John Lennon's secret sister?
John Lennon was brought up as an only child in practical terms, living with his Aunt Mimi and her husband, George Smith. He had regular contact with two (half) sisters - Julia and Jackie Dykins - named after their father, Bobby Dykin
Two half-brothers on the paternal side were born much later: David Henry in 1969 and Robin in 1973 - see here.
Secret
John suspected that he had a 'missing sibling' from an early age. This hunch was perhaps based on overheard family conversations.
In 1964, the now world-famous Beatle, hired private investigators. They found no evidence to support his theory.
It was not until Ingrid (formerly Victoria) Pedersen revealed that she was Julia's third biological daughter.
Ingrid's story
John's 'secret sibling' came from his mother's short relationship with a Welsh soldier, 'Taffy' Williams, stationed in Liverpool in 1944. During this period, Julia Lennon was a single parent living in rented rooms with her infant toddler son.
Victoria Elizabeth Lennon was born in June 1945 in a Salvation Army maternity home. This was located in Mossley Hill, within walking distance of Penny Lane.
The Salvation Army arranged the adoption by a local couple: Norwegian-born seaman Peder Pedersen and his wife, Margaret. They were living in Crosby, just five miles north of Liverpool.
Julia Lennon died in 1958, eight years before her first daughter learned of her existence.
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| Ingrid Pedersen (1945 -) |
Ingrid recalled that a family friend had casually mentioned her famous half-brother when The Beatles appeared on TV in 1963. But it was not until 1966 that she saw a document to confirm their connection:
I knew Mum kept a tin box in her wardrobe that contained family papers. When no one was around, I opened it, trembling. I found a yellowing, dog-eared adoption paper that had been issued by Liverpool County Court.
Then I saw my full name: Lillian Ingrid Maria Pedersen, and my birth date. Above that were the three words I had been looking for: Victoria Elizabeth Lennon — the name I was born with. My real mother’s name, Julia Lennon, was also there. I burst into tears.
Out of respect for her adoptive parents, Ingrid did not reveal her secret until both were deceased
John Lennon's Secret Sister - free five-minute read on Medium
