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.
JANE StEiN writes: ‘ My mother Mary, nee Curtis, 85, is keen to find her childhood friend Stuart Wilson.
‘ they were next- door neighbours in Bunkers Hill, Lincoln, in the thirties.
‘Stuart was upset when Mum’s family moved to another part of Lincoln and begged someone to bring her over for the day, which is when this photograph was taken.
‘Keeping in contact was difficult during the war, then Stuart wrote to say he was doing his National Service in the RAF.
‘When he came home, he would take Mum out and the two enjoyed a romance.
‘Stuart moved to Liverpool and they continued to see each other for several years while Mum trained as a physiotherapist in Manchester.
‘He was keen to settle down, but Mum was starting a career and didn’t want to get married.
She moved to London and the relationship ended, though she was always fond of Stuart.
‘Mum married my father, John Stein, in 1955 and had four children.
‘We emigrated to Australia in 1971 as ten Pound Poms, but returned in 1974, living in Norfolk, Lincolnshire and Berkshire.
‘Dad passed away in 2014 and Mum moved to Devon. She has often wondered what happened to Stuart and would love to make contact.’ WE HAVE been able to reunite retired squadron leader Jim Khanna, of York, with some of the other young Fleet Air Arm officer cadets he met in July 1960 at HMS thunderer, the Royal Naval Engineering College in Plymouth.
they were doing their basic training before gaining a commission.
‘After completing the training course, those of us hoping to be pilots went to RAF Linton- on- Ouse, near York,’ said Jim.
We managed to find five former cadets and were informed of six others who have passed away.
Only three are still missing: David Sheen, Nick tyler and Mike Lines.
‘As a result of the Missing And Found column, we were able to have a reunion in Poole, Dorset,’ said Jim.
‘From the instant we met again after 57 years, there was that special bond between us. it was as if time had stood still. We went over the paths our lives had taken over the years and a great time was had by all.
‘ We certainly hope to arrange further reunions.’