A 3-Month-Old Baby Was Left with a Nanny – 63 Years Later, He Discovers the Truth About His Family

A remarkable story of identity and belonging has emerged from the U.K., as a 63-year-old man, Chris, uncovered the truth about his birth parents decades after being abandoned as an infant. His incredible journey was brought to light on the television show Long Lost Family: Born Without a Trace.

Chris’s story began on July 20, 1962, when he was just 3 months old. He was left with a nanny in London, near Kings Cross, and never collected. The nanny, after waiting, eventually called the police. This act of abandonment left Chris with profound questions throughout his life: “Was the man who dropped me off my father? Was it an uncle or my mother’s father? My mother… was I taken against her wishes or did she decide it was best?” He also wondered about the timing, asking, “Why wait three months?”

Growing up in Camden, north London, Chris was adopted by Jean and Arthur Thorne. He learned of his adoption at age 10, but the specific details of how he was left with the nanny only came to light years later, after he became a father himself. His adoption file revealed, “The child was placed with a [nanny] who advertised her services in a newspaper. As the child was not collected the police were informed. It is likely that there is no birth certificate and there is no birth certificate on file.”

In 2021, Chris took a DNA test, which revealed he was “100% Irish“—a surprising discovery for him and his family, including his wife Paula and two sons, who consider him a “proud Englishman” living in Northumberland.

The research team from Long Lost Family embarked on a months-long investigation, eventually discovering Chris’s birth parents. Tragically, his birth mother had passed away, but his birth father was still alive. The show’s researchers noted the difficulty in questioning the elderly man, unsure if he was aware of the events from so many years ago.

It was revealed that Chris’s birth parents were unmarried and very young at the time of his birth. In 1960s Ireland, having children outside of marriage could lead to severe social rejection from family and community. Despite these challenging circumstances, the couple eventually did marry.

On the show, Chris learned he has full siblings, some of whom, despite their initial shock, were ready to meet him. Chris, upon seeing a photo of his birth parents, noted the striking resemblance. Despite the difficult start to his life, Chris maintained a remarkably positive outlook. He stated, “I’d go as far to say it’s worked out the best for everyone.”

Chris’s journey culminated in his first-ever trip to Ireland to meet some of his newfound siblings. He reflected, “Because, you know, they stayed together. They’ve had children. I’ve lived in a fantastic family, so everyone’s a winner, do you know what I mean?” After meeting them, he shared his happiness: “Really pleased. They seem lovely. Really are. Full of fun. Laughter. I think we’ll get there.”