Father finds long-lost daughter only to be rejected

[Jazzy]

Michael Hogben, 71, had spent years searching the streets looking for his daughter Mandy and eventually resorted to pouring his heart out in a newsagent advert.

The note, in which he tells his daughter “nothing or no one going to stop me finding you, because I have loved you and missed so much every minute of every day”, touched the hearts of thousands of people around the world who shared it on social networks.

But his daughter, who has since married and now goes under a different surname, was less impressed and has made it clear that she does not want reconciliation.

Mr Hogben said: “I have just had an irate phone call from my youngest boy saying that Mandy is fed up and she doesn’t want anything to do with me."
He added: “She didn’t appreciate it.”

The pair gradually lost contact after Mr Hogben divorced his ex-wife in 1980.

The former metal-sheet worker moved away from the family home on the Isle of Sheppey to Gillingham, in Kent, and after he was made redundant he could not afford to visit for around five years, he said.

He thinks this time apart may have prompted their estrangement, and he last saw his daughter properly in 1986.

Since then, Mr Hogben claims, he has spent years searching for her, including wandering the streets of Sheerness, Kent, where she had been living, in the hope of catching a glimpse of her.

Newsagent Advert

Sad. I guess time doesn't always heal all wounds.

What are your thoughts on this?

 

[Nebulous]

There must be something more to the story... You'd think the daughter would be happy to be reunited.

 

[Jazzy]

He thinks this time apart may have prompted their estrangement, and he last saw his daughter properly in 1986.

I would think after 27 years of not seeing her, she felt abandoned by him. That's a long time to expect someone to just jump at the chance to reunite. Perhaps, he should have taken things slowly.

 

[Darth-Apple]

I can't imagine how brokenhearted he is. It has to be very tough for him to be in that position.