So that’s where I get it from! The incredible moment man, 27, meets his long-lost brother, 53, after taking an ancestry DNA test in a search for his biological dad who died six years ago
- Rhys Williams, 27, says he is overjoyed after discovering his older brother
- The lecturer from Stoke-on-Trent started tracing his family history ‘for a laugh’
- Brothers meet up and say they are looking forward to seeing each other again
A man who discovered he had a long-lost brother after 27 years has finally met him for the first time – after a DNA test revealed he had a sibling.
Rhys Williams, 27, was nine-years-old when his mother died and he discovered the man raising him was not his biological father.
After being told by his cousins, Rhys continued to be raised by his stepfather, and tried to find out more about his long-lost family at age 18 but had no luck.
He used a DNA test for fun in January 2022 and uploaded his results to MyHeritage.com but found out his birth dad had passed away six years prior.
But the results also allowed him to discover he had a long-lost brother, Chris Jones, 53.
Rhys Williams used a DNA test to find his father – and discovered he had a brother
Gwilym, Rhys and Chris’ father, died six years ago
Gwilym is pictured with his own father
After connecting and speaking on Zoom, Chris drove two-and-a-half hours to surprise his brother Rhys this month.
Rhys thought that his brother had arranged for a videographer to arrive at his home to interview him about his story.
But to Rhys’ surprise, Chris turned up in his living room.
Chris Jones surprised his brother after turning up on his doorstep in Stoke-on-Trent
Chris said: “I drove up there and had to send the cameraman a secret message to tell him I was there.
“I sent him a text saying ‘I am delivering your camera batteries’ and then he came to the door and I went in the house to surprise Rhys.
“It was a lovely moment.”
Rhys, a university lecturer, from Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire, said: ‘It was a very different experience for me.
Rhys Williams and Chris Jones say they have lots in common
‘I had no idea Chris was going to surprise me but now I look back there were so many clues.’
He continued: ‘I went from finding out ‘here is your biological dad’ to find out he has passed away and realising that nobody else will look like me.
‘For me it was crazy to then meet Chris who is my blood and is older. I know I will have a very good hairline in 20 or so years.
Brothers Chris Jones, left, and Rhys Williams finally met up earlier this month
The brothers say they are looking forward to meeting up again next month
Rhys says he was pleasantly shocked when he discovered Chris Jones was his brother
‘It feels like another piece of the puzzle is filled in. The puzzle started as a big question mark but it is getting filled in now.
‘It feels like this is the time it was meant to be and now it has happened.’
Chris, a global logistics buyer, from Longcot, Oxfordshire, said: ‘I had always known I was adopted.
Chris and Rhys’ dad, Gwilym
‘I grew up as an only child. I had very nice adopted parents and a good upbringing.
‘But it would have been nice to do all this around 20 years ago.
‘It is lovely how it has all happened now. I have never had a younger brother. It is a different experience.
‘We get on really well. We went out for dinner after we met and had a lovely meal.’
The brothers plan to build on their relationship and meet up again next month.
