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.
‘BACK in May 1961, 19 young lads arrived at RAF St Athan, in the Vale of Glamorgan, to begin training as motor transport mechanics,’ writes Iain Rowland.
‘As part of the 43rd Entry Boy Entrants, they managed to complete their training and, in December 1962, were posted around the country.
‘ Over the years, some met when their paths crossed, but all 19 have never been together at one time. With perseverance, most were found and last year saw our first reunion.
‘Sadly, one had died, but some were still missing. Now the whereabouts of all are known except for one: John Flood, last known to be in Cyprus in 1964.
‘We are keen to locate John so we can celebrate our 60th anniversary with a full house in 2021. After training, I was posted to Stradishall, Suffolk, followed by tours in Aden, Germany and Malta.
‘I finished in the rank of chief technician, then joined the police. I retired in 2000 and moved to Devon. Sadly my wife died a few years ago.
‘Now 73, my life is flashing by, but the reunions allow us to catch up with each other’s lives. We just need John to add his experiences.’ ThREE months ago, Elizabeth Cunningham-Brown, of Stockbridge, hampshire, was seeking the nurses with whom she trained at St Peter’s hospital in Chertsey, Surrey, in the mid-Sixties.
‘We were a terrific group, and throughout our time training together we spent many happy hours organising parties, going out and, after night duty, drinking coffee and smoking in our “cubby hole” ( bedroom). And working hard, of course.’
She explained she had been able to keep in touch with only two of the girls: Maggie Wright ( nee Lintill) and Jenny Crawford (nee harris). ‘If you can find the others, it would be lovely to get together to reminisce about old times and catch up on each other’s lives.’
The nurses in Elizabeth’s picture are: (back row, from left) Jennifer Burden, Maggie, Jenny and Madeleine Quartermain; ( front row, from left) Mary O’Sullivan, Shirley Peters and Beth Gibbons.
Our researchers Jeff Pinson and David Kilby have found two of the missing women: Jennifer (nicknamed JC), with whom a delighted Elizabeth has been in touch, and Madeleine, who might have been away on holiday earlier, but I hope has by now been contacted.