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.
SOUTH African Rosemary Channer, nee Whitley, is looking for her British relatives.
‘I was born in Pretoria and came to London aged one with my mother, Connie, big sister, Rhona, eight, and grandmother, Lily Robinson,’ she writes.
‘I believe we had run away from my father. We lived in Russell Square, Central London, then Tufnell Park, North London, until 1958 when, then aged 13, my mother and I returned to South Africa. I finished my schooling there, married twice and had my son.
‘ In 2008, my husband Richard and I emigrated to the UK. We now live in Margate, Kent.
‘I’m a British citizen as my father, Arthur Whitley, was born in Belfast on May 28, 1909. I’d like to make contact with any of his relatives.
‘I’m also keen to hear from family who knew me as a child in England. I remember some of those on my mother’s side of the family in Leeds: Lilly Abbot and her sons Trevor and Robin, who would be about my age, 72, and Doris Foster, her daughter Rita and son Gordon.
‘Lisa Lanz was my best friend from 1947 to 1958. I spent happy weekends at her home in Hampstead.
‘ Bobby ( I’m afraid I’ve forgotten his surname), who lived in Coram Street, hosted my 21st birthday when I visited the UK.’ A GROUP of friends who travelled overland from Johannesburg to Britain in 1975 have been reunited.
A few months ago, we heard from John Matthews: ‘My friend John McCutcheon and I moved to South Africa in 1970. In 1975, he suggested an expedition to drive back to Britain, which would take three-and-a-half months.
‘There were 18 of us on this adventure, but we have lost track of our fellow travellers.
‘ The trip was run by Encounter Overland and our guide and driver, Bill Wallace, traversed politically precarious Africa and maintained the old Army Bedford lorry.
‘We left Johannesburg on July 22 and reached London on November 12, having driven 13,123 miles.
‘We flew around Victoria Falls, climbed Mount Kilimanjaro, saw flamingos in Kenya and elephants in the sea and crossed the Sahara Desert. John and I would love to reunite with the others.’
Several of the travellers have been in touch. Neil Wilkinson wrote: ‘My mother, who lives in England, called me about the column. I have lived in Toronto for 40 years and often think about the expedition.
‘With the exception of Neil and Chris Robinson, who also live in Toronto, I’ve lost contact, too. Please pass on my details to John.’
Martin Hobday and Pete and Alison Kennington have also responded — and we have heard from expedition leader Bill Wallace.
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.