January 29th 2024.
It was a beautiful day when Jonathan and Lisa Mainwaring received a surprising message on Facebook. After a long drive up north, they arrived at Jonathan's uncle's house in Eccles, Greater Manchester. As soon as they walked in, they were greeted with open arms and a delicious cake made especially for the occasion. The whole family spent hours catching up and sharing stories. To an outsider, it may have seemed like a typical family gathering, but for Jonathan and his sister Elaine, it was a momentous occasion.
You see, just a few weeks prior, they had no idea that this side of their family even existed. It was a reunion that was years in the making and a testament to the power of love and perseverance. Jonathan, now 60 years old, shared that growing up, he knew his dad, Jimmy, who unfortunately passed away in 2007, didn't know his family. This left him with many unanswered questions. It turns out that Jimmy was put in an orphanage in the Lake District at a young age, and the family had no information about his background.
Jonathan's father grew up not knowing who his family was, and it wasn't until he was enrolled in Gordon Boys School, a boarding school in Woking, that he finally found a place to call home. He learned the trade of tailoring and eventually left the school to work as an upholsterer. However, despite his achievements, the family still didn't know much about his past. Jonathan's wife, Lisa, describes Jimmy as the epitome of kindness and love. He went on to marry Beryl, and they were blessed with two children, Jonathan and Elaine.
Jonathan adds that his father would do anything for anyone, whether it was making handbags for his wife, a tent for Elaine, or even upholstering the seats on his friends' mopeds. However, despite his kind and hardworking nature, Jimmy never talked about his family. Both Jonathan and Elaine had tried to find their dad's family over the years, but with no luck. All the records from the orphanage had been destroyed in a fire, and they had given up hope of ever discovering their relatives.
Lisa also remembers talking to Jonathan's mom about it, and she could see how much it upset her. She believed that Jimmy deserved to know his family and it was a shame that he never got the chance. Unfortunately, Jimmy passed away in 2007 at the age of 81, without ever knowing who his family was. His wife, Beryl, also passed shortly after, and the search for Jimmy's family came to a dead end.
Jonathan and Lisa settled in Hampton, not far from the village of Ottershaw where Jonathan grew up. It was there that they discovered Parkrun, a weekly free event where people could walk, jog, run, volunteer, or simply spectate a 5km run. Lisa and Jonathan became devoted Parkrunners and even traveled to different locations to participate. They enjoyed the sense of camaraderie and connecting with like-minded people. It was during one of these Parkruns that everything changed.
In 2017, Jonathan completed his 250th race at Homewood Parkrun in Ottershaw. He chose this particular location because it held special meaning for him. As a child, he used to play in the woods and fields there, and it was where he wanted to celebrate his milestone. Dressed in a Superman-themed shirt with his initials and the words "Parkrun Hero" on it, Jonathan crossed the finish line with ease. His proud wife, Lisa, posted a photo of him doing Mo Farah's famous "Mobot" pose on Facebook, and the Homewood Parkrun page shared it as well.
Little did they know, this photo would lead to a life-changing discovery. A woman named Angela Shepherd from Salford had been searching for her great-uncle, Jimmy Mainwaring, and the photo turned out to be a crucial piece of the puzzle. Angela's friend, a genealogist, had managed to find out that Jimmy had lived most of his life in Ottershaw and had a son named Jonathan. She Googled "James Mainwaring" and "Ottershaw," and the Parkrun photo popped up.
Lisa recalls that she was still in bed one morning when she received a Facebook message from Angela. She could hardly believe what she was reading. Angela explained that she believed her mother, June, and her uncle, Arthur, who lived in Manchester, were Jimmy's half-siblings, and they all shared the same father. It was a moment of shock and disbelief for Jonathan and Lisa, but also an overwhelming sense of joy and excitement.
Thanks to Parkrun and a chance encounter with a photo, Jonathan and Lisa were able to connect with a part of their family that they never knew existed. It was a story of loss, love, and perseverance that brought two families together. Now, Jonathan and Lisa can proudly say that they have a bigger family, and their Parkrun adventures will hold an even more special place in their hearts.
Jonathan and Lisa Mainwaring were enjoying a peaceful visit to Jonathan's uncle's home in Eccles, Greater Manchester, after a long drive up north. Upon arriving, they were warmly welcomed by his relatives and treated to a delicious cake. The family spent hours catching up and enjoying each other's company. To an outsider, it may have seemed like a typical family gathering, but for Jonathan and his sister Elaine, it was a special occasion. It was the first time they had met their dad's side of the family, and just a few weeks ago, they didn't even know they existed.
This heartwarming reunion is a story of loss and love, and it all started with a weekend jog that led to the discovery of a long-lost family. Jonathan, now 60, shared that growing up, he knew his father Jimmy, who passed away in 2007, didn't have any family, but he had always wondered about them. Jimmy was placed in an orphanage in the Lake District at a young age, and the family had little information about his past.
Despite not having any family, Lisa, 50, described her father-in-law Jimmy as a kind and loving man. He went on to marry Beryl and had two children, Jonathan and Elaine. Jonathan fondly remembers his father's generosity, as he would go out of his way to help others. He was a skilled tailor and would make handbags, tents, and even upholster seats for his loved ones. But despite his loving nature, Jimmy never talked much about his own family, and both Jonathan and Elaine had given up trying to find them after several unsuccessful attempts.
After Jimmy's passing, Jonathan and Lisa settled in Hampton, not far from Ottershaw, the village where Jonathan grew up. It was there that they discovered Parkrun, a weekly community event where participants can walk, jog, run, volunteer, or spectate a 5km run. The couple quickly became devoted Parkrunners, and Jonathan was able to complete his 250th race in 2017 on the Homewood Parkrun course in Ottershaw. He even dressed up in a Superman themed t-shirt with his initials and the words "Parkrun Hero" and proudly did Mo Farah's famous "Mobot" pose at the finish line.
Lisa posted a photo of the moment on Facebook, and Homewood Parkrun shared it on their page as well. Little did they know, that photo would change everything. Angela Shepherd from Salford had been searching for her great-uncle, Jimmy Mainwaring, and came across the photo on the Homewood Parkrun page. She had a friend who was a genealogist and had discovered that Jimmy lived most of his life in Ottershaw and had a son named Jonathan. Angela googled "James Mainwaring" and "Ottershaw," and the Parkrun photo popped up.
One morning, Lisa received a surprising Facebook message from Angela, who explained that she believed her mother and uncle were Jimmy's half-siblings, and they all shared the same father. Jonathan and Lisa were shocked and overjoyed by this unexpected news. They quickly arranged a meeting with Angela, her mother June, and uncle Arthur, who lived in Manchester. It was an emotional and heartwarming reunion, as Jonathan and Elaine finally got to meet their extended family and learn more about their father's past.
The Mainwaring family's incredible journey is a testament to the power of love and how unexpected events, like a simple jog, can lead to life-changing discoveries. Jonathan and Lisa continue to participate in Parkrun, but now they have a bigger family to share their passion with. They are grateful for the support and camaraderie they have found through the event and are excited to make many more memories with their newfound relatives.
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