his mum.

He said: "I was born on June 2, 1936, and lived with my mother, Sarah Ann Holtan, and father Norman Berry in County Street.  But at 18 months old my mother left, and I never saw her again. I can’t remember anything about her."

Norman was then brought up by his dad’s mother – Maud Berry – until she died in November 1945.

"My dad travelled around for work, so when my grandmother died, I went to live with my aunt, in Kettering, Northampton.  I saw my dad every now and again, but as I got older his visits got less and less frequent. Nobody ever mentioned my mum, and because of that, I never asked.  It was something we didn’t talk about."

Then at the age of 65, a cousin told Norman there was a rumour his mother had a baby girl in 1938 who was adopted.

Norman said: "I didn’t think much of it at the time – I’d tried to find my mother several times with no luck – and because of adoption laws, I knew I would never be able to find her even if I wanted to."

Then came the letter that turned his world upside down.

"I saw something from the Isle of Man, and I honestly thought it was just a piece of junk mail," he said. "I almost threw it straight in the bin, but something stopped me and when I opened it, it was from an adoption agency, asking me to get in touch."

Norman soon found out, he did have a little sister called Margaret, who had been trying to trace him for four years.

He said: "I couldn’t believe it. Margaret only found out she was adopted when her adoptive mother died, and she had been looking for me ever since. Margaret’s adoption papers were signed by my father, so we believe we are full brother and sister, but even if we are not, to me she is my sister, and that is all that matters."

Margaret, 70, and Norman have now begun piecing the jigsaw of their lives together, and have planned an emotional reunion for March 5 in Margaret’s home on the island. And although he has gained a sister, Norman would still like to know more about his mum.

He said: "On my 21st birthday, my mother went to visit her sister – who is now aged 97, and still lives in Hollinwood – to see how I was.  My auntie told her I was fine, and said ‘keep in touch from now on’, but she never did, she never saw her again.  It was as if she had vanished.  My mum would now be 96, and my family still don’t know what happened to her, so if any readers remember anything, then please get in touch."

If you can help, call the Advertiser on 0161 626 3663.