Family tells of reunions after losing Bert Williams
Members of the family of legendary goalkeeper Bert Williams today said they have been overwhelmed with the heart-warming response of the public since his death – and revealed they had been reunited with relatives they never knew they had.
Tributes poured in from around the world after the death of the former player, who lived in Shifnal.
And for Bert's daughter Ann, the coverage of her father's life in the Shropshire Star and its sister paper the Express & Star led to an emotional meeting with a relative she had never seen before.
Her husband, David Crawshaw, said the family were contacted by Janice Lukanik, the daughter of Bert's late brother Jack, after she saw a photograph of her father with Bert.
Now David and Ann are trying to track down other relations to join the family at the forthcoming memorial service at Wolverhampton's St Peter's Church on February 5.
David said he and Ann were overjoyed when they got a shock phone call from long-lost relative Janice.
Bert had four brothers – Hector, Walter and Mervyn, and Jack, who died in 1992 aged 69.
"Of his brothers there is a possibility that Mervyn, who was the youngest, may still be alive," said David. "But we would like to speak to any of their relatives, be it sons, daughters or grandchildren. Some, like Janice, may have seen the recent articles in the Star but are too shy to get in touch."
Janice, 58, from Stafford, said seeing the photo of her father relaxing in the garden with Bert and his dog prompted her to seek out her cousin.
"When I saw the photograph in the paper it made me think she must be interested in meeting, otherwise why would she have chosen a picture of my dad? It is a shame we will finally meet in such sad circumstances."
