The Sunderland pair who were 'reunited' by an Echo story - 60 years after they were babies in adjacent hospital beds!

Two former Sunderland people have been reconnected – decades after they were in hospital beds next to each other.
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And the Sunderland Echo has played a part in bringing together Alison Harvey and Richard Geere.

It all stems from nostalgic stories we featured about the Rosslyn Babes, the stage troupe which was formed by Sunderland-born Mary Harbord of Rosslyn Street who was Richard’s aunt. His mum was Nora Harbord.

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The high-kicking Babes were a big part of the Wearside entertainment scene from the late 1940s, through the 1960s and 1970s and well into the 1980s.

Richard Geere and Alison Harvey who have been 'reunited' after a Sunderland Echo story.Richard Geere and Alison Harvey who have been 'reunited' after a Sunderland Echo story.
Richard Geere and Alison Harvey who have been 'reunited' after a Sunderland Echo story.

Richard was the Babes’ accompanist and arranger from 1974 to 1980 and now lives in Los Angeles.

Back in England, the Rosslyn Babes was also a part of the family history of Alison Harvey, nee Rowe, who now lives in Buckinghamshire.

Alison, who was born on June 16, 1959 at 6am, said: “My grandma worked in the Northern Laundry with Mary Harbord.

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"My grandma thought it would be good if her 10 year old daughter, Dorrie, (my mam) went along to these classes. So mam was there right at the start, it would be around 1943/4.

Richard Geere pictured today.Richard Geere pictured today.
Richard Geere pictured today.

"Not long after mam started at the class she went to London with Mary, to see another sister, Audrey in a show at the Finsbury Park Empire. Mum also remembers Mary’s sister Nora, who made the costumes for the group.

"Many years later, in June 1959, Mam and Nora co-incidentally were both in Sunderland hospital, when Mam gave birth to me and Nora gave birth to Richard.”

Alison, who had previously been sent a cutting of an Echo retro feature, said: “It was only when I was going though lots of photographs with mam during lockdown we found her photos from her Rosslyn Babes days and also the Echo article.

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"She reminded me about being born at the same time as Richard and her history with the Babes. In January this year, I contacted the group via their Facebook page and also sent them some of the photographs mam had.

A recent photo of Alison Harvey and her mum Dorrie Rowe, formerly Oxberry, now 87.A recent photo of Alison Harvey and her mum Dorrie Rowe, formerly Oxberry, now 87.
A recent photo of Alison Harvey and her mum Dorrie Rowe, formerly Oxberry, now 87.

"Richard responded to my posts and we have been in contact since.”

Richard, who was born on June 19, 1959 at 4am, said: “The Echo has been brilliant in helping reunite the Rosslyn Babes. The founders, Mary and Norah Harbord, were my aunt and mother respectively. Many stories and photos have come to light as a result of the Echo's articles.

“Recently, I received a message from a lady who had seen one of the articles. Not only was her mother a Rosslyn Babe, but she was in the very first troupe!

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“The mother knew my family well and had photos we didn't even know existed. It got better - the lady who contacted me was actually born in the Sunderland hospital bed next to me.

Alison's mum Dorrie when she was around 10 years old. She is pictured with Mary Harbord on a visit to Finsbury Park.Alison's mum Dorrie when she was around 10 years old. She is pictured with Mary Harbord on a visit to Finsbury Park.
Alison's mum Dorrie when she was around 10 years old. She is pictured with Mary Harbord on a visit to Finsbury Park.

"60 years later we have reconnected and have a lot of catching up to do. I now live in Los Angeles, and my "birth buddy" is in Wycombe so there's little chance we'd have run into each other without the help of Chris Cordner and his series of articles on Sunderland memories.

“The mother is now 87, and I now have a direct source to my family's life in Rosslyn Street in the 1940s, and the beginnings of the Rosslyn Babes. ”

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