AN EVENING Advertiser story has helped put an ex-pat Swindonian in touch with a cousin he never knew existed.

Ted Lewis, 73, has spoken to the daughter of his mother's sister, Phyllis Bins, in a cross-Atlantic telephone call.

Now Ted, who has lived in Canada for 45 years, is keen to trace another cousin, Barbara Barratt, who is believed to still live in Swindon.

The Advertiser told the fascinating tale of Ted's search for his relatives in April.

He has lived his whole adult life without knowing any of his grandparents, uncles, aunts or cousins.

His mother, Rose, sacrificed her life for his in 1931 when he was just three-years-old, by pushing his pram clear of an oncoming car and taking the full force of the collision herself.

The fading clipping from the Evening Advertiser reporting the accident is the only record Ted has of her.

Ted, whose real name is Edward and was known as Eddie as a child, was passed into the care of his foster mother, Edith Davies, after Rose's death.

His father, George, was a Royal Marine and was rarely in Britain, so had little contact with him.

It was only when George died in 1978 that Ted came across the newspaper clipping, along with his father's birth certificate.

Due to his unusual upbringing in Swindon, Ted had no contact with either of his parents' relatives and was told nothing about them.

Having discovered the internet last year, he recently decided to find out more about his origins, but is hampered by the fact he lives thousands of miles away in Vancouver.

His old friend, Geoff Timbrell, who still lives in Swindon on the Lawn estate with his wife, Maureen, is helping him.

He enlisted the Adver's help in April and the story has reaped dividends.

Doreen Rainer, a distant relative, contacted Geoff and has drawn up a family tree. She was able to put them in touch with Phyllis, whose mother, Dolly, was Rose's sister.

Ted himself then spoke to Phyllis, who lives in Rhyl, North Wales, on the telephone.

Geoff said: "Phyllis knew that her mum had a sister who was killed but she didn't know that Rose had a son.

"Ted was so pleased to have a chance to speak to one of his cousins for the first time. He knew nothing of Phyllis and she knew nothing of Rose or Ted."

Rose had another sister, Elsie, and Doreen believes her daughter, Barbara, may still live in Swindon.

She is pictured here at a wedding in 1957, but Doreen last saw her at a funeral in 1987.

She was born Barbara Brown and married Frank Barratt. She had four children, Richard, Linda, Maureen and Gary.

Geoff said they are keen for Barbara or anyone who knows her to get in touch. Anyone who is able to help Ted in his search can contact Geoff on Swindon 527781 or on e-mail at timbrellg_m@hotmail.com.