Emotional visit to city for Hollywood star’s adopted son
STEPPING BACK IN TIME . . . Thomas, on left, pictured with local historian, Willie Deery as he visit's the home of his birth mother during his first visit back to Derry. (1703SL02) Photo: Stephen Latimer
The adopted son of Hollywood legend Jane Russell has spoken of his pride in walking the streets of his birth mother’s native Derry.
Thomas Waterfield, now aged 61, was just an infant when his biological mother, Hannah ‘Florrie’ Kavanagh, originally from Springtown Camp in Derry, allowed the ‘Gentlemen Prefer Blondes’ star to adopt him.
On Saturday, during an emotional reunion, Thomas met Sandy McDermott, brother of the late Hannah Kavanagh, during his first-ever visit to Derry.
Thomas, who now lives in Arizona, said it was “quite an honour” to be in Derry, and meet one of his biological relatives.
“It’s pretty cool to meet your blood, and this is something that’s so so special to me,” he said.
“I mean you can talk about it, and hear about it, but it doesn’t become real until you walk those cobbles.”
Hannah’s brother Sandy, who still lives in Derry, said he was too young when his sister left for London to remember her but said he was delighted to meet his nephew and grand nephew.
“He got a good life and it all worked out for him. She made sure it all worked out, but it’s great to meet him now because we’re all family,” he said.
Thomas, whose Derry visit forms part of a BBC radio documentary detailing the story, said he now hopes to return to the city next year to further tell the story of the Russell family history.
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Derry
Monday 20 May 2013
Today
Cloudy
Temperature: 9 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 18 mph
Wind direction: North west
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: 8 C to 13 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: North west
