Mrs Sybil B

At the end of the 19th century my grandfather was employed as Factor on Stobo Castle Estate near Peebles in the Scottish borders. Tthe estate was then privately owned. His son emigrated to Canada before WWl and I had never met or had any contact with this son's family or descendants. Last summer on 26th August, a friend and I went down to Stobo from Edinburgh, where my friend lives, so I could show her the lovely house where my grandparents lived and my mother was born. It is now a B&B and I had last been there some 25 years ago. I noticed the layout of the large garden was changed, also the driveway and entrance so rang the (original Victorian) doorbell to ask if we might look round. I explained my interest and mentioned my grandfather. "What was his name?" said the owner. When I told him he said, "Well you aren't going to believe this, but not 2 hours ago a Canadian family left here, having stayed the night, and his great-grandfather was the very same man." I was flabbergasted and of course realised that this chap must be the grandson of my Uncle (the one who went to Canada). I was aware they existed but had not heard anything about them since my mother died in 1966. Luckily the owner of the B&B had an email address for them so I was able to get in touch - not, sadly before they returned to Canada. However we have since made contact and I now find there are a whole lot of relatives I didn't know existed! I have researched my family tree and have been able to share it.