A DAUGHTER and father have been getting to know each other after more than half a century apart.

And the Hereford Times is delighted to have played a part in what has turned out to be joyful get-together.

“I am 56 years old and because of terribly painful and private circumstances I had never even met my father,” said Amanda Leighton.

“I didn’t know where he was, how on earth to find him or even if he was still alive.

“On the grapevine, in my 20s, I was told it was believed he’d died.

“Up until now, I’ve always felt half of me was missing - I am his blood and he is my blood.

“Dad and I both feel much heartache at the lost years in between - he was equally at a loss to know what to do and if he could find me.

“Finally, I had the idea of writing to the Hereford Times though I thought it was a long shot.”

Amanda’s letter was featured on the paper’s letters’ page on February 9 with a box number to contact if anyone could assist in putting her in touch with her dad Lewis Julian Leighton.

“Miracle of miracles, I received a reply - in less than a week,” said Amanda.

“The rest is history.”

Lewis, age 78, was indeed alive and well and living not far away in Stourport.

And the real joy of the reunion is the delight that both Amanda and Lewis have found in discovering the long-lost key part of their family and the closeness which has immediately developed between the pair.

“We spend a lot of time together and we get on famously well,” said Amanda.

“We instinctively understand each other and we are kindred souls.

“It’s like we’ve always known each other and there is real, unconditional, deep love between us. It’s wonderful.”

The pair are now looking forward to enjoying plenty more of each other’s company in the years to come.

“We are making up for lost time now and looking forward to the future,” said Amanda.

“We are determined that no-one and nothing will take away from us the joy that we share now.”

“The finest thing that ever happened to me was meeting my daughter,” said Lewis.

“I’m so proud of her, she’s lovely and she’s my girl.”