MISSING . . . . . . AND FOUND
THE DAILY MAIL offers the 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 and a tale of people reunited. Produced in conjunction with the voluntary tracing service Searching For A Memory, runun by Gill Whitley.
CAN Jimmy find his cousin? Octogenarian Jimmy Cragg, who lives in Bavaria, writes: ‘I’d be grateful if you could locate Robert Flynn, the son of my mother’s sister Dorothy. He’s three years older than me, so would be 89. We haven’t seen each other for about 40 years, since I left England. ‘We grew up not far from each other in the area around Maidenhead and Windsor and were good friends — we even took occasional trips together. My picture was taken near Zurich on a visit to a Swiss family friend, Karl Beckmann. ‘Eventually, Bob and I began to meet less often, mostly at family events. When last I saw him he was living in London with his wife Samantha, enjoying a successful career in advertising. I had a job in banking, which I didn’t enjoy. ‘My first wife and I divorced in 1977 and a few years later I married Renate, a teacher, and moved to her home city of Munich. I joined her brother’s catering firm and later became his business partner. Life has worked out very happily for me in Germany, but the older I get, the more I reflect on the past and the people I shared it with. It would be lovely to invite Bob here, and catch up with him and Samantha.’
A FRIEND has been in touch. Last month, Graham Minter, 79, of Rainham in Essex was searching for two classmates from Tennyson Street School in Battersea, South London, in the late 1950s. ‘Kenny Flack and Ronnie Mullins played football for the school team. I was in goal. We also played for Wandsworth against Hackney in the English Schools Cup. In the Hackney team in November 1959 was Ron ‘Chopper’ Harris, who went on to captain Chelsea. ‘Kenny and Ronnie were in my class throughout our time at the school; although we got up to mischief, we got our work done. I lost touch with them after leaving in 1960. I hope you can trace my pals, so we can remember the great times we had.’ Luckily, Ron Mullins emailed us and asked to be put in touch with Graham. Now, can Kenny be far behind?
■ IF THERE is someone you’d 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 phone number. All communications answered as soon as possible. A small donation is requested for employing Gill Whitley’s services. This column is researched with the aid of 192.com.