The Forgotten Child: The powerful true story of a boy abandoned as a baby and left to die cover art

The Forgotten Child: The powerful true story of a boy abandoned as a baby and left to die

The powerful true story of a boy abandoned as a baby and left to die

 Preview
Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

The Forgotten Child: The powerful true story of a boy abandoned as a baby and left to die

By: Richard Gallear
Narrated by: Mark Elstob
Try Standard free

Auto-renews at $8.99/mo after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for $25.99

Buy Now for $25.99

About this listen

Based on a true story, The Forgotten Child is a heart-breaking memoir of an abandoned newborn baby left to die, his tempestuous upbringing, and how he came through the other side.

It’s a freezing winter’s night in 1954. A baby boy, a few hours old, is left by his mother, wrapped in nothing but two sheets of newspaper and hidden amongst the undergrowth by a canal bank. An hour later, a late-shift postman is walking wearily home when he hears a faint cry. He finds the newspaper parcel and discovers the newborn, white-cold and whimpering, inside.

After being rushed to hospital and against all odds, the baby survives. He’s baptised by the hospital chaplain as Richard.
Everything feels as though it’s looking up; Richard is put into local authority care and regains his health. However, after nearly five blissful years in a rural care home filled with loving friends, it soon unfolds that his turbulent start in life is only the beginning…

Based on a devastating true story, this inspirational memoir follows Richard’s traumatic birth, abusive childhood, and search for the truth.

 Abductions, Kidnapping & Missing Persons Abuse Adventurers, Explorers & Survival Child Abuse Dysfunctional Families Dysfunctional Relationships Parenting & Families Relationships True Crime Emotionally Gripping Heartfelt Infant

Critic Reviews

‘An incredible story of survival.’ The Sun
All stars
Most relevant
Thank you, Richard, for sharing your story. As an adoptee with significant childhood trauma myself, I found this audiobook difficult to listen to in parts. Mostly because it was like you were describing my feelings. But I am so glad that I held strong and listened to the entire book. I hope your bravery at sharing your story can help others.

This one hit home.

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
It’s difficult remembering the cruelty that can exist in some homes, while others go about their lives oblivious to the suffering of a small child. It is not surprising he had difficulties through his adult years. A stoic man, who deserved a little love in his life.

An horrific, but uplifting read

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
love this book felt the hurt the love and pain
very good to listen too 👍

great

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
I really identified with Richard and his story the era and the secrecy surrounding abuse.

Very well told story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
Loved the personal yet real feeling in the story and the way it is delivered to you as a reader/ listener .

The story

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.
See more reviews
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.