20 Sunday Mail January 1, 2017 email [email protected] THREE WOMEN SHARE THEIR REMARKABLE STORIES OF ACHIEVEMENTS THAT MADE THEIR 2016 SPECIAL I lost 6st and now I’m in a class of my own Lorraine’s story Slimming success ■■Julie-Anne Barnes year of our lives When Lorraine Rosie plucked up the courage to join a weight Finally seeing a picture loss group, she never thought she would end up running it. The mum of two spent months battling depression of my mum made the and hiding herself away after being bullied at work. But 2016 saw her turn her life long hunt worthwhile around, shed more than 6st and become a ­Slimming World class leader. Elaine’s story Discovering a photo of birth mother Lorraine, 55, said: “I was sitting at home, depressed, Elaine Henderson will always ■■Jenny Morrison not going out and eating remember 2016 as the year she and Julie Anne Barnes another packet of crisps finally saw the face of the from a multi-pack and I just DEPRESSED Before diet ­Dunbartonshire. She has searched thought, ‘I’m better than this’.” mother she had never known. face in pictures when I was ­everything from birth, death and­ Lorraine, from Edinburgh From the moment almost 30 years ago ­marriage certificates to old parish and You tipped the scales at 15st 4lb. bigger was fake. when she discovered she had been “But not any more.” school records to find out about the birth could She was struggling to get ­fostered, Elaine wanted to see a family of her mum, who was put up for tell my into size 20 clothes and her Now with a new career ­photograph of her mum Irene Cullen. and a new outlook on life, adoption as a baby. smile weight gain made it difficult Heartbroken to discover Irene had died She said: “I ­discovered my ­grandmother for her to exercise. Lorraine couldn’t be happier. when Elaine was just five, she began a was She has now shed She said: “This job is meant was 16 when she gave birth to my mum, TRIM search to find outeverything ­ she could who was then adopted. When my mum Lorraine fake. It’s 6st 4lb and the size 10 for me, I know exactly how about her blood family. Most important smartly dressed mum has my members feel so I can grew up, she got married, becoming Irene is now a not any to her was putting a face to the woman Smith, and had her firstdaughter ­ with transformed her life. She said: help and encourage them. I who gave her up as a newborn.­ size 10 more “You could tell the smile on my wish I’d done it years ago.” this man, then went on to have two sets Elaine, 44, said: “For of twins to him. so long I feared I was “The marriage broke never going to know down, she met my dad, what my mum looked she had a set of twins like. When I thought with him, then had me.” of my mum I couldn’t Elaine has tracked ‘see’ her, and that broke down her six sisters­ and my heart. a brother – who she “To finally find found out had all spent someone who had a Now is the time to examine an independent education and long periods growing photo of her was up in care. discover how your child can fulfi l his or her potential, not just ­amazing, and when I She said: “I hoped for academically, but as a well-rounded, confi dent individual. saw the photo I was so the fairytale, that I Entrance assessments are being held at 9 schools over the emotional. I’ve found would hit it off with my coming weeks. These assessments allow schools to gain a out what she looked siblings, that we would good understanding of your child’s skills and abilities in an like as a girl – and now share this fantastic informal, friendly setting. my search continues ­connection and live to find a photograph of happily ever after but I Do visit our website for further information, her as an adult.” register your child and fi nd out about fi nancial help. learned the hard way it When learning doesn’t work like that. assistant Elaine first “My eldest sister lived went in search of her at home until she was birth family, she eMOTIONAL Elaine thrilled put into care, aged Key diary dates dreamed of a fairytale to find Irene’s photo, below seven, along with one of reunion, not the the sets of twins – so she ­nightmare of finding remembers our mum. BELMONT HOUSE SCHOOL, HUTCHESONS’ GRAMMAR SCHOOL, she was the secret “Because there were Newton Mearns, Glasgow Wednesday 25 January 2016, Entrance Test Day (P1, P5 & S1). eighth child of a three sets of twins, they 24th January 2017, Entrance Assessments all levels. Intermediate Entrants will be tested in late January. woman whose entire have mostly been kept Interviews and assessments also organised throughout the Please telephone for information. family grew up in care. together in groups of year. Please contact the School for more information Tel: 0141 433 4402 hutchesons.org Mum-of-two Elaine, Tel: 0141 639 2922 belmontschool.co.uk two, apart from one set , Glasgow of Falkirk, said: “I’ve of twins who were sepa- , Glasgow* Assessment Day, Saturday 28 January (Primary 7 & Senior 1 been through so many rated, with one adopted Our Senior Entrance Assessment Day is Saturday 28th January, applicants) Primary 2-6 & Senior 2-6 candidates are invited to emotions – hope, but the other not.” 9am, although Junior and Senior pupils are welcome to be come and experience a Taster Day at the school. shock, anger and Elaine was sent a assessed through a Taster Day at any point during the year. Primary 1 and Nursery informal assessments will take place ­probably most of all Tel: 0141 427 0375 craigholme.co.uk school photo featuring throughout January. To register for all assessments contact grief – but despite her mum by a woman Lynda Andonovic on 0141 357 3376 www.kelvinsideacademy.org.uk ­everything, my heart who spotted an appeal Entrance exam for P4 - S3, Friday 27 January is full of love for my she made on Facebook. Kindergarten to P3 entrance assessments take place ST COLUMBA’S SCHOOL, Kilmacolm mum. Elaine said: “My mum throughout January by appointment. Tel: 0141 342 5494 6th, 9th January - Junior School “Other than my theglasgowacademy.org.uk is 13 in the photo and I 7th January - Senior School: Transitus (J7) - Senior VI birth father, no one love that she is the only FERNHILL SCHOOL, Glasgow^ 10th, 11th January - Junior 1 at the time knew anything­ about her girl holding the hands of the people she Our main Entrance assessment is on Monday 16th January 12th, 13th January & 20th, 21st April - Early Years ­having me, her eighth baby, so no one was Tel: 01505 872238 st-columbas.org was beside.” 2017. For P2-S6 Primary 1 and Nursery entrance assessment looking for me. Elaine believes her mum had ­mental is by interview week commencing 16th January WELLINGTON SCHOOL, Ayr Tel: 0141 634 2674 fernhillschool.co.uk “The fact she never told anyone about health problems, for which she never Entrance Tests are scheduled on Saturday 21 January for P7 me was hard to take – I felt as though I received help. Irene died in March 1977, THE and S1 entry, although applications for entry at all stages hadn’t been validated in the world. But aged just 42, while living in Edgefauld Entrance Tests are on Wednesday 25 January 2017 – will be considered at any time. Visits and Taster Days for I’ve come to terms with it and I’ve pieced Road, ­Springburn, Glasgow. 9am (Transitus (P7) – S4), 1.30pm (J2-J6). prospective pupils can be arranged by appointment. together so many bits of my family story, Elaine knows many people won’t Assessments for Kindergarten-J1 throughout Jan. Tel: 01292 269321 wellingtonschool.org Tel: 0141 954 9628 but the final thing I need to uncover is a understand how she can love the mother highschoolofglasgow.co.uk * Nursery (3-5 yrs) is co-educational. Junior school and Senior school photograph of my mum as an adult.” who gave her up but she feels deeply sad (5-18 yrs) are girls only. ^Co-educational across both sectors Elaine, who was born in 1972, spent the never to have known her. first three years of her life at Blairvadach She said: “She was my mum and I love Children’s Home in Helensburgh, her – it’s that simple.”