Dear Whimple Community

In early 1961 my family moved to Whimple from Northern Rhodesia (now Zambia). My parents bought a house bordering one of the Whiteways apple orchards and a short walk to the village. I was 10 years old at the time and do not recall any street names etc. I attended the Whimple Primary School where I met a girl the same age as me - Hillary Townsend. We were both appointed head boy and head girl probably because we were the oldest pupils. I can remember Hillary and I spending many school hours tending the headmaster's vegetable garden. I seem to think his name was Mr Lewis I could be mistaken. Hillary and I soon fell madly in love and I can recall spending many an afternoon and evening at the Townsend house which could have been in "the grange" or called "the grange". Again I could be mistaken. I also recall a boy in our class at school - Phillip Hardcastle. His father was employed by Whiteways as bailiff for the apple farms.

Sadly at the end of 1961 my parents decided to return to Africa and I had to bid Hillary goodbye. I have never really forgotten her - she has remained at the back of my mind and every now and then I wonder what became of her. I now live in South Africa with my own family. We receive via sattelite your quiz programme The Weakest Link. On one of the shows last year there was a contestant named Hillary. The age was right 56 or 57 years old, she lived in Exeter and worked for a building society in Exeter. I last saw Hillary 48 years ago and   would not recognise her today so it is impossible for me to say whether or not this was THE Hillary. Exeter is a stone's throw from Whimple and there can't be that many Hillarys in the area.

I plan on hollidaying in England later this year and it would be really great if I could locate Hillary and meet up with her after all these years. As we live worlds apart there would certainly be a lot to talk about.

If anyone could help me in locating Hillary I would really appreciate it. My e-mail address is warwickchapman@telkomsa.net

Many thanks

Regards

Warwick Chapman