Christmas had arrived, and although Neville had a few days vacation between Christmas and New Year, he decided to travel to the newspaper office to try to talk to one of the reporters about his quest for Albert’s brother. He felt it better he did not mention Albert's name as he might be known by some of the staff. The office was very quiet. Many people had taken the advantage of adding some vacation days to the public holiday and would therefore have the benefit of an extended holiday. Neville found one of the older members of the staff standing by a coffee machine. He did not know him, only by his reputation as a rather unpleasant man who had joined the newspaper a few years ago after spending most of his journalistic career in London. He wished him merry Christmas and received a less than enthusiastic response. His cup smelt as if it contained something rather stronger than coffee. Neville asked him if he could offer some advice on how he might find a long lost relative of a friend of his. The coffee drinker shook his head slowly. Neville thought this was to be his only response, and then he said, “If someone is lost, and wants to stay lost, then you’ll not find him”. Neville explained that it was not like that, it was just a case of not communicating over a number of years and losing contact. The coffee drinker looked less than convinced, in his experience people were always trying to hide or run away from something. Neville considered giving up, this man's attitude, because of overexposure to the lower life of the city, was too cynical and he was unlikely to be of any help.
“What’s the chaps name”, he said, “How long has he been missing?”
Neville explained he was not missing as such; it was just that they had lost touch. He gave him as much information as he dared and again received the slow shake of the head as a response.
“Where did you say he was born?”
Neville hadn’t mentioned it, but explained that the family had lived in Barnshead, in the West Country, so he assumed that’s where he was born.
“I can’t help you, but I know someone who might. Did you know we have a sister paper down that part of the world. I know someone who works there; he should be able to get access to the electoral roll and maybe parish records, which should be a start.”
He produced a small notebook, tore out a page, and wrote down a name, Mark Coleman, and a telephone number.
“That’s the main office number; you’ll have to ask for him, I don’t know his extension. Tell him Joe gave you his name. He’s more of a miserable bugger than I am but he’ll help you if he can.”
Neville called the office, and asked for Mark Coleman. The secretary informed him that Coleman was on vacation, returning in the New Year. His investigation would have to wait a few days.
It was January 1980, the start of a new decade. It had not started well, the festive season, dampened by persistent heavy rain and the forecast for the country’s economy, meant the mood was gloomier than ever.
Neville called Mark Coleman a number of times, but despite having returned from vacation he was rarely in the office or not available. Neville left a number of messages with the reception, but as he also constantly travelled around his sales area it would be difficult to make contact. One of calls was finally successful and the receptionist connected him to Mark's office. He was between meetings and could spare him two minutes. Neville explained that he worked for the newspaper in Eastbridge. He outlined the reason for his call and that Joe had mentioned he might be able to help. Mark realized that it would take more than two minutes so suggested that Neville called him back later that afternoon about five o’clock and he would have more time to take down the details.
Neville gave Mark Coleman as much information as he had. As Mark was not local he felt more confident about providing some of the details he had not mentioned to Joe. Rather than being miserable, as Joe had described him, Mark gave the impression of being positive and helpful and suggested that he should be able to find some information based on the details Neville had given him. Although he puzzled at the estimate of James’s year of birth as this appeared to disagree with his sister Ann’s age; they could not have been born so close together. Neville explained that Albert did not have a clear recollection and these dates were only estimates. Mark said that actual dates would have made the investigation easier; however, he should still be able to make some progress, although it might take a little longer.
Neville rang John at the Station Inn and told him about the contacts he’d made via the newspaper. He promised to keep him and Albert informed of progress. It was about four weeks before he was able to keep that promise. He received an envelope at his home forwarded from the newspaper office. The envelope contained a handwritten note from Mark Coleman and copies of official looking documents. In the note Mark explained he had found details of Albert and Ann together with their parents Mary and Frank Hughes. He had located the family’s birth certificates together with marriage and death certificates for the parents; however, there was no record of Albert’s brother James. It was possible his birth had not been registered, but Mark felt this most unlikely. He could have been adopted which would explain how James and Ann's ages could be so close. It was also possible there was no brother.
Ann denied there was a second brother. The research by Mark Coleman suggested this could be true. Albert had been wrong about the Christian name of his father, could he also be wrong about having a brother called James. James Richards was one of his friends who died in France. Is this Albert's missing brother? They had grown up together like brothers, had this person become Albert's brother in his confused mind?
