UK appeal for relative

By Casey Neill
AN ENGLISH woman is looking to Ferntree Gully for help to make a long-distance family reunion come true.
Margaret Thompson is trying to contact distant relative John McIlwain, who she believes lives in the Ferntree Gully area.
The Lancaster native discovered Mr McIlwain through an online family history aid while researching her family tree.
Mr McIlwain was searching for John Thompson and Elizabeth Martin who lived in Belfast.
The couple were his mother or grandmother’s parents.
As part of her search she phoned the Mail to try to track down her relative.
“These were also my grandparents and I would love to make contact to share what little information I have about them,” Ms Thompson said.
Her aunty Lucy Martin Thompson married David McIlwain and migrated to Australia in the 1950s.
“But I suppose keeping in touch wasn’t so easy then and as far as I know we never had an address for them,” she said.
Ms Thompson tried to contact Mr McIlwain through the website but he hadn’t logged on for more than a year.
“I suppose if you’re getting nowhere you eventually stop looking,” she said.
“The main reason for trying to get in touch is just to share a little bit of information.”
“If John McIlwain was able to get in touch we would love to know about their side of the family, and also whether they have any news of (Lucy’s sister) Ann Thompson.”
Ms Thompson said a trip to Australia for a reunion was unlikely.
“But with the internet it is still possible to have meaningful communication with family,” she said.
“Although we have a close extended family in England it’s always nice to learn of other people with whom you have a blood connection.”
Mr McIlwain, his family or anyone who knows the clan can send an email to casey.neill@yvnews .com.au to reach Ms Thompson.