American family's learning pilgramage

An American family has made a pilgrimage to the Midlands to learn more about two relatives who made the area famous.

Bruce Morgan, aged 56, brought his family from Harvard, Massachusetts, to Kidderminster in tribute to his great-great aunts Jane and Caroline Badland.

The Badlands brought fame to the Wyre Forest town when they became the country's oldest sisters in the 1950s.

Both lived well past their 100th birthdays, achieving notoriety for their ages and social work. Mr Morgan, along with partner Sophie Wadsworth, 43, and their 22-year-old son Jesse, were greeted by members of the sister's church - Unitarian New Meeting House church, in Church Street - on their arrival.

The family was taken to see the Badlands' former house, now a dental practice, in Comberton Road.

Sadly, the premises were closed but the family was able to chat to neighbours and hear stories of the sisters.

Members of the church also invited the family to attend a servic.

Mr Morgan said: "It has been an honour and a privilege to visit Kidderminster and it is amazing to find out the role Jane and Caroline played as members of the community.

"We managed to walk down the street which has been named after them both which was wonderful and to see the house they lived in was special. Everyone has been so friendly. To think they are both such a part of Kidderminster is a nice feeling."

The Badland sisters both died in 1958 - Jane aged 105 and Caroline, 102. Mr Morgan said the sisters had a brother, named James, who moved to New Zealand in 1871.

He married and had a family, including a daughter Daisy, who was Mr Morgan's great grandmother. She moved to America as a young adult and later married. She had three children, one of them Mr Morgan's grandmother. Daisy herself lived to be 93 and all of her family lived in Massachusetts.

The family contacted church historian Roger Matthews when they found references to the sisters on the New Meeting House website. Church minister Ann Latham said it was a delight to welcome the family.