Father and son reunited after 25 years
Published: May 5, 2005
A father and son have been reunited after more than 25 years apart - and dad Maurice Khan said his life is now complete.
The pair were brought together thanks to the Salvation Army, and an ordinary day turned into a life changing one for Maurice when the charity sent him a letter to say that his long-lost son James was trying to get in touch.
Maurice said: “I saw the letter and I wondered ‘why on earth are they trying to contact me?’. Then the penny dropped that James was trying to find me. I was elated.”
The pair became estranged when James’ mum returned to her native Yorkshire when the baby was just six months old.
Ever since, Maurice - originally from the Seychelles - has been thinking about his son and hoping that fate would bring the two together again.
Maurice said: “James was always on my mind. I work for London Underground at Leicester Square, and sometimes I just watched the crowds to see if I could see him.
“Every time I saw a mixed race boy I would wonder ‘Is that him?’ Letting him go was the biggest mistake of my life.”
He added: “His mum’s family were unhappy about my colour. It was different then in the 1970s, and James understands all that.
“I thought when we met there would be all sorts of retribution from him, but he so understands the situation we were both in.”
On receiving the letter from the Salvation Army, Maurice contacted the family tracing officer, who then phoned James to say his dad wanted to speak to him. James phoned his dad within 10 minutes.
Maurice said: “He sounded like a Yorkshireman! It was strange to think I have got a Yorkshireman in my family!
James was soon on the train to London to meet his dad again - and the rest of the Khan clan.
Maurice said: “We have had a 25 year gap - and while we are father and son, we are also like friends too. I have the best of both worlds. I always felt James in my heart, I never forgot him. And to see him, my flesh and blood, it has made me a new man.
“Before James came back into my life, it would never matter what I have achieved for myself - there was always something not quite right.”
James, 27, said: “I did always wonder why I didn’t have a dad but my family always brought me up to feel very safe and loved.
“I couldn’t believe it when the Salvation Army got in touch with me so quickly. Meeting up with my dad has been everything I could have dreamed, and more.”
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