Man, 49, who spent 15 years searching for his sister before meeting on Long Lost Family reveals bizarre similarities between her and their mother – despite never knowing one another
- Simon Miller, 49, from Putney, has finally met his sister on ITV’s Long Lost Family
- READ MORE: Emotional moment woman breaks down in tears as she meets her half-brother for the first time on Long Lost Family
A man who didn’t know he had a sister until he was 14 years old has finally met her for the first time – and revealed that she’s bizarrely similar to her biological mother despite never having met her.
Simon Miller, 49, a supermarket assistant from Putney, will be appearing on ITV’s Long Lost Family on Monday to fulfil his late mother’s dying wish to find her daughter – who she gave up for adoption in the hopes of giving her a better life.
And now that the siblings have met, Simon told FEMAIL about the bizarre ways his sister Bronwen reminds him of their parent – Beverley – who passed away in 2008.
‘I can see a lot of my mum in her,’ he said. ‘She’s got her nose, same as me.’ And it’s not just their physical appearances.
Bronwen and Beverley both have the same special sweet tooth for Bounty bars and gingernut biscuits. The duo also both branded roast dinner and Spaghetti Bolognese their ‘favourites’.
Simon Miller, 49, a supermarket assistant from Putney, will be appearing on ITV’s Long Lost Family on Monday to fulfil his late mother’s dying wish to find her daughter Bronwen. Both pictured
Simon and his sister now WhatsApp everyday, and although they were complete strangers until recently, the siblings have plenty to chat about.
‘I didn’t feel any awkwardness,’ he revealed. ‘It feels strange because we’ve both got a lot in common, film-wise, TV-wise.’
Bizarrely, their birthdays are also only one day away – which Simon said had confused Beverley in the past.
The pair catch up about their day-to-day lives and discuss their upbringings. Simon also tells his sister about Beverley – who he has dubbed ‘mumBev’ to her, as she has a different adopted mother.
‘I would’ve understood it if she didn’t want to know,’ he admitted, explaining that Brownen’s wishes were his priority during the whole process of finding her.
‘When people have asked my mother, “well why didn’t you look for her” – because she was scared of rejection,’ he said.
Beverley would ‘be at peace’ and feel ‘overwhelmed and happy’ to see him and Bronwen reaching out to one another, Simon said. ‘I feel like she’s looking down at us,’ he added.
Simon was a teenager when he first learned that his mother had had a baby girl. She later explained that the relationship she was in while carrying Bronwen ended, which left her devastated and unable to cope.
Now that the siblings are reunited, Simon told FEMAIL about the bizarre ways his sister Bronwen reminds him of their parent – Beverley – who passed away in 2008. Simon pictured with his mother when he was child
Simon was a teenager when he first learned that his mother had had a baby girl. Pictured: Beverley, who passed away in 2008
Simon also grew up with an older brother, David, who is very supportive of Simon’s search but didn’t want to be on camera. Both pictured when they were kids
Devastated, but wanting to give her little one a better life, she gave the baby up for adoption.
‘She was a bit nervous telling me,’ Simon recalled on finding out the news. ‘I was shocked… I was gutted but then looking back, I can see why she’d get upset at certain days like Christmas.’
Even though it took time for both to come to terms with the shocking confession, the revelation ‘made them closer’.
He also grew up with an older brother, David, who is very supportive of Simon’s search but didn’t want to be on camera. He is ‘overwhelmed’ and excited at the news, and is looking forward to meeting Bronwen in person.
In 2008 Beverley passed away shortly after being diagnosed with cancer – and as a last wish, asked Simon to find Bronwen to explain why she gave her away and apologise.
‘I feel like if you’re trying to find someone in life, don’t give up,’ he stressed. ‘It took me 15 years to look for her… And I’d do it all again – I know Bronwen feels the same.’
He’s ‘grateful for meeting her’ and feels it’s a ‘shame it wasn’t done sooner’. ‘But then I think it wasn’t meant to be until that time,’ Simon added.
The heartwarming reunion, hosted by Davina McCall on the show, was exciting, he admitted.
The show eventually hunted down Bronwen (pictured) – who is now living in Shropshire with her husband and two daughters
Simon and his sister now WhatsApp everyday, and although they were complete strangers until recently, the siblings have plenty to chat about. Simon pictured, as a teenager, with his mother
‘Before I went in I was more nervous than I was in the morning,’ he revealed. ‘I didn’t know I was going to be so emotional but I was. We both had a cry and we both had a laugh. We talk a lot on the phone, WhatsApp everyday.’
In September, he’s even going to visit Bronwen for a long weekend and finally meet his nieces – aged 22 and 24 – in person for the first time.
‘My mum had [Bronwen] for 14 days and she said it was the best 14 days of her life. And then they came to take her and she said it was devastating and she punished herself ever since,’ Simon told the programme.
The show eventually hunted down Bronwen – who is now living in Shropshire with her husband and two daughters.
She told Nicky Campbell that she had a happy childhood with supportive family around her – and had learned of her older brother David when she was 12.
‘Knowing I had a brother was hard, because I couldn’t meet him, I couldn’t play with him. So I couldn’t be a sister,’ she said. However, she didn’t know anything about Simon.
‘I can’t wait for the next chapter in my life with my sister,’ he added. ‘Now I’ve found her I’ll always have her in my life. Cos I’ve got 53 years to make up!’
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