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.
COLIN DAVIES wonders if we can help find Hans Dustervaldt and his sister Hannelore, from Cologne in Germany.
He explains: ‘My family lived in Bournemouth when, in 1957, King’s English Language school opened on Braidley Road. It still exists today.
‘My mother decided to take in students and Hans was one of the first. He was exceptionally pleasant, and during the nine months of his stay became part of the family — more than just a paying guest.
‘Although this was only 12 years after the end of the war and relations between Germans and Brits were still fragile, we found Hans to be warm and generous.
‘He invited us all for a holiday in Cologne and we were hugely impressed by his family and friends. Hans’ sister Hannelore and I became great pals. Later she came to Bournemouth to stay with us and we promised to stay in touch.
‘However, when I failed my A-levels and couldn’t go to university, I felt I’d let everyone down and stopped writing.
‘I moved to London and planned to write again once I’d found a good job. Time passed and I never did. But I have not forgotten Hans and Hannelore, and I’d love to know how life treated them.
‘I was too young and naive to realise how much their friendships meant to me.
‘ I did go to university eventually and became a teacher. Now retired, I was diagnosed with cancer a while ago and, although currently under control, am desperate to contact them while time permits.’ LAST year we reunited Tynesider Ron Taylor, 79, with one of his Royal Engineer tentmates during Britain’s detonation of H-bombs off the Pacific atoll of Christmas Island in 1958.
He and fellow National service sappers sat facing away from the explosions during the nuclear tests, their hands pressed into their eyes to prevent blindness from the laserlike flashes and searing heat.
Ron wrote: ‘As one of many young National serviceman at the sharp end of the H-Bomb tests, I enjoyed a close camaraderie with those sharing this stressful experience.
‘I’ve never forgotten or given up trying to locate the lads alongside me at that time. some of them are already gone, because many test veterans have died from radiation-induced cancers.’
We reconnected Ron with fellow Christmas Island sapper Alan Clack, now of Chelmsford in Essex, and Ron wrote: ‘Fantastic! Alan and I had months of laughs and friendship. I’m absolutely delighted and will ring soon.’
Now this email arrives from Linda Crutch: ‘My uncle Mick Maddox was on Christmas Island and knew the men in the photograph.
‘He’s never really spoken to me about it, but after seeing the article became very emotional, recounting stories.
‘He’d like to make contact with Ron. Unfortunately he now has Huntington’s Disease and lives in a nursing home.
‘Could you put him in touch with his former comrades?’
Done!
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.