A MAN who was boarded out to a farm near Banff during World War II is appealing for help in contacting a long-lost friend who became like a childhood sister to him.
Gilbert Hunter, who now lives in Derbyshire, is looking for information about Anna Young, who also stayed on the farm.
He is hoping ‘Banffshire Journal’ readers may be able to help.
Mr Hunter told the paper: “Anna may of course have changed her name if she married. We were only children at the time when we were boarded out to a farm named Wellfield during the Second World War.
“Anna had a brother, Albert, with her. He was a year older than me and sadly died in 1946.
“Our guardian at the farm was called Mrs Lobban.
“The reason Anna and I parted company was that when I reached the age of 12 the Children’s Welfare Department decided to move me back to Glasgow to an orphanage home called Auldhouse in 1949.
“It was a very sad and traumatic time for me because Anna was all the family I knew.
“I shed many tears after I left the farm.
“I spent seven years of my childhood at this farm, along with Anna, who was just like my little sister. I would dearly love to get in touch with her again to hear how she got on in life, and to introduce her to my family.
“My wife and I celebrate our golden wedding next year, the year of the Olympics. It would be wonderful if I could meet up with Anna and invite her along to celebrate the event.
“As Anna was the only family life I knew during my childhood, it is important for me to know what happened to her during those missing years.
“I was in care until I was 15 years old and only found my biological family when I reached the age of 18.”
Mr Hunter can be contacted at 82 Station Road, Castle Donington, Derby, DE74 2NL, tel 01332-810128.