Rather than bringing some clarity and understanding of Albert’s past, Neville's efforts had only served to muddy the waters. He was not sure how much of what he had discovered he should share with Albert. Albert was obviously confused, a confusion that either he was not aware of or refused to confront. Neville began to wonder about the state of Albert's mind. Did he have some sort of serious mental problem? If he presented Albert with evidence that ran contrary to his understanding and beliefs about his early life, would this make the problem worse? Neville decided to meet with John to discuss it before going any further.
They met in the Inn at lunchtime while Albert worked in the gardens. Neville showed John the letter and documents he had received from Mark Coleman. John was just as concerned about Albert’s mental health as Neville and suggested they should not show him what they had discovered until they had more information; if there was any more to be found.
If they were to make sense of any of this they needed to move their investigations from a possibly non-existent brother to someone they knew existed; Albert himself.
Neville wondered if there was anything that Albert might have said to John; over the years they had known each other, which might give them a clue where to look next. John said that surprisingly Neville probably knew more about Albert than he did. He was a very private man and had never, until recently, discussed or mentioned his family or his past. Their attempt to use the name James Hughes had failed. Was there anyone else or any other event they could use? They immediately discounted his sister Ann as her animosity was unlikely to have changed since the fateful meeting. The only other event that was significant enough to start this paper chase was the incident in France; an incident that had resulted in the apparent deaths of three close friends from the same town. In the middle of the deaths and destruction of the Second World War would this have been recorded; would this have warranted a mention in at least a local paper? Neville decided to contact Mark Coleman. Did they have archives of the local papers from 1944?
After several unsuccessful attempts, Neville finally managed to contact Mark Coleman. He thanked him for the information. Mark was glad Neville had received it and explained he had sent it to the newspaper office in the hope they would forward it to him. Mark had received some further information and if Neville wished he would send that by the same route. He quickly dashed Neville's hopes, that he had succeeded in finding James, when he said that he had only found a copy of Ann’s marriage certificate and some school records for Albert and Ann. They had attended the same local schools but unfortunately, there was no record of a James Hughes having attended around that time. It was possible that James had been adopted, which would account for the missing birth certificate, or that he had attended a different school to his brother and sister. Mark explained that he could make further inquiries but he had exhausted all the obvious sources of information and finding any more would be very difficult. Neville thanked him again and explained that he would like to try a different approach. He quickly described the events in France during the war and asked if he thought it likely the apparent loss of the lives of three local friends would have been newsworthy. Mark really could not say, however he did confirm there was an archive of local papers in the library in Barnshead. As much as he would like to help further he could not justify the time it would take to research the archives and wished Neville luck if he decided to try. Neville called the library and asked when the archives were available for viewing.
“What’s the chaps name”, he said, “How long has he been missing?”
Neville explained he was not missing as such; it was just that they had lost touch. He gave him as much information as he dared and again received the slow shake of the head as a response.
“Where did you say he was born?”
Neville hadn’t mentioned it, but explained that the family had lived in Barnshead, in the West Country, so he assumed that’s where he was born.
“I can’t help you, but I know someone who might. Did you know we have a sister paper down that part of the world. I know someone who works there; he should be able to get access to the electoral roll and maybe parish records, which should be a start.”
He produced a small notebook, tore out a page, and wrote down a name, Mark Coleman, and a telephone number.
“That’s the main office number; you’ll have to ask for him, I don’t know his extension. Tell him Joe gave you his name. He’s more of a miserable bugger than I am but he’ll help you if he can.”
Neville called the office, and asked for Mark Coleman. The secretary informed him that Coleman was on vacation, returning in the New Year. His investigation would have to wait a few days.
It was January 1980, the start of a new decade. It had not started well, the festive season, dampened by persistent heavy rain and the forecast for the country’s economy, meant the mood was gloomier than ever.
Neville called Mark Coleman a number of times, but despite having returned from vacation he was rarely in the office or not available. Neville left a number of messages with the reception, but as he also constantly travelled around his sales area it would be difficult to make contact. One of calls was finally successful and the receptionist connected him to Mark's office. He was between meetings and could spare him two minutes. Neville explained that he worked for the newspaper in Eastbridge. He outlined the reason for his call and that Joe had mentioned he might be able to help. Mark realized that it would take more than two minutes so suggested that Neville called him back later that afternoon about five o’clock and he would have more time to take down the details.
