Hello,
This might sound like a stupid question, but when was the birth certificate actually purchased?
The reason I ask is because if Malcolm was legally adopted then there should be a note in the right hand margin of any birth certificate purchased after the legal adoption was made. If the certificate you have was purchased at the time of birth, then the chances are that it would not have any notation on it.
In addition, if the certificate was purchased direct from the local register office as opposed to the GRO, then the notation might have been missed off.
You need to establish for certain if he was actually adopted.
Perhaps you would care to send me a copy of the certificate you have (.jpeg or .pdf format)
I will be happy to discuss this with you if you care to contact me direct on avril.rosswright@virgin.net
I have been helping reunite people separated through adoption for over 25 years, on a non-profit basis and I have a personal adoption connection.
Hope to hear from you