"Was my natural mother still alive? Who was my father? Would my discoveries change my life forever?" The secret to John Walley's family history lay for years in his home, in a small brown envelope. Find out what happened when he opened it.
I want to talk to you about a small brown envelope. For years it was hidden in a safe place by my parents and on it was written "for the attention of John Walley". Then one day I was asked to open it. I expected it to contain a handsome cheque, but no, it was my birth certificate and I shall never forget reading it. Place of Birth: MENSTON HALL, ILKLEY, Yorkshire: Mother's name: Elizabeth Winifred Bednall; Father's name: Blank!! This was my parents' way of telling me that I was adopted. The news didn't have much impact on me because my life with them in Goldenhill was so happy, and I had been specially chosen! But my curiosity was aroused. Was my natural mother still alive? Who was my father? Would my discoveries change my life forever? I decided to find out and I embarked on a clandestine plan to discover my roots. I looked up Menston on the map and off I went. I soon found it, an imposing manor house and I knocked nervously on the front door. There was an aged lady still living in the hall, who, to my amazement, told me there was an Elizabeth Bednall still living in the village. Trembling, I knocked at the door and there stood my natural mother! I knew straight away - the face! the voice! That afternoon I met my two half brothers. I found out very little about my natural father. He died years ago and has remained a mystery to this day. I never even told my parents about my visit. Opening that brown envelope changed nothing!
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