In June 2013 two great great granddaughters of Mrs Jay, the last resident of Blendon Hall, met for the first time. Margi Carlson, who lives in USA, made a trip to the UK, first visiting Blendon and then travelling to Lincolnshire to meet her cousin, Rowena Ward-Barrow.

Rowena says: “When we met on the station platform, we immediately felt in tune with one another, as though we had known each other for years.  The couple of days we have spent together have confirmed that feeling.  We have studied photos and papers together and learnt a lot about one another’s families and their various quirks.”

Rowena is the granddaughter of Irene Phipps-Hornby and Margi is the granddaughter of Valerie Jay. Irene and Valerie were the same age and in 1913 a joint coming-out party was held for them at Blendon Hall.