MISSING . . .
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 Gosden of Aylesford, Kent, tells us: ‘In september 1957, five 16-year-olds and one 18-year-old met for the first time when, as new apprentices, they were assigned to the same room in the RollsRoyce apprentice hostel at the Knoll in derby.
‘They were myself, John shepherd from Loughton in essex, norman naylor from Liverpool, Terry Morrell from Wales, Michael Brown from sittingbourne in Kent and Peter Beaumont from London.
‘I’m still in touch with norman and Pete, but believe that Terry died at a young age and have lost touch with John shepherd and Mick Brown.
‘I’d love to hear from John and Mick if they’re still around, and also any information about Terry.
My photo shows, standing (from left): norman, John shepherd, John Gosden and Pete, and sitting down (from left) Mick and Terry.
‘The Knoll was a melting pot of boys from different backgrounds. Friendships were made which, in some cases, have lasted almost 60 years. We learned about coexisting in harmony in circumstances not unlike the boarding schools of the era, but with more freedom.
‘The Knoll was run by the Warden, Mr haxby, who was also the deputy training manager at Rolls-Royce.
‘We learned to drink beer, ride motorbikes and ballroom dance (with the aim of meeting young ladies). After a year at the Knoll we moved into individual lodgings. Good days with happy memories.
‘Afterwards, as a RollsRoyce-trained draughtsman, I had no problems getting a job, which happened to be in the new plastics industry, until retiring in 2006.’