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. SCHOOL caretaker Mike Hickey is keen to trace players from his teenage football team in the Sixties.
‘The team photo of Watling Boys Football Club was taken in 1963,’ says Mike, of Borehamwood, Hertfordshire.
‘I’ve contacted two teammates, Pat Prior and Chris Game, who have retired after working for British Rail, and would love to hear from the others. Now in our 70s, perhaps we can arrange a game of walking football!
‘Watling Boys FC was one of the best local teams in Middlesex in the Sixties. We all came from the Watling Estate in Burnt Oak and it was a real honour to play.
‘Other players I can recall are Chris Stocker, Francis Conway, Jimmy Bell, Brian Hurcombe and Kevin Burke.’ UNFORTUNATELY, not all our stories have a happy ending. Sybbie Ling, of St Mary in Jersey, was hoping to trace Susan Bennison, with whom she lost contact in 1964.
They were boarders and best friends at Calder Girls’ School in Seascale, Cumbria, from 1959 to 1964.
‘I had many happy holidays with Susan’s family at their home in Appleby-in-Westmorland, Cumbria,’ said Sybbie. ‘We rode Shetland ponies, Sunny and Lucky.
‘At the end of summer term in 1964, when I was 12, my parents came to collect me and told me I’d be going to Harrogate College. I never had a chance to say goodbye to Susan. I’ve felt guilty ever since at not having explained to her why I left.’
Sadly, we received this email from Jane Pakalski: ‘Sue was my younger sister and, unfortunately, she died of cancer in 2016. I remember Sybbie at school and know she and Sue were great pals.
‘I’d be happy to tell Sybbie about Sue and her life.’
Sybbie replied: ‘How I wish I’d tried to trace Susan years ago. I’ll definitely get in touch with Jane.’