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 i
GORDON SMITH tells us: ‘As teenagers in the Sixties, my friends and I were in Remainz, a popular fivepiece covers band playing in London.
‘We were a firm favourite of students at universities in the area.
‘A year ago, four of us had a reunion dinner in Chislehurst, South-East London. We had a great time reminiscing about the music and our youth.
‘Determined to rekindle our teenage years, we had this crazy idea to put the band back together!
‘Geoff Halil (singer) lives in Turkey, Bernie Andrews and Ray Curnick (guitarists) are in the Medway area and Bexleyheath, respectively, and I (bass guitar) live in Royal Wootton Bassett, Wilts.
‘I hadn’t played a bass since the Sixties and promptly went out to buy a new instrument, woefully regretting the day I sold my pre-CBS 1963 Fender Precision Bass ( now a collector’s item).
‘But we have lost contact with Tony Moulton, our original drummer, who moved to Australia many years ago. We’d love to find him but we don’t know where to start.
‘We are also hoping to find our manager Mike Lewis, who lived in Eltham, South-East London. He was a fantastic help. The picture was taken in 1966 or 1967.’ IN JANUARY, we ran a story from Kidderminsterbased Gary Turner, 70: ‘At 17, in 1963, I trained to be a ship’s steward on a former sailing ship, the Vindicatrix, moored at Sharpness in Gloucestershire. ‘Two names I remember from then are John Linklett and Chester Aldridge. My first voyage was on the SS Oronsay, then on the SS Orsova, and finally the SS Arcadia — all P&O Orient passenger liners.
‘I started on £16 a month as a bell boy, working up to a first- class bedroom steward. I enjoyed 15 world cruises and several short ones between 1963 and 1969. It was my university.
‘With my last group of ship friends, we called ourselves the Clan. My photo shows us in Palma Nova, Majorca, the last port of call prior to arrival at Southampton four days later.
‘I’d love to trace the Clan members: Robert Linden, NormanMorris, Youngman,and Pip Ian Melia.’ Henthorne,Balls, Brian DonovanBanks Terry to FollowingGary’s story,a good he’s responsebeen reunited with Ian and Terry, with more reconnections in the offing. Sadly, we learnt that Pip has passed away, but Gary is glad to be in touch with his family. He says the Clan is looking for ‘another old seadog, Brian Husband’, who was also on the Arcadia. 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 Peopletracer (www.peopletracer.co.uk). A small donation will be requested for employing Gill Whitley’s services.