Adopted Michael Crain's search for his birth family

But for people who have been adopted, the opportunity to look to forebears for shared characteristics does not exist.

For Michael Crain, 45, who was adopted in Rochford in 1967, the connection is further severed by the fact he does not know his birth name.

However, this has not put him off the challenge of trying to find his birth parents.

He is determined to discover more about who he is and where he comes from.

Mr Crain was born at Rochford Hospital on July 12, 1966, and was adopted in February the following year.

He enjoyed a happy childhood and travelled the world with his adoptive family.

However, Mr Crain now feels the time has come to see if he can find out more about his natural parents.

He said: “It’s not something you think about every day.

“But it does pop back in, thinking what did my mum or dad look like, what are they doing, where would I be now.

“From my point of view, it would be nice to know who my mother and father were.

“It would be nice to understand and to be able to fill in that blank in my life.

“Maybe it goes further or maybe it doesn’t. We’ve had separate lives.

“People spend years searching for their birth parents.

“I’ve got to the point where you realise it will take some time, but hopefully I’m not too late.”

Mr Crain has asked adoption agencies for his adoption records.

He is waiting for a date when he can meet a counsellor, who he hopes will be able to give him more information about his background.

He said: “I have so little information.

“I’ve got a copy of my medical records, but they don’t allow you the first section of your life.

“It means I’m missing records from birth until 1967. The information must be somewhere, but I can’t get it yet.

“I’ve sent off to the adoption agency.

“Due to my adoption year, I have to speak to someone before they will help me, because I might not be the age I think I am.

“They need to counsel you first, in case you find out that instead of being 45 you might be 52.”

Sadly, Mr Crain, who now lives in Sileby, near Loughborough, Leicestershire, with his fiancee, Eluned Weston, does not even know if he was cared for by his parents, or was in care, in the months between his birth and adoption.

He said: “The date of the adoption order was February 1, 1967, so I was six, nearly seven months old.

“The registration district and sub-district for Mr Crain’s birth were both Rochford.

“I’m not sure what happened during those first seven months.”

Along with his adopted sister and brother, Sarah and Steven, Mr Crain was raised in North Hykeham, Lincolnshire.

When Mr Crain was six years old, the family moved to Leicestershire, because of his father’s job with the gas board.

Because of his close relationship with his adoptive parents, Mr Crain has not told them he is looking for more information about his birth parents.

He said: “It’s a hard question to ask your mum and dad – where did I come from? – for fear of hurting them.

“I’ve always known I was adopted. Both my brother and sister are also adopted and we’ve all always known.

“I’ve always accepted them as my parents.

“That will never change, but you do get to the point where you would like to know more.

“But it is still a very sensitive issue.”

Mr Crain decided to try to find his birth family after he returned to the UK in January last year, after being made redundant.

He had spent three-and-a-half years working in Denver in the USA.

Mr Crain worked in America as a technical services manager for a company which supplied ink to drinks cans to companies.

He said: “Your birth parents are something you think about as you get older.

“When I was younger I didn’t think about it, until I was in my thirties.

“When I came back from the USA, I decided that while I’m not at work, I could put some real time and effort in.”

Now he is hoping someone in the south Essex area may be able to help him in his quest.

He said he was open to the many potential reasons for his adoption.

He said: “I’m working on the fact there’s a chance I was adopted because my birth mother was young.

“She could be 60 to 65 now. There are many reasons children were adopted at that time, but if it was because of illegitimacy, the children could have been taken away.

“At the end of the day it would be nice to know.

“I’m sure she wonders what happened to her son.

“I’m not after a relationship, and that may be difficult to have.

“But I’m sure that, as a mother, you would want to know what happened to your child, whether they survived, got on well and have a good life.”

Recognising the difficulty of the task facing him, Mr Crain is appealing for anyone who might remember even the smallest clue as to his birth identity.

Mr Crain, who has two children, Samuel, 16, and William, ten, with his ex-wife, said: “I don’t know whether I’ll trigger someone’s memory.

“I’m hoping someone will think about this.

“I’m hoping my birth parents still live in the area.

“I just want to know any information that might help, even the slightest thing.

“The chances of anyone knowing anything are probably slim, but I’ve got to try.”

l If anyone believes they can help Mr Crain with his search for his birth mother and family, call him on 07923 246237.