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 would love to know what happened to my best friend diane Harrison after we lost contact in the Sixties,’ writes Irene Harper, nee digby.
‘In 1960, when I was 15, my father got a job at a new hotel near Heathrow Airport and we moved into a house in Cranford, Middlesex.
‘ I went to Mellow lane comprehensive in Hayes and made friends with fellow redhead diane.
‘She was born in July 1945, a few months before me. we became close and liked it when people thought we were sisters.
‘diane left school before me to work at the dunlop Rubber Company in london’s west End.
‘we loved to socialise and would go to the osterley Jazz Club, Cowley Jazz Club and Eel Pie Island in Twickenham. At one of these clubs, when I was 17, I met my future husband, Peter Harper.
‘diane became friendly with Ted, who played in a jazz band. we secretly met up with our boyfriends during one summer holiday, and not long after that I lost contact with diane.
‘I married Peter in 1966, but after only seven years of a happy marriage, he died from lung cancer.
‘ I moved back to Kent, worked in the City for years and am now 72 and retired. I often reflect on the fun days we had as teenagers. I’d love to see diane again.’ Reunited shipmates are looking forward to reminiscing over a tot of rum.
last december, david Moore wrote: ‘I joined the Royal Navy aged 16 in 1960. I served on the submarines HMS Token and HMS Anchorite in the Far East. on my return to England, I was drafted to HMS Forth.
‘At the end of 1967, at the time of the withdrawal of British Forces from Aden, we sailed from Singapore to Mombasa in Kenya. As part of the taskforce of ships, we were deployed to support the submarines.
‘I was a radio operator and part of a spare crew contingent in case a replacement was required on a sub.
‘My picture was taken in the Forth’s spare crew mess at tot time — when we were issued with rum. I am standing in the middle, in front of the noticeboard.
‘After the Navy, I was a police officer until I retired.’ John Rice has been in touch: ‘I served on HMS Forth from 1967 to 1968, and remember sailing to Mombasa and spending Christmas and my 18th birthday there.
‘I no doubt came across david, as I was a greenie, or electrician.
‘when the boats tied up alongside the Forth, we would run electric cables so they could shut down their diesel generators. The crews would come aboard to sample the Forth’s delicacies.
‘ I’m looking forward to contacting david.’
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. A small donation will be requested for employing Gill Whitley’s services.