A GREAT-GRANDDAD, whose wish was to see a picture of the father he never knew, has had his appeal answered thanks to an article in the Star.

In March former navy officer Herbert Palin, 84, explained how he never knew his dad Bertie.

Bertie had died suddenly in St Helens, before his son was born in 1931.

Herbert had grown up and lived in the town before emigrating to Sydney, Australia, with wife Mary in the 1960s, but had always longed to find a picture of his dad.

Following that article, genealogist Sam Watkin, from Anglia Research, picked up the difficult task and managed to find information about Herbert's dad along with aunts and cousins he never knew.

After some time he also traced picture of the dad Herbert had never met.

Using the information in the article, Sam managed to trace Herbert’s second cousins and got in touch with John, the grandson of Herbert's long lost aunt Ada, sister to Bertie.

Sam added: “Although John didn’t have any information about Bertie, he was able to tell us all about his Bert’s Aunt Ada.

“I included the copy of the original article in my letter to him, and he couldn’t believe the family resemblance.”

Herbert’s granddaughter Megan said: “I have now spoken at length with John and we now have a picture of Bertie and his wife Eva.

“John was able to furnish us with some more details about our family, his grandmother, Ada, and Bertie’s other sister Hilda.

“He sent me pictures of Ada’s daughter and the family resemblance is striking.

"Herbert didn't even know if his father was aware of the pregnancy before he died and his mother was teary whenever her deceased husband was mentioned, so he didn't ask questions because he didn't want to upset her.

"He has talked for years about how it was his final wish to find some photos of his father so he could finally put a face to the person he has wondered about all of his life.

“We’ve been thrilled to bits by Sam and Anglia Research’s work and it’s been great to share these precious memories with my granddad Herbert.”

Anglia Research is a probate genealogy and legal research company based in Southport.