Thanks CaroleW,
I've just come across the Scottish GRO web site and found that statement. It looks like I would have to write to them or email them so they can do a search for me. I don't think I would get any real useful information from a copy of the birth certificate, except it may indicate to me where may grandparents were living at that time.
Appart from trying to dig out old documents at home, I think my next step would be to try and find my grandads grave to see if there is a date of birth on it. If not I should be able to send off for his death certificate which will have his date of birth on.
I also found out from my mother that Patrick worked as a painter in Liverpool, possibly on the docks. His last form of employment was as a Hotel proprietor of the Brofield commercial hotel, 79, Cecil Street, Manchester. I do have an old newspaper clipping somewhere which I have been trying to find. It shows a picture of the brofield hotel, as during the war a large bomb came down on a parachute, fortunately it did not explode. It did considerable damage as it went through the building all the way to the basement. It then had to be dug out once it was made safe. I new he ran a hotel but I was not sure if it was Cecil street or Ducie street, my mother seems to think Cecil street. So this is another avenue to explore. I think the news paper was the manchester evening news, but I do not know the date, of the article.
Regards
John.
