I'm trying to trace the last bit of my life jigsaw
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by Hayley Robinson
A man is appealing for help to
trace his long-lost brother before it’s too late.
Michael Watson’s sibling was just
six months old when he was fostered by a family in Sittingbourne
some time during or after 1944.
It’s believed he went on to be
adopted by the same family when he was seven or eight.
Mr Watson, from Harlow, Essex, says
his brother may have been known by the name of Edwin (Eddie)
Watson-Taylor and that his adoptive dad may have been a teacher in
the town.
The 71-year-old was just four when
the pair were left by their mother Annie in a house she rented in
east London, before returning to Chesterfield where her parents
lived.
It’s believed she left the children
after she found out her husband Henry Robert William Watson, who
was the children’s father, was having an affair with another
woman.
Michael was taken in by his
grandparents and Edwin was placed in a care home in Reigate,
Surrey, near Redhill.
The married father of three said:
"Both our parents have passed away and I’m trying to place the last
little bit of my life jigsaw picture together before I too have my
wooden overcoat fitted. Even if he’s dead I’d like to know about
him.
"I got to know our mum a bit. I met
her again when I was 12. It was an on-off relationship up until
three years ago when the relationship totally broke down.
"I never blamed either of our
parents. It was war years.
"Then I received a call from my
cousin to tell me mum passed away on January 3. I went to the
funeral. It did cut me up because the door had closed and that’s
what triggered me to start looking for him again.
"I’ve been trying for 30 years but
never been able to find him. One thing that held me back was maybe
he didn’t know he was adopted.
"It was someone in Ohio who
suggested his adopted name through a Kent website but I’ve never
been able to get back in contact with them to find out more."
Mr Watson has Edwin’s birth
certificate.
It states his full name as Edwin
Robert Watson and lists his birth date as January 9, 1944.
He added: "I’ve got no memory of him
and I’ve not even seen a photo of him but my mum used to say even
though there was three-and-a-half years between us, we looked like
twins.
"I’ve often wondered if he’s been
looking for me as well."
Their dad Henry went on to marry the
woman he had the affair with – Lillian. Together they had a
daughter, Maureen, and three sons Derek, Kenny and Peter.
Their mother Annie had a daughter
Valerie, who passed away 18 months ago, aged 60, and a son called
Leslie. She later married a man called Albert Hoy but he passed
away 20 years ago.
Mr Watson said: "He doesn’t know he
has half-brothers and sisters and I can’t believe he didn’t go on
to have a family of his own so I too have family missing."
Anyone with any information
about Edwin is asked to contact the Sittingbourne News Extra by
calling 01795 580300.
Thursday, February 09 2012
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