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.
HARRY OBENEY, of Poole, Dorset, sent in this picture of his ten-year-old self and his school pals at Hunters Hall Primary School in Dagenham, Essex, winning the football Champions Cup for the 1948-49 season.
‘The lad holding the cup is Graham Helburg, who’s lived in New Zealand since 1954,’ says Harry.
‘We keep in touch and he will be coming over to England in March, when we both celebrate our 80th birthday.
‘We would love to meet up with any of the other lads in the photograph. Perhaps they would like to send a photo, along with a childhood picture, to remind us who everyone is. ‘ I know Graham would particularly like to meet up again with David Wade, as they went to the same senior school.
‘The other boys in my photo include Tony Mansfield, Dickie Guy, Dave Austin and Albert Webber. Standing on the far right is the headmaster, Mr Farren.
‘It would be a truly great 80th birthday celebration if our old football team could meet up again.’
NURSE Tracy Crook-McDonough, of Surrey, has never forgotten the friends she made when she began her training in 1977 at Kingston Hospital, Surrey.
‘We are now in our late 50s and last year marked our 40th anniversary,’ she says.
‘ Many made it to the reunion, but we are keen to trace any other colleagues.
‘I was a staff nurse, then did my midwifery training and worked as a community midwife for many years. Since 2000, I have been a practice nurse.
‘Beverley Clayton (second from right, front row) is my best chum. She is a clinical nurse specialist in palliative care. Along with Bev and Jackie O’Grady, who works with her, I organised the gathering.
‘We were delighted that after our story appeared in this column, we were contacted by half-a- dozen others — Doreen Ferdinand, Bernie Nare, Moira Burns, Raina Ting, Jackie Pateman and Jackie Eaton.’
Now, we have heard from another nurse, Sue Webster, who said: ‘A friend found the article and has just passed it to me. It was a shock to see myself in this 40-year-old picture! I’d love to make contact with the others.’
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.