Man’s search for long lost family in Bolton

Chris Parnell, from Winsford, Cheshire, discovered last year that he had an older sister while attending his dad’s funeral after he died of throat cancer.

Now, he is attempting to reunite with the countless other family members that he did not get to meet during his childhood due to a breakdown in family relations.

Speaking to The Bolton News, the 42-year-old said: “My brother and sister got taken into care when I was around five or six years old.

“I know that I’ve got an Uncle Brian and Auntie Christine somewhere in Bolton and it would be great for our family to meet theirs.

“Parnell is quite a common surname in Bolton so I’m hopeful that this appeal will lead to family reunion.”

His father, David Parnell, worked as a technical representative before doing a lot of photography work later on in life.

He did not get on with some of his family members, it is understood, meaning that Chris did not get to meet a lot of his extended family growing up.

Chris worked at H&M for 15 years but has had to stop working recently due to a spinal injury.

He says his dad’s uncle was war hero Sergeant Thomas Parnell, who was originally from Tonge Moor.

In 2001, a packed Wembley Arena paid tribute to him for his bravery in saving some of the world’s most prized animals.

Tom, who was a former pupil of Tonge Moor and Castle Hill schools, enlisted in the Duke of Lancaster’s Yeomanry at the age of 16.

He was honoured at a ceremony at Wembley Arena when he was 84 years old, after he rescued horses in Vienna during the Second World War.

Father-of-three Chris added: “It’s sad that I’ve likely got a number of family members who I’ve never met - and I know some of them are in Bolton.

“It would be great if this appeal came to something.

“I’ve tried everything to try and find my family but nothing has worked so far."

* Can you help Chris with the search for his Bolton family? If you can assist e-mail our reporter sam.ormiston@newsquest.co.uk