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.
ADRIAN Watkinson writes: ‘in September 1965, a group of around 24 students arrived at Hendon College of Technology in north London to study for a four-year national diploma course in hotel and catering management.
‘By 1969, our numbers had greatly reduced and just 12 of us graduated. The attached photo of Peter Brainch and Peter Howard- Jones was taken at the post-exam party held at the home of Bryan Ward, our much-respected course tutor.
‘ Since that evening, the group had mostly lost touch with each other.
‘Last year, a couple of us realised September 2015 would be the 50th anniversary of when we all first met. With such a milestone coming up, we decided to try to reunite our group and celebrate with a reunion lunch in London.
‘Our efforts have far exceeded our initial expectations and 13 of us are now i n regular contact. Besides those of us in the UK, we are represented in Australia, Canada and Kenya. But we’re still hoping to reconnect with the rest of our group and welcome them to our lunch. We would also welcome news of Bryan Ward, who was later head of catering school at Weybridge College, Surrey.
‘The names which crop up most frequently are Maureen Fisher (her parents ran the Lytton Arms at new Barnet i n north London), Penny West (from St Albans) and Peter denney ( from the Channel islands).
‘Everyone from the class of 65 has an open invitation to join us and we’re hoping your readership can come to our assistance.’ TWO months ago, Mike Fenton of Withington, Herefordshire — a passionate r ail way historian — wrote: ‘i have spent 40 years researching the history of a railway in Wiltshire, the Malmesbury branch.
‘i’ve found old photos of the line going back to 1900, making good use of the Great Western railway staff magazine. But i’d like to trace the surviving families of several railwaymen in the hope they’ll have rare photos f rom the pre- 1900 period. i have staff records for these men from the national Archives at Kew.
‘They are Theodore ironsides, a r ai l way policeman at Chippenham in the 1890s; Samuel Jefford, station master at dauntsey and Badminton; Albert Plant, station master at Little Somerford in 1921-36; Thomas Wood, station master at Bruton in 1900, and Evan Harry, engine driver in the Cardiff area in the 1870s and Malmesbury 1877-1908.
‘Arthur Lloyd, station master at Calne from 1907 to the 1920s; Charles Wellington Broom, station master at Marlborough in 1927; Lonnie Sharman, clerk at Cheddar in 1924; George Godby, gateman at dauntsey road Crossing on the Malmesbury branch; and Jack Waite, dauntsey station parcel porter.
‘ There must be f amily albums with photos of them. i attach an image of the cover of my 1990 book on the branch, showing Malmesbury station master Edgar doswell, in the light-coloured trousers.’
English eccentricity is truly a wonderful thing, and we have a result ! richard Wakefield emails: ‘Albert Plant was my uncle, so i’d like to help Mike in any way i can with his research.’
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.