LONG-LOST relatives who live only 30 miles apart were brought together by chance.

Edward Bowdidge, 74, thought there must have been a connection when he noticed the name Richard Bowdidge, of West Bergholt, in his paper.

He contacted Richard, who was raising awareness for the Tom Bowdidge Foundation and a charity event, and discovered he was right.

Richard set up the Tom Bowdidge Foundation, with his wife Nikki and daughter Emma, in memory of their son Tom, 19, who died of a rare stomach cancer.

He said: “I was shocked and pleasantly surprised when I got the phone call.

“I couldn’t believe the chances of finding a long-lost relative just 30 miles away.”

Richard was promoting an event called the 1,000 Faces of Colchester when Edward stumbled across him in his local paper.

The event was organised by photographer Gavin King, Kerseys Solicitors and Colchester United Football Club to photograph 1,000 people in aid of the charity.

Edward, a retired biochemistry researcher and grandfather, who lives in Stowmarket, decided to take part in memory of Tom.

He said: “The Bowdidge name is very rare and I thought there must be a connection.

“We had a natural rapport when we spoke and when I looked into it further, I found we were fourth cousins.

“The story about his son moved me and I thought taking part in the 1,000 Faces would be a good opportunity to meet him and contribute to charities in aid of cancer.”

Edward and Richard can trace back their family ties to 1750. Their great, great, great grandfather, John, had ten children from the 1830s.

Edward is descended from his son, Joseph, and Richard from his son, Robert.

Tom Bowdidge died in October 2013 from a rare stomach cancer.

But he raised more than £170,000 for charity while battling his illness.

His family then launched the foundation on what would have been his 20th birthday.

It raises funds to support research projects and to provide physical and emotional support to teenagers and young people with cancer.