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.
SANDIE FELLINGHAM and her husband Simon are trying to trace their long-lost friends from the past, ian and Jenny micklewright.
‘Back in the early Seventies, ian and Simon lived in the same block of flats, St george’s Court in east grinstead, Surrey. They became firm friends,’ writes Sandie.
‘i then moved into the flat with Simon and met ian and his girlfriend Jenny. We had many happy times together, wining and dining.
‘in 1976, Simon and i married in Crawley Register Office and they were our witnesses. We celebrated afterwards at the Felbridge hotel in east grinstead. When ian and Jenny got married a year later, Simon was best man.
‘ian had a good singing voice and used to practise with some of his friends, and i’d go and listen.
‘Whenever there was a group playing at a local pub, ian would get up to join in with them. my favourite song was daniel by elton John and ian used to sing it so well.
‘every time i hear that song, i think of ian singing in the pub. in 1982, Simon and i, plus our two children, Oliver and amy, went to live in South africa.
‘We returned once in 1996 and stayed with ian and Jenny, but after that we lost contact.
‘now, after 32 years in africa, we’ve returned to england to retire and our children are settling in well. We live in norfolk and, apart from the weather, it’s great to be home.
‘We’d dearly love to get back in touch with ian and Jenny. ian used to call me “Jobbins”.
‘it would be fun to meet up again. The last time we met they were living in the Reigate/ dorking area of Surrey. i’d be more than grateful if you could trace this family for us.’
IN SEPTEMBER, Jennifer hankinson asked for our help: ‘ i’ll soon be marking my golden wedding anniversary and would dearly love to find my two bridesmaids, Joan daley and Val lewis.
‘We’ve all moved quite a lot over the past 50 years and so have lost contact.
‘my husband alan and i got married at St mary’s church in prestwich.
‘Val and i had been good friends all through our secondary school years — we dictaphone typist, and have a attended hope park , daughter Tracy, who lives in prestwich, an all-girls second-australia, and a son alan, who ary modern — and went bell-lives in the Blackpool area. ringing every Thursday. ‘and i have three gorgeous
‘She married shortly after grandchildren. i do hope that me and then moved to you will be able to find Joan Whitefield. Joan and i went to and Val.’ Jersey on holiday in 1964. Sadly, we received this email
‘ She lived in Blakeley, from anita lindley, nee Wood: manchester, and we used ‘Val was my best friend for 51 to go to the Bodega nightclub years. But, unfortunately, she in manchester. passed away four years ago.
‘We palled about for years. i ‘The other bridesmaid, Joan, don’t know whether Joan ever did marry and her surname is got married. Stone. i also knew Jennifer.
‘i’d be thrilled to be in touch please give her my email.’ with them again. in 1992 we Other long-lost friends of moved to Wales, where we Jennifer’s, ann and Frank bought a hotel and now live hanvey, emailed and asked to outside prestatyn. be re- connected. So now, ‘ i’m retired, but was a where can Joan be? 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.