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.
A COUPLE are trying to trace their best man, 46 years after their marriage. ‘Bob Vaughan came to Utrecht in Holland for our wedding in June 1972,’ writes Christine Smith, of Romsey, Hants.
‘He was an engineer with British India (part of P&O) and studied engineering at the same time as my husband, Mike Smith, at the Marine College in South Shields, which is where they met. They shared a flat and became great friends.
‘Bob was originally from Wolverhampton and in 1973, he married Margaret and moved to Stafford.
‘ We were living near Eastleigh and the Vaughans came to see us when they were on a cargo ship that docked in Southampton.
‘We lost touch with Bob in 1974, due to yet another move, and I believe he later divorced. In 1979, Mike joined Shell International and we moved abroad with our children for almost ten years — to Holland, Oman, Brunei and then Aberdeen.
‘ In 1993, we moved to Romsey and have been here ever since.
‘Mike and I are 73 and 72, while Bob would be a year or so younger. It would be wonderful to meet again and catch up.’ BEST friends from school in the Sixties have been reunited. ‘In 1960, when I was 15, my father got a job in a new hotel near Heathrow Airport and the family moved to Cranford, Middlesex,’ wrote Irene Harper, nee Digby.
‘ I went to Mellow Lane comprehensive in Hayes and made friends with a fellow redhead, Diane Harrison, who lived nearby.
‘When we went to jazz clubs, we pretended to be sisters.
‘After leaving school, Diane worked as a secretary with the Dunlop Rubber Company in London.
‘When I was 17, I met Peter Harper at a jazz club and Diane became friendly with Ted, a jazz musician.
‘The summer we were 18, we went with my parents on a caravan holiday to Devon, during which we met up in secret with our boyfriends!
‘I married Peter in 1966 and moved to Berkshire. After seven happy years together, he died from lung cancer. I moved to Kent and worked in the City until I retired. I am 72 and never remarried. I often reflect on the fun we had as teenagers.’
Diane (now Keir) wrote: ‘I couldn’t believe it when I started reading the Missing . . . And Found! column and saw my name. What a lovely surprise to hear that Irene wants to get in touch.’
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.