I spent years looking for dad... he was so near yet so far away
Lifetime’s search for father living in same city
IT WAS a heartbreaking question from a little boy who never knew his father.
Kyle Reid-Hulley knew next to nothing about his dad, except his name, and that he worked for Scottish Water.
So whenever he saw workmen in the street, he would approach and ask the same question.
“Every time I saw a water board van I would go up to the workmen and ask if they knew my dad, Jim Reid,” recalled Kyle, 25.
“They just shook their heads and replied that they didn’t.”
Kyle’s parents had split when he was two months old.
Aged 22, his mum Margaret Hulley parted from his dad, then 25, and they severed all contact. Their whirlwind romance had broken up.
Kyle, a Glasgow travel representative, now working in Minorca, grew up desperate to find his dad but all his efforts to track him down ended in failure.
“I didn’t even know if he still worked with the water board or was still in Glasgow,” said Kyle.
“Then I came across the Facebook page, Missing People Scotland, and posted a search for dad.”
Within days he had received a message revealing his dad had been found.
“A friend knew someone who worked with dad and he told him,” explained Kyle.
“Dad had been living in Cathcart, Glasgow, less than eight miles away from my home in Cardonald.”
Then, he made what he described as “the most important phone call of my life” to the father he’d never met or spoken to before.
“We got on so well that we arranged to meet just days later in a restaurant in Glasgow’s George Square. As I was waiting to be directed to the table, dad put his hand on my shoulder and I turned round.
“I reached out to give him something between a handshake and a hug.
“I had grown up desperate to meet him and here he was at last.
“We spoke for ages over dinner finding out about how our lives had shaped over the years.”
Kyle discovered he had been kept secret from Jim’s family. Even his parents were not told they had become grandparents and they died without knowing of his existence.
Kyle added: “Dad had to break the news to his brothers and sisters, who were shocked and delighted to learn of his secret son.
“His wife Sharon took the news well and welcomed me.
“My own mum understands my need to see dad and I am grateful for that.”
Jim, 50, now a manager at Scottish Water, revealed that not a day went by without him wondering how Kyle was growing up.
“As the years passed it became more difficult to make contact,” said Jim. “I am so happy that Kyle made the effort to find me. I would advise anyone who has lost touch with their children to find them.
“Kyle has grown into a fine young man any dad would be proud of.
“My wife and I are going out to Minorca to see him shortly.
“We speak regularly and FaceTime, just like other dads and sons. Life couldn’t be better.”
And Kyle changed his name from Hulley to Reid-Hulley.
“I felt it was important to recognise dad,” he smiled.