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.
‘My photo shows the members of our RAF station band, the Sunnysiders, outside the Radio Damascus building,’ writes Rick hennessy, 84, of Barnsley in South yorkshire.
‘We had been invited to broadcast that night from a nightclub. I am on the left (I played the clarinet), pete Cazalet is next to me (alto sax), then there’s Chuck Dawson (guitar) and terry (pianist — I can’t recall his surname).
‘I’ve been trying to find pete, Chuck and terry for ages without success.
‘All four of us served in RAF Amman, Jordan, between 1951 and 1954, having been sent to the Middle East on the outbreak of trouble in the Canal Zone.
‘the Sunnysiders played at dances at the officers’ Mess, the Sergeants’ Mess and the NAAFI for the “other ranks”. Besides my fellow Sunnysiders, contact from anyone else who served with us from 1951 to 1954 would also be very welcome.
‘After demob, I worked as an engineering draughtsman for a Sheffield steelworks. But as steel production in Sheffield declined, I left engineering and began a career in banking, retiring in 1991.
‘together with my close ex-RAF mates tex humphries and Ralph Damon, I’d love to find the three missing Sunnysiders.’ WE hAvE an update on a story we ran a few months ago from Kerry ChartersByrne, who said: ‘I’m trying to find an old friend of my wife’s, with whom she lost touch long ago.
‘My wife is Dena Charters, 59, and her friend is yvonne Duffy, who would now be in her mid-60s.
‘they worked together at t. Lyons printers in Liverpool and from there the friendship grew. When yvonne left the printers to work elsewhere, she and Dena would meet every Wednesday evening and cook dinner together while catching up.
‘In 1978, yvonne married Eric Woolley from Liverpool, and what with yvonne’s new married life and Dena’s busy career, contact between them grew less frequent.
‘then, during a house move, Dena lost her address book and so contact was finally lost.’
Well, we have already reunited Dena with a delighted yvonne (now yvonne Clayton), who saw the story and got in touch.
Kerry reported that: ‘Dena and yvonne have spent hours on the phone and are planning a reunion.’
Now we hear from Jan Gilbertson, nee Ritchie, who says that Dena Charters is the sister of her own sister’s husband, tommy Charters. they lost contact long ago and Jan is keen to re-connect.
‘Wow,’ emails Kerry, ‘thank you so much. Dena has sent Jan a message.’
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.