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Dartford man's appeal to return late wife's letters from her childhood friends in Folkestone, Hythe, Romney Marsh and Tonbridge
06:00, 22 September 2021
updated: 15:29, 23 September 2021
A man who discovered 50 letters sent to his late wife by her childhood friends from Folkestone is now hoping to return them to their original owners.
Bill Millar's wife Marlene died in October 2017, having suffered ill health for many years.
The couple had met as teenagers in 1962 while living at children's residential home, the Caldecott Community, near Ashford.
Mr Millar, who previously worked for the Criminal Justice Division and was awarded an MBE for his service, remembers: "I took no notice of her until one morning when we stood for grace, she tapped me on my shoulder and said good morning.
"She was very pretty and I was instantly smitten."
They quickly became a couple, and after leaving the children's home, enjoyed many music concerts together while living in London.
Mr Millar, 76, who also worked as a music journalist, said: "As fans of Rock and Roll and Rhythm and Blues it was a wonderful time to be alive and we saw a great many shows together.
"When Marlene stood on her seat at Hammersmith Odeon screaming at Chuck Berry I thought 'Well I can't go wrong here'."
Bill and Marlene, nee Page, married in 1967 and welcomed son Carl in 1974, and set up home in Dartford.
Following Marlene's death, Mr Millar discovered many letters sent to his wife by her friends from Folkestone Technical High School, which she attended between 1960 and 1963.
He said: "My son Carl and I have discovered more than 50, often quite poignant, letters sent to Marlene by friends at Folkestone Tech during school holidays and after they left.
"The most prolific letters were sent by Margaret or 'Mags' Adams who lived on Romney Marsh, Sandra and Lynda, possibly sisters, from Willesborough, and another girl Mary also from Willesborough.
"There are others from a Lin in Ashford, Janet from Tonbridge and Susan Underdown from Hythe.
"If any of these ladies would like to get in touch I will gladly return individual letters.
"I did write to one of the ladies at her last address, but the new occupier replied to me saying they had bought the property in 1982 and they couldn't help.
"Some of them are very affectionate, and if I had written them I would like them back.
"It would be so nice to return them. I don't want to bin them."
If you are the original senders of the letters, contact Kentish Express by calling 01233 895801.
