Richard Tanner made pathetic attempts to obtain custody of his biological son. Ryan was in care and Richard convinced himself that he should try to persuade the social workers that Ryan would be better off living with him and his new family. It was a half-hearted attempt, more to aggravate Judy and Norman than to do with what was in Ryan’s best interests. Richard had moved up to the north east of England and managed to begin a new life with a new partner and their two young daughters. Cindy was approximately seven years old and her older sister Gemma was about nine. Elaine was in love with Richard and remained so until her death many years later. Ryan grew fond of Elaine as an adult. During the few visits that Ryan and his own family made to the north east they were made as welcome as any of Elaine’s immediate family. Her funeral was a sad affair. Richard was ostracised by Elaine’s family. Ryan would eventually discover why.
Ryan first visited his father’s new family when he was ten years old. Judy and Norman wanted to be seen as doing their best for Ryan. They couldn’t have the neighbours thinking anything else so they arranged a short break for Ryan to stay with his father Richard and his new family. Ryan could sense the jealousy in his mother’s voice and attitude every time she came off the phone to Richard. Ryan bore the brunt of many of Judy’s bad tempers as a result of her jealousy of Richard and his new family. Mother hated father and father hated mother even and after almost a decade after separating they both used Ryan as a weapon against the other. Judy was often heard screaming at Ryan “you even walk like your bastard father”. Coincidently, Ryan discovered that this really was the case when he met his father many years later as an adult, Ryan often laughs at the memory. Ryan’s visit to his fathers was a short one, Judy made sure of that, Ryan was soon back at home and shortly afterward his return he found himself back in care. Judy only allowed Ryan home on leave as long as Norman was working away which he was much of the time. He would be overseas for months at a time, usually in Saudi Arabia. Norman went where the money was and during the eighties the money was in the Middle East.
