BEST START TO A NEW YEAR

From the archive, first published Wednesday 1st Jan 2003.

IT'S the start of a new year - and the beginning of a new chapter in Paul Smith's life.

For the last 57 years war child Paul has had no father and no father figure.

But in 2003 Paul at last has someone to call dad.

After ten years of searching, Paul has been reunited in America with the GI father he has never known.

Paul's father, who is also called Paul Smith, was among thousands of US soldiers who came to serve in Britain in the 1940s.

He fell for Paul's mother Margaret Harris while stationed at Otterbourne in 1945, but he was sent back to America when Paul was just three months old.

Paul, 57, of Penshurst Way, Boyatt Wood, Eastleigh, finally found his dad through the voluntary organisation Trace - Transatlantic Children's Enterprise.

He was spurred on by a story in the Daily Echo in March - when war child Rita Lange from Netley Abbey found her GI dad Joe in America through Trace.

Paul flew to Minnesota with his wife Maggie for an emotional meeting with his dad and 50 family members.

Next week he is jetting off with daughter Melanie Richards, 29, on a surprise visit for his dad's 80th birthday.

Paul, who also has a 32-year-old son, said: "Meeting dad has opened up a new chapter of my life. Life will be different in 2003.

"It's the best start to a new year I could wish for."

Paul's father met his mother - who died three years ago - when he walked past while she was in her garden in Otterbourne.

They dated for a year until Paul senior - who was an army technician - was posted back to Illinois in 1946.

Paul said: "They kept in touch for a while but then we moved house to Allbrook. Although he sent mail, the people who had moved into the house didn't forward it on, so we just assumed he didn't want to know anymore, and he assumed the same."

But Margaret never married and Paul grew up with only one parent.

He said: "I always thought about him and wondered what he was like and what he was doing, but I just thought I was probably never going to see him and got on with life.

"What really prompted me to start looking was when I had children and my daughter was asking `where's your dad?'"

Ten years ago Paul searched fruitlessly in the American telephone directory and on the Internet for his dad in Illinois.

Then in March he met Rita and joined Trace.

A Trace volunteer in America discovered a Paul Smith had contacted the veterans' association in St Paul, Minnesota, in 2000.

So Paul searched the telephone directory for St Paul and found three Paul Smiths.

He tried each number - and on the third call his dad answered the phone.

Paul said: "I was very shaky and my heart was beating like crazy.

"When I told him who I was he said: `Praise the lord, I've been waiting for this day for 50-odd years' - he was over the moon."

To Paul's relief, his dad had told all his family - including Paul's four stepsisters and two stepbrothers - about his son in England, and they were all thrilled.

Paul got to know them by e-mail and telephone calls, and a month later he flew out to meet everyone.

"I was very, very nervous. When I saw my dad the emotions were so strong - I've never called anybody `dad' in my life."

Melanie said: "I've been pushing dad for years to do this. He was so brave when he actually made contact.

"I can't believe I've got such a huge family because it's trebled in size."

Paul's dad added: "It was the happiest day of my life when Paul found me. I know 2003 is going to be good."