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.
‘I ENLISTED in the RAF in 1961 and served at stations at home and abroad before retiring in 1984,’ writes Stewart Howie.
‘In June 1967, I was posted to RAF Coningsby, Lincs, as an accounts clerk in the station HQ.
‘I began courting a young lady called Barbara Foers, and, at the time, she worked upstairs in the same building.
‘She lived in a small village a few miles from the camp, and before long, on her birthday in November, I asked her to be my bride.
‘She consented, though I did have to ask her father’s permission first.
‘In March 1968, we were married at the local village church and honeymooned in London.
‘ The best man, Allan Black, was an airman at Coningsby and, like me, a Scotsman. Born and bred in Dunfermline, he had joined the RAF at 15.
He was a clerk secretarial in the sub unit of 5 S of TT at Coningsby.
‘Alas, successive postings meant we lost touch and now, as our 50th wedding anniversary approaches, I’m trying to trace Allan to invite him to our celebrations in Gloucester.
‘Barbara and I have three sons and eight grandchildren, and it would be so wonderful to find out how Allan’s life has been over the years.’
IN FEBRUARY, Catherine Eileen Saar, 87, wrote from Canterbury:
‘From the age of 15, my father, Arthur Jacobs, belonged to Eton Manor Boys’ Club in Hackney Wick, East London, which had wonderful sports facilities on Hackney Marshes. He was an amateur boxer and went on to become the club’s instructor.
‘After World War II, several of the club’s young men became close family friends, including Joe Collins, Joe Cowley, Joe Rood, Harry Busby and Len Baxter. Evenings at my parents’ were spent chatting and singing, with me at the piano.
‘After I married and moved away, I no longer saw them, and in 1967 the club closed.
‘In the photo, Dad is left, Harry centre and Joe Rood is on the right. I’d love to track down my long-lost friends.’
A quick response reconnected Catherine with Peter Wilson, 70, a former member. We also heard from the families of other club members now dead, and of the existence of the club archive at the Bishopsgate Institute in London. Now there’s to be a further reunion. Lorrayne Hayden emailed: ‘My father David Jacobs, 80, read your column and believes he was reading about his cousin and uncle. My grandfather, Albert Jacobs, had three brothers, one of whom was called Arthur.’ So David was, and the two women hope to meet soon.
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.