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 NAME is Patricia (Tricia) Clark, nee Deasington,’ writes a follower of this column. ‘I joined Princess Mary’s Royal Air Force Nursing Service in November 1967 — No. 5 State Enrolled Nurse course at RAF Halton — for six weeks’ basic training.
Though called course No. 5, it was actually the first one, so we were the guinea pigs!
‘In January 1968 we went to RAF Ely Hospital to start our nursing training. Several others joined the course here, including Brandy, Sue Connor and Harry Brett.
‘Soon after we were fitted with our uniforms. The “best blue” fitted me and Ann Coe (nee Booth), not requiring any alterations. The woman in charge said we must be a funny shape. We were also issued with “passion killers” — silk knickers which changed colour when washed and returned to their original colour when they were ironed. At Halton we learnt how to march (well some of us did), “bull” (clean) a room and shoes and make a bed pack. It was great to support each other, as we all felt like fish out of water.
‘Those in my photo include, (back row from left): Ann, me, Gordon Willis, Jan Czumaj (excuse spelling), Cilla Brittain and Sandy Parker nee Hill. Front row from left: Carol Mills, Jan Llewelyn, Cpl Goldberg, Caroline Stanley and Chris Trimm nee O’Connor.
‘As it’s 50 years since we first met, it would be great to hold a reunion. I now live in Gillingham, Kent. Thanks for your help.’ TWO months ago Terry Lucy was looking for a group of his friends from the Hamlet of Ratcliffe School in Stepney, East London, who won the London Schools’ Under-12s Chess Championships for several years running back in the Sixties.
‘I have the names of all the team members and would love to locate them. Our head, Mr Ronald Brock, was a former Lancaster gunner in World War II, and was shot down over Germany. He spent camp, wheretwo yearshe perfectedin a PoW his chess-playing skills.
‘Mr Brock dedicated his life to us East End kids and was a great character, smoking his pipe all day.
‘He passed on his chess skills to us; he insisted everyone had to play. We were no good at football, but when it came to chess there wasn’t a team in London for three years who could beat us.’
Our excellent volunteer researchers found a number of these chess aces, including Lesleyney): MissingI’m Lesley writing‘After McCarthy mentionedand beingto Foundsay told (neeI section,earlier,amof Dela- yourthe livingon my in email Suffolk.to Terry. Please pass ‘ I remember a chess tournament we went to in 1967 at Butlins, and how Mr Brock would warm the crates of milk by the fire in the classroom in winter, and the prize days when people like Morecambe and Wise and Harry Secombe would come to give out prizes. Good times.’
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 email 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.