A GRANDSON'S efforts to piece together his family tree came to an emotional climax this week when he came face to face with the stepson of the grandfather he never met.

Peter Floyd from Eastbourne in East Sussex appealed to Free Press readers recently to help him track down his grandfather, Sidney James Floyd, who he believed had lived in High Wycombe in the 1930s.

Eagle-eyed reader Gilbert King from Holmer Green immediately called the newsroom, believing Sidney to be a former neighbour and Royal British Legion pal.

"The name is so distinctive and the reference to Bognor Regis made me believe it was him," said Mr King.

"He always spoke about visiting Hampshire although I didn't really know that is where his family was."

Sidney Floyd, one time Secretary of Holmer Green British Legion, had left his home in Bognor Regis in 1936 after the breakdown of his marriage and around the time of his son William James' birth.

He met and married Edna May Washington from Riding Cottages, Holmer Green, where they lived with his stepson Barry Washington.

Mr King tracked down his old neighbour Barry Washington and last Sunday saw the emotional meeting of Mr Washington and his stepfather's grandson Peter Floyd at a Holmer Green pub.

Mr Floyd was anxious to discover if it was his grandfather and travelled up from Eastbourne on Sunday with his partner Lynne Terry.

"It was an exciting but extremely sad occasion for both the men as so much confusion had surrounded Sidney Floyd for so long," said Ms Terry.

"He always thought his son would track him down and told his new family that but sadly things didn't work out that way."

"It was great to hear what a popular man he was and to know that James does look like his grandfather."

James Sidney Floyd died in 1991, aged 82.