A MAN is planning a trip to the Wee County to track down his father, who left his family prior to his son's birth.

Randy Hunter was born in 1958 in Ontario, Canada and has never known his father John Houston Hunter.

After carrying out an online ancestry test, Randy discovered he had a biological match to cousins living in Glasgow.

He spoke to them and learned that he has a biological half-sister, born to a woman from Alloa in the early 1950s.

"When I found out I had a cousin," Randy said. "I honestly bawled my eyes out for a little bit.

"If I have a sister out there and find her, I'll probably bawl my eyes out again.

"I'm nervous – I don't know if this is going to lead anywhere. But the worst that could happen is I find nothing so I'm reaching out and giving it a try."

Prior to the birth of his daughter, John left the woman and fled back to Toronto where he was born in 1932 to Scottish parents.

 

ANCESTRY: Randy Hunter is searching for information on his father, John Hunter, who abandoned him before he was born.

ANCESTRY: Randy Hunter is searching for information on his father, John Hunter, who abandoned him before he was born.

 

Whilst in Canada, John met and entered into a relationship with another woman, who fell pregnant with Randy. After that, John disappeared and his whereabouts are unknown after this.

Randy has been in touch with the Registrar General who offered to help him if he made an appointment, but he was less than enthusiastic about finding results there.

He explained that despite the circumstances, he has no resentment towards his father, instead he solely wants to understand the reasoning behind his actions.

"I've never felt angry towards him," Randy added. "I've just never been able to understand why he did that, why he abandoned his family twice.

"I would want answers more than anything – whether it's too late to get those, I don't know. But I would like some answers."

Randy and his family will be making a trip to Scotland in September to meet his cousins for the first time in Wishaw.

He is hoping between now and then, he might be able to track down his half-sister and possibly discover more about his father.

During his two-week trip to Scotland, Randy plans on spending time in Alloa and Stirling and hopes to speak to anyone who might have some memories of his father or his sister.

Anyone who might be able to shed some light on Randy's family history can reach out by emailing editorial@alloaadvertiser.co.uk