Is foundling Robin from Westmeath?

A call has been sent out to Westmeath families who may hold the key to the mystery surrounding the origins of a man who was abandoned as a newborn in London 73 years.

Robin [who does not want his surname made public], who was named after Robinson's the Oxford Street shop he was left outside over seven decades ago, knows nothing about his family background or the circumstances surrounding his abandonment.

Late last year his daughter Lorraine got in contact with English genealogist, Cat Whiteaway, to try and get some answers about where her father's origins lie.

After he underwent a DNA test, it was discovered that Robin has Irish blood and that while one parent may have Northern Irish roots, the counties Offaly and Westmeath "may also be significant", Ms Whiteaway says.

She has narrowed his search down to nine Irish surnames: Cunningham, Gillespie, Murphy, McLaughlin, O'Brien, Guilfoyle, Lynch, Finlay and MacAffee. She believes that people with these surnames could help Robin and Lorraine solve the mystery of where he comes from.

"In November I finally had the chance to meet Robin and he is a lovely articulate gentleman, with an incredible and unusual 'Foundling' story and a real need to know where he came from and who are his family."

On her dedicated Facebook site, daughter Lorraine says that following research, she believes that her father has "links" to the midlands. She also stated that he bears no ill feeling towards his parents.

More details about Robin and Lorraine's search can be found on Lorraine's dedicated Facebook site www.facebook.com/robinsfoundlingstory.