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.
Catherine eileen Saar, nee Jacobs, a former school teacher, 87, writes from Canterbury: ‘From the age of 15, my father arthur Jacobs belonged to the eton Manor Boys’ Club in hackney Wick, east london, which had wonderful sports facilities on the hackney Marshes.
‘he was an amateur boxer in his youth and later became a boxing instructor. We always said that his two great loves were his family and the club.
‘immediately after World War ii, a number of the young men from the club became good friends of our family.
‘i remember Joe Collins, Joe Cowley, Joe rood, harry Busby, len Baxter and alfie atkins. they were only a year or two older than me.
‘evenings at my parents’ home were spent chatting and singing, with me playing the piano. We drank lemonade and endless cups of tea. Oh, what unsophisticated enjoyment! after i married and moved to north london, i no longer saw these friends. the club closed and this is the only photo i have to remind me of it.
‘Dad is on the left, harry Busby in the centre and Joe rood on the right.
‘We are all close to 90 now, and nostalgia for such carefree happy times has prompted me to write to you.
‘i would love to hear any news from such good friends or their families.’
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 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 is requested for employing Gill Whitley’s services.
‘My Wife elaine and i will be celebrating our golden wedding on February 25,’ wrote Colin hagan a few weeks ago. ‘We hope you can find my best man and one of our bridesmaids.
‘in my photo the lady on the left is my cousin Jacqueline, on the right is best man richard Woods, and the bridesmaid standing next to him is ann Stapleton.
‘i was an airframe technician on no 5 Fighter Squadron at RAF Binbrook from 1965 to 1968. elaine was in the WRAF as an assistant air traffic controller at the same time.
‘She invited me to her 21st birthday party and that was that! She left the WRAF in 1966 and we married the following year. richard was an electrician on the same squadron and ann worked in air traffic control.
‘not long after we wed, i was posted to RAF Gibraltar and we lost touch. i left the RAF in 1987 and went on to fly with Ba and Virgin atlantic as a flight engineer.
‘now 69, i teach trainee pilots at Bristol Ground-school. it would be marvellous if richard and ann could be found and join us for our anniversary.’
Sadly, friends of richard Woods emailed to tell us he died in 2001, aged just 54.
ann Stapleton (now ann Cranwell and living in Brentwood, essex) made contact and is naturally glad to be back in touch with the hagans.
Colin has sent this update: ‘We are delighted to reconnect with ann and, with Jacqueline, will all get together and celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary. the first toast will be in memory of richard.
‘a big thank you for making this happen.’