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.
‘I’M HOPING for a reunion of Canon United FC, which was based in Pinner, Middlesex, between 1966 and 1968,’ writes Martin Hadland.
‘ We played on Sunday afternoons at the Croft Park in Cannonbury Avenue.
‘I managed to get in touch with two old team-mates, John Chinnery and Neville Thompson, and we met for a drink and a chat. But I’d like to find the others.
‘This team photo was taken in late 1966 or early 1967. In the back row, from left to right, is a referee, Brian Collinge, me, Nigel Palmer, Reg Harrell, Ian Thompson and Neville Thompson. In the front row is Steve Senior, John Chinnery, Nigel Franklin, Phil Salmon and Colin McMullen.
‘ Other players were Tom Brownlow, Gordon Atkinson, John Phipps and Chris Ramsden.
‘As 50 years have passed, I’m sure our playing days are well behind us, but I bet these lads can still talk a good game.
‘It would be great to all get together and do just that.’ BRIAN WARd, from Meopham in Kent, wrote: ‘I would love you to find my cycle racing friends from the Fifties and Sixties.
‘ In 1952, while still at Shooter’s Hill Grammar School, I founded the Metro Cycle Racing Club.
‘We met each week in a cellar under the Meridian cycle shop next to the Royal Naval College in Greenwich, South- East London, and most evenings went for a training ride.
‘At weekends we entered, and won, road races.
‘We were aged 15 to 18, and paper rounds and odd jobs provided us with the bicycles that gave us freedom, adventure and comradeship.
‘Now we’re all in our 70s and 80s, I’d love to rekindle the friendships.
‘Four of us already keep in touch, but we’d like to trace Joe James, Albert Hayes, Tom Sansom, david Jenkins, Peter Russell and Vernon Williams.’ Joe has sent an email: ‘Whathe photo,in ‘I our writes.am a club taken bottomblast roomI from think right abovethe in in past!’1956 thethe eel Square,and pie Woolwich.shop in Beresford ‘I fondly remember those glory days and would love to make contact again.’ Brian responded: ‘I cannot describe my emotions on receiving this wonderful news. I have invited Joe to a reunion this summer.’