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.
John Batchelor, of Tonbridge, Kent, tells us 2016 will not only mark 50 years since England won the Football World Cup, but ‘it will also be the 50th anniversary of the first 6th form year at Tonbridge County Secondary Modern School for Boys.
‘on leaving school, a number of us spent a week in Bournemouth and watched the Final before travelling back to Kent to follow our various careers, in some cases losing contact.
‘over the past two years, the head boy at the time, Paul Connor, and I have tried to trace our fellow class members with the purpose of holding a 50-year reunion on September 13-14 at the Rose & Crown hotel in Tonbridge.
‘of the 11 traced, one is still living in Tonbridge, while others are i n Maidstone, Tunbridge Wells, Cranleigh, Stockport — and one as far away as Queensland, Australia.
‘All are hoping, health permitting, to attend. We are seeking your help in tracing the final two as so far we’ve drawn a blank. one is John Thorpe, f ormerly of Judd Road, Tonbridge. he had a younger sister, Angela. Both went to Sussex Road Primary. In the photo (above), John is far right of the top row.
‘The other is Roy Jenner, who also lived on Judd Road and had two brothers, Andrew and Richard. he went to work for the GPo on leaving school.
‘Roy is in the front row, second from the left.
‘Paul is in the back row, second left, and I am second right, next to John Thorpe. one class member was away the day the picture was taken.’