Man meets his Maltese family for first time after appeal through Times of Malta

An Englishman who recently asked Times of Malta readers to help him find his Maltese father has finally met his long-lost family. Lawrence Downes, 62, traced his late father to a Gozitan village dedicated to the patron saint who is also his namesake – San Lawrenz. Although he sadly did not get to meet his father, Lawrence managed to meet his aunt, cousin and extended family, and gain some closure. Lawrence visited Malta for the first time in July, after being given the opportunity to look at his care records at Lambeth Council, London. Born in 1960, Lawrence had remained under his parents’ custody for three months as his mother could no longer look after him. His father, Salvo Axiak, was very caring and concerned for him, and despite wanting to look after his son, the UK social service authorities would not allow it. He was taken under the state’s care and was brought up in children’s homes in London until he was 18, he told Times of Malta. Lawrence had always wondered who his parents were, particularly his father, but never really knew what to do. When he visited Malta this summer, he was encouraged by friendly locals to start looking for his father or his family, suggesting he...