AFTER 73 years one man from Camelford was told his family was a little bigger than he first thought.

Peter Canham had previously been unaware that he had five uncles and an aunt on his father’s side but after a family tree was created his family grew and grew.

Mr Canham was 14 when his father passed away. At the age of 21 his mother also passed away, leaving him without a family — or so he thought. His parents had previously never told him of any other family members, so for 73 years Mr Canham had been under the impression there were none.

Out of the blue, however, Mr Canham was contacted by a man called Michael who explained he had discovered several Canham family members in the Suffolk area through research for a family tree.

When asked how the situation came about Mr Canham said: “Well, we didn’t know a family tree was even being made until a man called Michael — we don’t know much about him, only that he is called Michael — contacted us and gave me a number of my first cousin, who lives up in Suffolk.”

Mr Canham said he was ‘delighted’ to have found more relatives, having always thought he came from a small family.

Mr Canham said: “It really shocked me, I haven’t met any of my family, I never knew I had any. The only family I have is my wife and she is enough for me, but it is great to have found more family members!”

Using the information Michael provided, Mr Canham and his wife were able to contact his cousin Linda-Jenny Canham and arrange a ‘reunion’.

He said the meeting went well, adding: “After Michael gave us the number of my first cousin, I gave her a ring and it just went from there. It was marvellous really, she is about the same age as me and everyone said she kind of looks like me too!

“We found out more about my other family members too, like one of the girls looks after two big hospitals up country on the management side of things — that was wonderful to hear, very impressive!”

Mr Canham wanted to express his thanks to the mysterious Michael who helped put him back in touch with family he never knew he had.

“Without this man’s work I would never have met Linda-Jenny, I have to thank him for his part in this!”