'Emotional family reunion will stay with me forever'

WHAT was the line from Dr Martin Luther King's speech? I have a dream? Well, I had just that and I have finally fulfilled that dream, thanks to a lot of research and help from numerous people.

My wife and I have just returned from visiting my relatives in America. I have a sister, brother-in-law and three nephews who have their own children.

First of all, we went to stay with one of my friends who emigrated to Baltimore more than 30 years ago, Alistair McClennon and his lovely family. After a couple of days, we drove up to Philadelphia to what was the most exciting and emotional meeting of my life.

Ann and I had made numerous calls before we left and arranged to meet at the entrance to our hotel.

The hotel concierge on our arrival asked if it was a business or holiday visit.

I explained the nature of my trip and a huge smile came across her face and she said: "Well this is an Oprah Winfrey story. I must be down at the entrance to see you guys meeting if you don't mind."

"Of course I don't mind," I told her and at around 7pm, my wife Donna and I meandered down to the entrance – early, as the meeting wasn't until 7.30pm, but after waiting nearly 60 years, I was excited and impatient.

As the 7.30pm meeting time passed, I became anxious that Ann may have had second thoughts.

It was strange, but I had a sort of sixth sense and when I saw one particular car come down the road, I knew it contained my sister.

I leapt to my feet shouting "Ann, Ann" and I was not disappointed. As the door flew open we stood embracing, gripped so tight, with tears flowing.

By this time, our sizeable audience had burst into clapping and cheers. Donna and my brother-in-law Chester joined us and we all stood in the middle of the road, hugging and crying. What a moment!

After moving the car from the middle of the road, the traffic started to flow again. People must have thought we were crazy but that didn't matter to us.

We found ourselves a small restaurant and excitedly introduced our lives to each other.

Ann informed me that my father had returned from active service after the Second World War, after suffering nasty injuries from a mine in France.

War films really do annoy me, because how many black American soldiers do you see? I watched the latest series of Pacific with great interest and lo and behold, they still can't bring themselves to show that the likes of my father gave their lives and limbs to the Anglo-American war effort. I think, perhaps, that my opening comment about Dr King has not been taken on by the people who make these films.

During the next few weeks, we were able to visit my father's house, now owned by his grandson, and very sadly, we went to his place of rest. This was an extremely emotional moment for me.

I found the place where Ann lived to be more or less a 100 per cent black area, which was a little daunting for my wife at first, but my family and their neighbours soon put her mind at rest with their fantastic hospitality.

Another interesting fact that Ann told me was that my father was a relation of The Drifters' lead singer Ben E King. The voice must have stayed in the States, though!

When the time came for me to depart my father's shores, Ann and I walked and talked wrapped in each other's arms and amidst plenty of tears, we promised to meet again when we could.

I have promised to send her a copy of this article, which she says she wants to send into Channel Six news over there.

I would just like to say thank you to all who have read my little story, for either coming down to my butty van or calling on the phone to wish me luck.

It turned out to be an excellent adventure – one that I will take with me when we all move on.