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.
BOBBIE Coughlan, nee Rigg, tells us: ‘Fifty years ago next y e ar, St Mary’s College in Strawberry Hill, Twickenham, admitted women for the first time. i was one of them.
‘in my first year, 38 of us were housed in Park House, east Twickenham and my roommate was Joan Wilson. We were very good fr i ends throughout college, but later lost contact.
‘i have always wanted to get back in touch, but have been unable to do so.
‘Joan was from Fulwood, Preston, and she married Bill edwards on Teeside in 1969. i know their first child was a daughter called emma.
‘Joan will be 67 this year and i would love for her to be able to attend the 50th anniversary reunion i am organising in August 2016.
‘i would be thrilled if you could find her for me. i am sure other female students from 1966 to 1969 must read this column and i’d love them to get in touch, so they, too, can attend the reunion. i attach a photo in the hope it jogs memories.
‘Joan’s mother used to send her food parcels of cakes, crisps and other treats and, as both of us came from the North-West, we made crisp sandwiches in an attempt to make chip butties — but they were never the same!
‘We studied history together, so we had a common interest as well as Northern roots. We both married fellow students — i married Brian.
‘i have three children, but don’t know if Joan had any children after emma. We have a lot to catch up on!
‘Many thanks for your help.’ We RAN a story in February sent in by Mel Thomas on behalf of his 96-year-old father, John Frederick Kettley, who wanted to know if any of his World War ii comrades were still alive.
He served with the Hertfordshire Yeomanry at the start of the war, before transferring to the REME (Royal electrical and Mechanical engineers), where he served for most of the rest of the conflict.
Aged 20, John was called up for six months’ training at oswestry and then at Aldershot. Afterwards, he was sent to France with the British expeditionary Force, returning to england after Dunkirk.
In the REME, he was promoted to staff sergeant and posted to the isle of Sheppey with the anti-aircraft guns defending against V1 rockets. He later returned to France with the Canadian Army, then moved on to Antwerp, and Nijmegen for the Battle of the Bulge. So he certainly saw a lot of action.
Mel also told us that John was a teacher after the war, working in secondary and middle schools in Bradford. The story elicited this response from Chris Miller: ‘While i have no information concerning John Kettley’s Forces colleagues, i remember being taught by him at Whetley Lane school in Bradford between 1971 and 1973.
‘He mainly taught us science, but also technical drawing once a week, as well as teaching us chess. He was a very kind if slightly eccentric teacher and reading your article brought back happy memories.
‘i don’t know if he would remember me, but i was the school’s cross country and athletics champion for the two years i was there. Please pass on my best wishes.’
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. this column is researched with the aid of Peopletracer (www.peopletracer.co.uk). A small donation will be requested for employing Gill Whitley’s services.