Olly Murs Uncovers Family History of Resilience and Survival

Renowned singer-songwriter Olly Murs recently appeared on the documentary series Who Do You Think You Are?, where he uncovered a moving story about his family history. Born on May 14, 1984, in Witham, Essex, Murs learned about his Latvian heritage and the trials faced by his great-grandmother Veronika during the Soviet era.

Olly’s grandfather, Eddie, was originally born Eduards Jankovskis in Riga, Latvia, in 1932. Despite knowing little about his Latvian roots, Olly felt compelled to unlock the mysteries that plagued his father Pete’s research efforts. Olly’s journey took him to Riga, where he discovered more about his family’s past.

Eduards’ parents, Veronika Jankovska and Eduards Mars, a circus performer, faced turmoil as World War II unfolded. Eduards was sent away from Riga by Veronika along with his father and Katrine Berzins, Eduards’ wife, to spare him from the approaching Soviet forces. This decision led to a lifelong misunderstanding between Eduards and his mother.

During his exploration in Latvia, Olly learned from archivists like Elvira Avota and Rita Bogdanova about his great-grandmother’s past. Veronika was an acrobat known as Mademoiselle Verona, who performed daring stunts while carrying Eduards. Tragic historical events unfolded with the Soviet invasion, resulting in Veronika’s arrest in 1950 on charges of making “anti-Soviet statements.” Her courage to plead not guilty led to an eight-year imprisonment in a harsh labor camp.

Veronika’s relentless search for her son after her release in 1956 proved fruitless. She spent her remaining years trying to reconnect with Eduards, eventually passing away in 1988, buried in an unmarked grave. Olly’s visit to her final resting place gave him a sense of peace, despite the sadness of her lonely end.

This family journey deeply impacted Olly. He shared emotional reflections on understanding his grandfather’s decisions and expressed a belief that Veronika’s actions were out of protection for her son. Olly communicated the discoveries to his father, feeling he had closed a significant chapter in their family history.

Beyond these revelations, Olly also faces personal family challenges, including a longstanding estrangement from his twin brother, Ben. The roots of this rift trace back to their participation in The X Factor competition and are publicly known through various media appearances and interviews, where both have expressed their perspectives and hopes for reconciliation.

Despite his family challenges, Olly continues to embrace his heritage and hopes to bring healing to familial tensions, carrying forward the stories and legacies of his ancestors.