Neil Lamble’s amazing journey to discover his roots

NEIL Lamble, a father, businessman, sports enthusiast and all round achiever had been living a content life until four years ago, when he had a life altering experience, which resulted in him penning his first book.

My Name is Patrick Lacey, was launched at Durban High School last week and takes one through Lamble's journey after discovering at the ripe age of 54, that he was adopted. The school has played a large role in Lamble's life who matriculated at DHS, taught at the school in the eighties and had both his sons also pass through its classrooms. “I thought it fitting that I launch the book at the school because the whole story is set around the Berea where I was born, with DHS at the centre and seems to come full circle. Sharing his experience with friends and family resulted in Lamble's writing a book about his experience. “Everyone who heard the story encouraged me to write a book about the extraordinary experience,” he said.

It's was only when Lamble's niece needed a bone marrow match and he was the first person to offer to undergo the test that the news was let out of the bag. His cousin, Cheryl Johnson, felt it was time to let him know, despite elders asking her to “let sleeping dogs lie.” She arrived at his house and dropped the “bombshell” on Lamble's wife Di.

“My wife carried this bombshell then spoke to a psychologist friend of ours before she broke the news while we were at a weekend away on the South Coast. When she told me both my sister Robyn and I were adopted as children I couldn't believe it. To say that it was a shock would be the understatement of the year!”

The revelation lead to what Lamble considers “the most amazing journey of discovery” for him and his sister as he sought to trace both their biological roots.

Lamble's curious personality refused to “let sleeping dogs lie” and he immediately called his cousin to verify the information. “I was always told I was born at Parklands Hospital so I knew I had to go there to double check I was on the birth roll. When I didn't see my name I realised it was true and immediately checked the phone book and googled my new birth name, Lacey,” he said.

Since both his parents had passed, along with many of the elders in his family, Lamble's determination to find his biological roots, led him to call and meet up with friends and family of the Laceys who lived in Durban around the time he was born. Without any instruction manual for his quest, Lamble had a ready speech for the many awkward conversations he had when contacting potential family members. “It was very dramatic as I entered many people's lives as a new brother, uncle or nephew. Some knew of our existence while others were in complete shock to discover their mother or father had another son or daughter they did not know about!”

“Fortunately the journey overall was deeply enriching for Robyn and I and we have both formed close bonds with some of our new siblings and other relatives. We also found the closure we were seeking,” he added.

Lamble said he is grateful his parents didn't tell him the truth when he was younger. “I was a rebellious teenager as it was and this news then would have shaped my life for sure. I'm also grateful to Cheryl for having the courage to tell me the truth when she did,” he added.

Contact Neil on 0845636621 or email dlamble@telkomsa.net to get a copy of My Name was Patrick Lacey.