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. Chris PasCo, nee Bunn, is trying to trace her old work friend, Christine Barnes, nee Glavin.
‘she lived in Glebe street, oldham, Manchester, during the Fifties and sixties and will be about 68 now,’ writes Chris. ‘We worked together at Bentinck Ltd, a car finance company on the fifth floor of the Tootal Building on Great Bridgewater street.
‘We sat at desks next to each other and worked on NCr machines, putting the customers’ payments on to the cards. in our free time we went to various local bars and clubs.
‘she was also my bridesmaid when i married in 1970. a couple of years later, she married Brian Barnes, who worked for shell.
‘Because of his job, they had to move to Malaysia for several years. We met up again when they returned to the UK. They later moved house and Christine sent me a Christmas card with her new address on the back, but i forgot to write it down before throwing away the card. and that was how we lost contact, sometime in the Eighties.
‘i would love to find her and meet up again, to know how she has been. My picture shows us together in the late sixties with a few colleagues — Pat, Norma and Veronica.
‘i am now aged 67 and have been living in Monton, in Eccles, Manchester, for many years. i have been in the same job at an optician’s for more than 40 years.’ LasT year, we ran this tale from Janet Little, nee Coleclough: ‘i’m hoping you can trace some of the girls in my picture. it was taken at my 14th birthday party on November 5, 1961. i’m in the front row, second from left, next to my sister, Gill.
‘The other girls in the picture are: Margaret Mason, Norma Barlow, Dorothy Baker (with whom i’m in contact), Jennifer Blagden, Dorothy Taylor, Jennifer Conroy, Carol heathcote, Monica Wallace, angela Prescott, Christine Pilkington and Kathleen Kelly. The “real cool” girl is Christine’s cousin.
‘Most of us attended Baguley hall secondary Modern school in Manchester. i’m hoping to organise a reunion next year.’
indefatigable researcher Jeff Pinson tracked down angela Prescott and her daughter and Janet has been in touch — first speaking on the phone, then meeting in person.
and another reconnection has been achieved: ‘Thanks for forwarding me the letter enclosing class photos from John howard,’ writes Janet.
‘he attended Baguley hall Primary, although not the secondary school, and now lives in Bury. We’ve been in contact by email and caught up with each other’s lives. Many thanks.’
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. A small donation will be requested for employing Gill Whitley’s services. this column is researched with the aid of www.192.com.