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 WOULD love to make contact with my first best friend, Lyn Threadgold,’ writes Lesley Austen, who lives in Powys, Mid Wales.
‘Lyn is a year older than me and was born in 1950. We both lived in the small village of Ottringham, in East Yorkshire, and went to school in Patrington.
‘Lyn and I were inseparable. When we were five or six, we won first prize at the village fete for dressing up as Bill and Ben, the Flower Pot Men.
‘People often took us for sisters as we both had dark hair and brown eyes.
‘Lyn had an older sister called Dorothy, who lived near the local post office and had a baby, but I don’t recall any other siblings.
‘In 1958, my family moved to Perivale, North-West London. Lyn and I kept in touch by letter for a few years, but eventually lost contact.
‘When I was 12, we went back to Ottringham, but there was no sign of Lyn or her family. I have recently tried to find her on social media, but without success.
‘I left London for good when I was 20 and have lived most of my life in Wales. Now I am 66 and married with five children and eight grandchildren. I work as a befriending co- ordinator, helping older people retain their social skills and confidence.
‘I often encourage and help clients to rekindle old friendships — I hope you can do the same for me.’ DO YOU recall Chris Anderson, from Cupar, Fife, who was searching for his father’s old shipmates?
‘When my father, Edward Anderson (nicknamed Andy), died in 1994, I discovered his wartime letters. I’ve been able to reconstruct his 1941 to 1945 service in the Maritime Royal Artillery.
‘I may be too late to find his shipmates, but I’d love to contact their families.
‘This photo was taken on the troopship Kosciuszko in February 1942, when she was in Bombay.
‘ Dad, who is front left, served on this ship from August 1941 to February 1943. From his letters, I know that the man at front right is Arthur Sykes of Brighouse, West Yorkshire.
‘Dad then served on the Bandar Shahpour, which was torpedoed in April 1943.
‘After the war, he worked as an accountant and manager in farming.’
Good news! Roger Sykes writes: ‘I am the younger son of Arthur Sykes, mentioned by Chris. My dad passed away in the mid-Nineties.
‘My older brother Ian is still in the village where Mum and Dad lived and he remembers Andy coming to our house.
‘ Ian has some of dad’s old war diaries and lots of photos.’
Chris is delighted to have found the Sykes family.
‘This is amazing! Arthur was the one my father knew best and they kept in touch.’
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.