Peterborough man who was left abandoned at London flats as week-old baby to star in ITV's Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace

For David Stevenson, his family history has remained a mystery for his entire life.

Sixty five years ago – when he was less than a week old, David was left abandoned in a corridor in a block of flats in London on a Thursday night in December 1960.

Adopted just a few days later, and named by the police officer who was called to the scene, he has never even known what day his actual birthday is, let alone who is ‘blood’ family are.

But now his story has been picked up by ITV series Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace – and it will be shown on Monday, August 3 at 9pm.

The Peterborough Telegraph went to speak to David, who lives in Orton with wife (and former Peterborough City Councillor) Julie about the incredible story.

“I always knew I was adopted. And I always knew I was a foundling”

David, a father of three, said: “I always knew I was adopted. And I always knew I was a foundling. I’d been left in a block of flats in Golders Green in North London in December 1960, when I was just a few days old.

"But that is all I knew.

"I still don’t know what my real birthday is – I celebrate it on December 10, because I was found on December 15, and the police doctors thought I was about five days old when I was found.”

David had been fed and wrapped in blankets when he was found. He had been left on the second floor of the building, outside one of the flats at around 5pm.

David said: “I was nourished, I had a nappy on, I was swaddled. I had clearly been looked after.”

When David was found in the flats, the police were called – and a young female PC, Tegwen Curl, originally from Wales, arrived at the scene.

Tegwen gave David his name (after the Welsh patron saint), and his middle name, Charles, after her Sergeant. David said: “Because she was a woman PC they sent her along to deal with this baby that had been found. She was a bit suspicious of some of the people in the block.

"We met her, and she was able to take me from the moment I was found to the moment I was found to the moment I was taken into care, over a couple of weeks. It involved a couple of appearances at court, so the Magistrates could officially give me my name.”

The discovery of David was even featured in The Daily Mail on the front page, as people tried to find his mum.

"We’d hit a brick wall”

Julie and David met Tegwen, after Julie started the search to find more about David’s background in 2009 – but sadly she passed away last year.

While Julie was able to make some progress in her search for answers as to what had happened to David as a baby, she had taken her research as far as she could after more than 15 years of searching for answers, with the story appearing in national and local media.

Julie said: “We’ve tried DNA tests,and various appeals, but we had reached a brick wall.

"We thought perhaps an au pair had become pregnant and someone who really wanted a baby and David were put together. And it was an arrangement that had gone wrong.

"We knew we were looking for a Dutch mother and a French father, but we couldn’t find any more.”

The ITV producers heard of David’s stories, and got in contact last year with the pair to take their story on for the hit TV show, which is now in its eighth series.

"I always wanted to know ‘how did I get to those flats?"

David said: “I never knew who my family was. I imagined I would never find out anything about identifying my birth mother.”

"I always wanted to know ‘how did I get to those flats?’ We thought somebody must know. Somebody must remember.”

Filming started earlier this year – with host Davina McCall being spotted in the area.

We won’t reveal the ending of the programme ahead of broadcast on Monday evening – you’ll have to tune in yourself!

The journey the programme takes the pair on is full of emotions, tears – and some unexpected discoveries.

“My adopted parents were very supportive of me trying to find out more”

David said that even his own family and friends didn’t know what the team on the programme uncover.

He said: “My adopted parents were very supportive of me trying to find out more, but like me, they thought I would never be successful. It is sad that neither of my adopted parents are alive today to share this journey.

“My sons will watch the programme together on Monday night, and will find out what has been discovered together.”

Julie added: “A lot of people know us – and there was some interest when Davina came – so we know there will be a lot of reaction. It is such a strong story as well.

"The team at ITV have done such a good job telling that story. We know there will be lots of tears when people are watching it.”

Long Lost Family: Born Without Trace is aired at 9pm on ITV 1 on Monday, August 3, and will be available afterwards on ITV X.