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.
Norman Leslie emails: ‘i hope you can help me trace ian Hart, an old friend from my youth. We grew up in the same road, Wentworth Crescent, in Hayes, middlesex.
‘i was born in 1941 and ian was about two years younger. We played in the road with the other children.
‘When we were a bit older, we went to Pinkwell Park to play football — ian loved being goalkeeper. He was a keen manchester United fan.
‘We went to different senior schools: i was at Bishopshalt in Uxbridge and ian went to Townfield or mellow Lane in Hayes.
‘our saturday evenings were fun nights dancing at the Town Hall in reading, the Castle in richmond or the Hammersmith Palais.
‘When he left school, ian qualified as a printer. i worked at a bank in London, but in 1964 i started a job with a tile company and was excited to have a company car.
‘That Good Friday, i drove us to Bournemouth for a day out. it was hot and we had a great time on the beach, followed by a club and dancing.
‘Too late to drive home, we slept in my Ford anglia before returning to Hayes the next day.
‘ian and i lost touch in the mid-sixties, when he went to live in Camberley, surrey, soon after his wedding, at which i was his best man.
‘it would be great to be reunited after so many decades without being in contact with each other.’
Last November, we ran a story about 73-year-old ann mytton’s search for her old friend anne Whiting, with whom she lost contact in 1968.
she wrote: ‘We were pupils at milton County secondary modern in Portsmouth until 1960, and anne lived with her family in a houseboat at milton Locks.
‘anne and i socialised with friends after school and went dancing in southsea.
‘on one of our earliest nights out, anne’s neighbour escorted us to south Parade Pier for oldtime dancing. it seems quaint now to think we were chaperoned to protect us from the sailors at this night spot!
‘our friend Colin’s parents kindly gave over their front room for our group of friends, where we listened to records and chatted while the boys played guitars.
‘We made our own entertainment without the trappings of 21st-century youth, and it was an idyllic time.
‘after school, anne went into nursing and i worked in Portsmouth’s Central Library. We also moved on from old-time dancing to jive, practising moves in my parents’ front room.
‘anne married Tony Whiting, who was in the army, at Portsmouth register office in July 1961. i married and moved away in January 1968 and deeply regret we lost contact. i’ve always wondered how anne’s life panned out. i’d be so grateful if your column manages to reunite us.’
and we have! our ace sleuths marigold Cleeve and Jeff Pinson found contact details for anne’s niece and her daughter.
ann informed us: ‘i’ve made contact with anne, who lives an hour’s drive away! We’ve arranged to meet soon. Thank you for your kind assistance.’
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.