Two co-workers who became close friends while working at Manchester Airport made an extraordinary discovery after learning they were actually long-lost siblings separated by adoption decades earlier.
Dave Green and Andrea Urmston developed a strong friendship through their jobs before a casual conversation about family history revealed an unexpected connection that changed both of their lives.
Friendship
Dave Green, 60, worked as a bus station supervisor at Manchester Airport, while Andrea Urmston, 53, serviced vending machines nearby.
The pair quickly became friends, bonding over their shared interest in motorbikes. Their friendship grew over two years as they regularly spent time together at work.
Neither suspected they shared a family connection.
Discovery
The turning point came during a conversation about fostering in 2007.
Green mentioned that he had been adopted as a baby. Urmston then explained that her mother had placed a son up for adoption before she was born.
During the discussion, Green revealed that his birth name was Stuart Proudlove.
Recognizing the surname as her maiden name, Urmston immediately realized there could be a family connection.
She called her mother, Susan, to confirm Green’s date of birth before sharing the news with him.
“I was shaking, I was just shaking and my heart was pounding,” Urmston told the BBC. “I’d finally found him. It’s unbelievable.”
Reunion
Green later met his biological mother, who had given birth to him when she was 15 years old.
The reunion was especially meaningful for the family, who had spent decades apart.
“It was a surreal moment, there was lots of tears and then we all just hugged,” Urmston said. “I couldn’t believe that I’d got my brother and my mum together.”
Green also discovered that, during his years as a bus driver, he had regularly driven past his biological mother’s home in Altrincham without knowing she lived there.
Similarities
Although they were raised separately, the siblings found they had many similarities.
They discovered they prepared tea the same way and both enjoyed eating tomato sauce sandwiches, something they had never discussed before learning they were related.
Reflecting on the experience, Green said the reunion gave him something he had always been missing.
Adoption
Stories like Green and Urmston’s highlight how adoption reunions can occur unexpectedly, sometimes many years after family members have built separate lives.
Advances in record access, family conversations, and personal searches have helped reunite many relatives who were separated through adoption.
| Key Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Brother | Dave Green |
| Sister | Andrea Urmston |
| Workplace | Manchester Airport |
| Friendship Before Discovery | About two years |
| Discovery | Green revealed his birth name during a conversation |
| Birth Name | Stuart Proudlove |
| Biological Mother’s Age at Birth | 15 |
| Reunion | Family reunited after decades apart |
The remarkable reunion demonstrates how unexpected conversations can lead to life-changing discoveries. What began as a workplace friendship eventually reunited a brother, sister, and mother who had spent decades unaware that they had been living so close to one another.
FAQs
Where did the siblings meet?
They met while working at Manchester Airport.
How did they discover they were related?
A conversation about adoption revealed the family connection.
What was Dave Green’s birth name?
His birth name was Stuart Proudlove.
How long were they friends before finding out?
They had been close friends for about two years.
Did Dave Green meet his biological mother?
Yes, he was reunited with his biological mother.