Neville gave Mark Coleman as much information as he had. As Mark was not local he felt more confident about providing some of the details he had not mentioned to Joe. Rather than being miserable, as Joe had described him, Mark gave the impression of being positive and helpful and suggested that he should be able to find some information based on the details Neville had given him. Although he puzzled at the estimate of James’s year of birth as this appeared to disagree with his sister Ann’s age; they could not have been born so close together. Neville explained that Albert did not have a clear recollection and these dates were only estimates. Mark said that actual dates would have made the investigation easier; however, he should still be able to make some progress, although it might take a little longer.
Neville rang John at the Station Inn and told him about the contacts he’d made via the newspaper. He promised to keep him and Albert informed of progress. It was about four weeks before he was able to keep that promise. He received an envelope at his home forwarded from the newspaper office. The envelope contained a handwritten note from Mark Coleman and copies of official looking documents. In the note Mark explained he had found details of Albert and Ann together with their parents Mary and Frank Hughes. He had located the family’s birth certificates together with marriage and death certificates for the parents; however, there was no record of Albert’s brother James. It was possible his birth had not been registered, but Mark felt this most unlikely. He could have been adopted which would explain how James and Ann's ages could be so close. It was also possible there was no brother.
Ann denied there was a second brother. The research by Mark Coleman suggested this could be true. Albert had been wrong about the Christian name of his father, could he also be wrong about having a brother called James. James Richards was one of his friends who died in France. Is this Albert's missing brother? They had grown up together like brothers, had this person become Albert's brother in his confused mind?
Rather than bringing some clarity and understanding of Albert’s past, Neville's efforts had only served to muddy the waters. He was not sure how much of what he had discovered he should share with Albert. Albert was obviously confused, a confusion that either he was not aware of or refused to confront. Neville began to wonder about the state of Albert's mind. Did he have some sort of serious mental problem? If he presented Albert with evidence that ran contrary to his understanding and beliefs about his early life, would this make the problem worse? Neville decided to meet with John to discuss it before going any further.
They met in the Inn at lunchtime while Albert worked in the gardens. Neville showed John the letter and documents he had received from Mark Coleman. John was just as concerned about Albert’s mental health as Neville and suggested they should not show him what they had discovered until they had more information; if there was any more to be found.
If they were to make sense of any of this they needed to move their investigations from a possibly non-existent brother to someone they knew existed; Albert himself.
Neville wondered if there was anything that Albert might have said to John; over the years they had known each other, which might give them a clue where to look next. John said that surprisingly Neville probably knew more about Albert than he did. He was a very private man and had never, until recently, discussed or mentioned his family or his past. Their attempt to use the name James Hughes had failed. Was there anyone else or any other event they could use? They immediately discounted his sister Ann as her animosity was unlikely to have changed since the fateful meeting. The only other event that was significant enough to start this paper chase was the incident in France; an incident that had resulted in the apparent deaths of three close friends from the same town. In the middle of the deaths and destruction of the Second World War would this have been recorded; would this have warranted a mention in at least a local paper? Neville decided to contact Mark Coleman. Did they have archives of the local papers from 1944?
After several unsuccessful attempts, Neville finally managed to contact Mark Coleman. He thanked him for the information. Mark was glad Neville had received it and explained he had sent it to the newspaper office in the hope they would forward it to him. Mark had received some further information and if Neville wished he would send that by the same route. He quickly dashed Neville's hopes, that he had succeeded in finding James, when he said that he had only found a copy of Ann’s marriage certificate and some school records for Albert and Ann. They had attended the same local schools but unfortunately, there was no record of a James Hughes having attended around that time. It was possible that James had been adopted, which would account for the missing birth certificate, or that he had attended a different school to his brother and sister. Mark explained that he could make further inquiries but he had exhausted all the obvious sources of information and finding any more would be very difficult. Neville thanked him again and explained that he would like to try a different approach. He quickly described the events in France during the war and asked if he thought it likely the apparent loss of the lives of three local friends would have been newsworthy. Mark really could not say, however he did confirm there was an archive of local papers in the library in Barnshead. As much as he would like to help further he could not justify the time it would take to research the archives and wished Neville luck if he decided to try. Neville called the library and asked when the archives were available for viewing.