11 years after the initial application

It took a year and two months to get my original birth certificate and adoption order, delayed one month due to a Civil Service labour strike. Similar to 1996, I saw the letter, took a deep breath and opened it. The following details were included:

• My original full name: James William Stevens
• My birth-mother’s name: Florence Stevens – nee Wallington
• That I was baptised Anglican

The next step was to send these details to Post Adoption Services to apply for the sibling search. After talking with Judy – my case worker from 2002, I sent all the details.