For Terry Hoare being an apprentice shipwright at Chatham Dockyard 60 years ago were the best days of his life.

Now at the age of 77, there's nothing he'd like more than to meet up with the lads whom he forged a close bond with as teenagers to talk about old times.

But he's having a problem tracking down the class from 1960 when 13 of them embarked on a five-year course, which for many of them moulded their lives in years to come.

He knows some have passed away but apart from his mate, Trevor Woodhouse, he is having difficulty in tracing some of them.

They are Bernard (Bernie) Olley, Tony Packer and Roderick (Ricky) Pond.

Also, after a reunion in 1993 at Gravesend Rowing Club, Terry said the whereabouts of two of the attendees, John Doggett and Ted Leftley, is now unknown.

He said: "It's proving difficult because they are not on social media.

"Ted was living in the Maidstone area at the time and I know he joined the fire service after leaving the dockyard."

Terry left a secondary school in Hoo with qualifications in metal work and technical drawing and, like many boys of his age, enrolled for apprenticeship at the yard, classed as one of the best in the world.

He spent two years learning basic skills before going on "float" – learning his trade of welding, machine fitting and repairs on board ships based in the basins and dry docks.

During their time together, he and his colleagues gelled and enjoyed years of "tomfoolery" and were sometimes reprimanded by trainers for their pranks.

He said: "We built up a comradeship, we were virtually living together. We worked together from 7am to 4.30pm and earned £2, 13 shillings and two pence a week."

The father-of-three, who lives with wife Jenny in Hoo, went into the building trade and kept in contact with a couple of the group.

But over the years he knows at least five of those at the previous get-together have died.

He said: "It would mean the world to me to have another reunion. I'd hold it anywhere, even in my own home.

"Without a shadow of a doubt, those were the best years of my life, apart from my married life of course."

If you can help Terry, email your details to njordan@thekmgroup.co.uk or call 01634 227800.