Life’s story is penned David shows he has the write stuff
A Hamilton man has released an inspirational book exploring his life growing up as an orphan.
David Swinger’s Just a Number is the story of a man’s perseverance to discover the truth about his family after being placed in the care of Barnardo’s as a young child.
The journey is sometimes harrowing and painful as David, now 78, relives his early memories, surroundings and situation with a degree of sad resignation and complete bewilderment after his mother dies.
This isolation caused him considerable stress throughout his life and he lived in several homes for young orphan boys.
His schoolwork and life suffered and there were sometimes bursts of anger and depression.
He even fearfully refused to be adopted, afraid of losing the structure and place of his almost-military education and care facilities.
Eventually thrust into the world, he found employment in the printing industry, and later joined the navy where he met his beloved wife, Mary.
Published by Melrose Books, David said the paperback helped to explain to his family who he really was.
He explained: “Up until the age of 60, all I really knew about my life was that I was brought up in Norwich.
“I hardly knew any information about my family, so I decided after discussions with my wife that I would try to find out more about my life.
“I began to research and working with Barnardo’s Making Connections group, I was given a large dossier of my time spent at different homes.
“I found out about family that I didn’t know I had and about a sister that I always thought I had, but it was now confirmed.
“I then decided that I had never fully told my children, my grandchildren and my wife about my past.
“It wasn’t that I was ashamed but I just wasn’t that happy with it.
“I did finally find my sister, she was very ill and was crippled with arthritis but I was fortunate enough that I met up with her about five times!”
He added: “I finally put pen to paper and when I began to write I just poured everything out. It was very emotional.
“I grew up with the stigma of not being wanted and it was something that I have tried to hide over the years, as you don’t want to tell anyone your past, but the idea was to let my family know who I am and who I was.”
David was given encouragement to write his book by the former South Lanarkshire Provost and Lord Lieutenant of Lanarkshire Mushtaq Ahmad, whom David thanks in his acknowledgements section of the book.
Since the book was published, David now volunteers as an ambassador for Barnardo’s and travels up and down the country talking about his life as an orphan.
He has been a guest to various royal engagements but now spends most of his time being a devoted parent and grandparent.
His book is available to order through Amazon, Waterstones and WH Smith fore more information on Melrose Books log onto www. melrosebooks.co.uk.