“For as long as I remember I’ve been searching for my sisters.”
These were the poignant words of Alfred Ardener, whose heartbreaking yet heartwarming story captured the nation’s attention, and won ‘Story of the Year’ at the recent Probate Industry Awards 2025, where Finders International was recognised for our work in probate genealogy.
This remarkable story began with the death of Mabel Alice Ardener, aged 84, who passed away alone in Worthing Hospital, Sussex in August 2021. Mabel had never married, had no children, no known relatives, and had not made a will. But what seemed at first to be a routine case soon revealed a deeper and more emotional journey.
Enter Finders International, the UK’s largest professional probate genealogy firm and star of the BBC series Heir Hunters. Tasked with identifying and locating Mabel’s next of kin, our researchers began a journey that would culminate in a truly extraordinary reunion.
The Search for Family
Unknown to most, Mabel had two surviving siblings, Alfred and Margaret, both now in their 80s, who had spent the better part of their lives searching not only for Mabel but also for each other. When our team uncovered this, what followed was nothing short of miraculous.
In June 2022, Alfred, then 82 and living in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex, finally met his older sister Margaret in Devon.
“It was a lovely sunny day… and it was like we had always known each other,” Alfred recalled. “We talked and cried, shared photos and talked some more. It was a magical day.”
Tragically, Margaret passed away just weeks later. Alfred described feeling “robbed again” but also incredibly grateful for the brief time they were able to share.
“I have to thank the researchers at Finders for finally locating us and making this possible for us both.”
Uncovering the Ardener Family Past
Through detailed research, the tragic story of the Ardener family began to emerge. Their mother, Mabel Alice Hayter, died of pneumonia in January 1942, just 17 days after Alfred was born, leaving behind four young children and a deeply troubled father, William Ardener.
By all accounts, William was abusive. He was later imprisoned for his treatment of his daughters, and after their mother’s death, the children were separated and placed into various forms of care. Violet, the youngest daughter, died just two years later at the age of five. Mabel, the sister at the centre of the case, was institutionalised. Alfred never knew where Margaret had gone.
“We were all just scattered,” Alfred said. “For as long as I remember, I’ve been searching for my sisters.”
Despite the odds, Alfred never gave up. Over the decades, he wrote to TV programmes, reached out to relatives, and followed every possible lead. The closure that came from finally meeting Margaret was, in his own words, “priceless.”
A Bittersweet Ending and a Legacy of Hope
While Mabel’s estate was modest amount, the emotional value of what was achieved cannot be overstated.
“This case was never about money,” said Simonne Llewellyn, CEO of Finders International. “It was about reuniting siblings who had been desperate to find each other for their entire lives.”
While Mabel’s death meant Alfred and Margaret never got to see her again, it was the catalyst for their own long-awaited reunion—a silver lining in a story marked by separation, resilience, and finally, reconnection.
“This case was incredibly bittersweet,” Simonne added. “But it’s also a shining example of why we do what we do.”
Recognising Excellence in Probate Research
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At Finders International, our mission goes far beyond tracing heirs. We help bring closure, restore identities, and reunite families—sometimes decades after they were torn apart. To learn more about our services or explore unclaimed estates, visit findersinternational.co.uk.