Two youngsters from Newport found they are cousins after a chance meeting in a town centre bar.
Sophie and Richard Holland met for the very first time on Tuesday night and immediately struck up a rapport after finding out they had the same surname.
But when Sophie, aged 22, started talking about her grandfather the pair realised having the same name wasn’t just a coincidence.
Richard, aged 18, said: “Sophie came into Harpers Bar where I work and my manager, Chris, asked her name and she said Sophie Holland.
“At first I didn’t believe her so we compared our driving licences. We were both shocked so started talking.
“She then started talking about her grandad and mentioned that his name was Frank. I said his wife’s name isn’t Joan is it and we realised we had the same grandparents. It was really strange. I always thought we had a small family, I knew there were one or two other Hollands out there but I certainly didn’t expect this.”
Sophie said she was shocked but pleased to stumble across her cousin.
She said: “At first we just laughed off the fact we had the same surname but then the coincidences just kept coming.
“We both live in Newport and I’ve seen him working behind the bar before but I had absolutely no idea. It’s nice to know I’ve got a cousin a similar age to me in Newport.”
Richard said the news was a shock to him and his family.
By Joseph Masi