A 121-year-old postcard reunites long-lost family members

At Swansea Building Society, we strongly believe in the power of community, but we never imagined that a simple social media post would lead to such an extraordinary outcome.

Earlier this month, our Cradock Street branch received a postcard that was originally sent 121 years ago. The story of this mysterious postcard has since captured the attention of people around the world and, most importantly, brought together family members who never knew each other existed.

The postcard, dated August 3, 1903, was addressed to Miss Lydia Davies, who lived at what is now our Head Office. It was sent by her younger brother, Ewart, who we have now discovered was just 13 at the time. After we shared this story on our social media channels, we were amazed by the response. Multiple family members came forward, eager to share their stories and piece together their family history.

Yesterday, August 28, 2024, we had the privilege of witnessing something truly special. At the West Glamorgan Archive – for a special segment on BBC Breakfast – several of Lydia and Ewart's descendants met for the first time.

Ewart’s grandson, Nick Davies, 65, was joined by Lydia’s great-nieces, Helen Roberts and Margaret Spooner, and Lydia’s great-granddaughter, Faith Reynolds. They all travelled from different parts of the UK to meet and connect with relatives they had never known about until the discovery of the postcard.

Mr Davies described the experience as "extraordinary," saying it felt like a family reunion, even though their only connection was a common ancestor from over a century ago.

Ewart, who had been spending his summer holidays at his grandfather’s house in Fishguard, wrote the postcard to his sister Lydia, who was known to collect them. The postcard’s message, which apologises for not being able to "get the pair of these," is believed to refer to a pair of postcards Ewart was unable to obtain.

Lydia and Ewart were two of six children born to John F. Davies, who ran a tailor’s shop from 11 Cradock Street, and Maria Davies. Thanks to our social media post, Lydia’s great-nieces, Helen Roberts and Margaret Spooner, recognised her in the story and connected with Faith Reynolds, Lydia’s great-granddaughter, who had been unaware of her family’s rich history.

This historic postcard, which we believe to now be the most famous in Swansea, will be preserved at the West Glamorgan Archive. It will be available for the family and anyone else interested to view and appreciate, serving as a lasting reminder of the connections that unite us across generations.

The global interest in this story has been overwhelming. It has been featured on CBC in Canada, Fox News, ABC News, and the New York Post in the United States, as well as across Europe and on Channel 10 News in Australia. We are humbled by the reach of this story and the role we played in bringing this family together.

For 101 years, Swansea Building Society has been dedicated to serving the community, and it's heartening to know that without the community's involvement, this 121-year-old story might never have been uncovered, reuniting a long-lost family.

Photo (Left to Right) : Henry Darby – Swansea Building Society, Helen Roberts (Lydia’s great-niece)  , Nick Davies (Ewart – The Sender of the postcard’s Grandson), Margret Spooner (Lydia’s great-niece)   & Faith Reynolds (Lydia great -Granddaughter).