Maggie – 1944

Name: Maggie

Conceived: 1944

Where conceived: Margaret Jackson clinic, Exeter

I discovered I was Donor Conceived last year when I was 80 years old, after doing an ancestry test.

Luckily for me it wasn’t a complete shock as I had suspected this for many years.

I knew my mother had been a patient of Dr. Margaret Jackson. Mum said she’d had her “tubes blown” after which she conceived my brother in 1942. I followed two and a half years later in 1945.

There were various clues which led me to believe this was not the case and that we were Donor Conceived…I eventually asked my mother who denied it. I’ve since read that back then the mothers were told to tell no one that their husband was the father and they should forget all about it.

Fortunately my Dad was lovely and I would never have guessed he wasn’t my biological father. He was a wonderful Granddad to my children too.

I never expected to find my origins but thanks to this group, our community voluntary genealogist offered to help and I now know who my biological father was. I was put in touch with a biological half brother via another member of our community. I have met up with him twice and he has been really helpful with family information.

It’s difficult to know how finding out I was Donor Conceived has affected me. I’ve gone through a range of emotions but I’m ok.

I guess because I had an inkling it was a lot easier than it would have been if I’d had no idea.

I’m probably the oldest member of this community!