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 wife elaine and i will be celebrating our golden wedding anniversary on february 25,’ writes Colin Hagan, ‘and we are hoping you can find my best man and one of our bridesmaids.
‘in my photo, the lady on the left is my cousin Jacqueline, on the right is best man Richard woods, and the bridesmaid standing next to him is Ann Stapleton.
‘i was an airframe technician on No 5 fighter Squadron at RAF Binbrook from 1965 to 1968. elaine was in the WRAF as an assistant Air Traffic Controller at the time.
‘She invited me to her 21st birthday party — and that was that! She left the WRAF in 1966 and we married the following year in Chaddesden, Derby (elaine’s home).
‘Richard was an electrician on the same squadron and i used to visit his home in Bourne, Lincolnshire, on weekend leave.
‘Bridesmaid Ann (my girlfriend before elaine) also worked in air traffic control. Surprisingly, they ended up close friends.
‘Not long after we married, i was posted to RAF Gibraltar for a few years. Unfortunately, we lost touch.
‘I left the RAF in 1987 and went on to fly with BA and Virgin Atlantic as a flight engineer. Now, at the ripe old age of 69, i teach future pilots in their ground studies at Bristol Groundschool.
‘elaine works as a doctor’s receptionist. we have three children and eight grandchildren, all living near us in Chippenham, wiltshire.
‘it would be marvellous if Richard and Ann could be found and join us for a very special celebration, our golden wedding anniversary.’
A few months ago, Delia (Dee) Sedgwick told us: ‘i started reading the Daily Mail at 16, when i began commuting by train to work in the City of London from my home in Highams Park in the east end.
‘when i met my husband, i converted him to the Mail, too, and we’ve read it ever since.’
Dee turned to her favourite paper for help, asking: ‘i’ve been trying to get in touch with my friend from Highams Park, Janet Donaghue, who i knew from the age of five.
‘ we were very close and talked about everything. when i passed my driving test aged 17 and bought an A40 car (costing £45), we both washed our hair, put rollers in and went for “a short ride”.
‘we eventually turned up at Newmarket — still with our rollers in — and went to a pub to ask for a book of matches to prove where we had been.
‘On leaving school, i worked for an insurance company (boring!) and Janet worked for the Ministry of Defence.
‘ She married and her surname became flecknoe, but later divorced. i would dearly love to see her again. weup Andto have do.’we so have mucha result! catching Our skilled voluntary researchers David Kilby and Jeff Pinson strutted their stuff and, before long, Dee sent this update. ‘i just had to write and let you know that, yesterday evening, i saw my great friend Janet, who still lives in east London. i can’t put into words just how grateful i am. ‘we chatted for a long time, and have exchanged email addresses, phone numbers, etc. Please thank the researchers for me. Bless you.’
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.