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.
‘I would love to contact any of my set of 23 student nurses who were at Kingston Hospital, in South-west london, from 1957 to 1960,’ writes Estella Harris. ‘we were only 18 to 21 back then, with 22 in waists, and were as close as sisters.
‘I’ve never forgotten those wonderful years. we happily worked long shifts, with some hilarious, as well as sad, night duties, and studied hard for our exams, but still had the energy to go out dancing and to coffee bars.
‘I was the only one with a car, my prized Ford Anglia.
‘I would love to reminisce with Maureen lane, Sonia Hammond Evans and Theresa Sullivan, who asked Radio luxembourg to play la Paloma for my 19th birthday.
‘I still have my hospital and state certificates, training record and letters from grateful patients, plus a few faded, but treasured, photographs.’
Estella left nursing after meeting her Cypriot husband, classical guitarist Bambos Zacharias.
She studied music and, as a duo, they had a successful career performing on radio, in theatres and clubs, recording albums and travelling around the world singing on ocean liners.
‘Bambos and I have been married for 55 years, live in North london and have two sons,’ says Estella.
NOT all of our searches have a happy ending.
Two months ago, Jean Reader told us: ‘My friend Joy lauchlan and I live in Hatfield, Hertfordshire, and are trying to trace our old friend Crawford Young, a Glaswegian who worked with us in the Hilltop pub in Hatfield in the Eighties.
‘Joy and I left the pub in 1985. Crawford, who was well-liked by the locals, stayed on as barman to be close to his daughter, who lived in london with his estranged wife.
‘Crawford left the Hilltop in the late Eighties and moved to another pub. After that, we saw him only occasionally, when he travelled back to Hatfield for a pint with his mates. He always let us know when he was in town.
‘In 1991, he returned to Glasgow and his old job as a travel agent. Sadly, we lost contact.
‘I’m 57 and a civil servant, while Joy is 73 and retired from a career in British Aerospace. we would love to hear what became of our dear old friend.’
It’s sad news, I’m afraid. This email arrived from Bert wilkie: ‘unfortunately, Crawford passed away in Glasgow in 2003. He was my good friend. we came to london together in 1965, but lost touch in 1990. I could send Jean some information and I have photos she may like to see.’
And this letter came from Mae wilson: ‘My late brother owned a pub in Glasgow where Crawford was a regular. I visited him at Gartnavel Royal Hospital until he passed away. He was a real gentleman.’
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. A small donation will be requested for employing Gill Whitley’s services. this column is researched with the aid of 192.com.