EX-BARNARDO-boy William Cupples is even more convinced it's a wonderful world after flying to meet his long-lost cousin Bill Cairns in Ontario, Canada.
The Review broke the story over a year ago that William was "astounded" after finding no less than 30 relatives he never knew he had, among them Bill.
William, of Primrose Hill, Lydney, had been orphaned when only a few months old, both his mother then his father dying within a short space of time, and he had been cared for by his grandmother, who had five children, until the age of nine.
She found herself unable to cope and William was sent to a Dr Barnardo home – the rather splendid mansion of Lord and Lady Critchley – which he shared with 42 other boys until the age of 14.
He then moved to Gloucestershire where he worked for British Rail, British Nylon Spinners and the James R. Crompton papermill.
It was only after he retired a few years ago that he got a letter from a Barnados representative that a family member was trying to contact him. He was given the telephone number of Bill Cairns' sister, Leta, who lived in Ireland.
It had taken Leta two years to find William – but she lost no more time in putting him in touch with the family he had all but forgotten.
Bill's side of the story is that he had lost touch with William when he went to the Barnados home and had moved to Canada, where he became a minister at the Delhi Baptist Church in Tillsonburg, Ontario.
Two years later, William has just returned from a two-week visit to Bill, who now unfortunately has suffered for two years from shingles, and his wife Mary Lou.
"He remembered me – he remembered," said William. "I had more trouble than him, although I was only a little lad of nine when we last saw each other."
Bill and his family treated William to a tour of the district and visits to the Niagara Falls, the gigantic CN Tower and New York State.
"It was wonderful to be back with Bill again," he said.