MISSING . . . and FOUND!
THE DAILY MAIL offers readers a unique opportunity to re-establish contact with long-lost relatives and friends. Each week, MONICA PORTER features the story of someone trying to find a missing loved one, as well as a tale of people reunited. This column is produced in conjunction with the voluntary tracing service, Searching For A Memory, run by Gill and John Whitley. ‘This is me with The Beatles, backstage at the Cambridge hall in southport, on July 26, 1962,’ writes Judith Rose, of Altrincham, Cheshire.
‘i’m the girl in the raincoat. The girl with short blonde hair beside me has always been a mystery. i never knew who she was and have tried in vain to find out. Could you help provide the answer?
‘i knew someone who knew Brian Epstein and his brother Clive. On that evening, Joe Brown And The Bruvvers were top of the bill and The Beatles were the support act. After the show i went backstage and i remember The Beatles were bemused by the fantastic response they’d received from the audience.
‘in March 1963, The Beatles played at southport’s Odeon cinema. My friends and i decided to throw a post-show party and invite them. They came back to my place, where they joined in with us, winding down away from the limelight.
‘My friends still talk about it, boasting: “They were there!”
‘That was my last contact with The Beatles. But i still wonder who the other girl is . . .’ BACK in August, Bobbie Coughlan, nee Rigg, told us: ‘Fifty years ago next year, st Mary’s College in strawberry hill, Twickenham, admitted women for the first time. i was one of them.
‘in my first year, 38 of us were housed in Park house, East Twickenham, where my room-mate was Joan Wilson.
‘We were very good friends throughout college but later lost contact. i’ve always wanted to get back in touch but have been unable to do so.
‘Joan was from Fulwood, Preston, and she married Bill Edwards on Teesside in 1969. she will be 67 this year and i would love for her to be able to attend the 50th anniversary reunion i am organising for August 2016. Could you find her for me? i am sure other female students from 1966-69 read your column.
‘Joan’s mother used to send her food parcels of cakes, crisps and other treats, and as both of us came from the North-West we made crisp sandwiches, in an attempt to make chip butties, but they weren’t the same!
‘We studied history together, so we had a common interest, and married fellow students. We have a lot to catch up on.’
And by now i trust they have! We were able to reunite Bobbie with Joan well in time for the big bash next summer. IF there is someone you would like to trace, write to Gill Whitley, 1 Newbrook House, New Hall Lane, Preston, PR1 5PE, enclosing an SAE, or send an email to monica.porter@dailymail. co.uk — including a contact phone number. All communications will be answered as soon as possible. This column is researched with the aid of TraceSmart (www.tracesmart.co.uk). A small donation will be requested for employing Gill Whitley’s services.