Finding someone you've lost touch with

[Deleted User]

Hi,

My parents have lost touch with a very good old friend of theirs. They knew this friend while they were both at Univeristy many many years ago (45 ish years ago), and although they've been in touch on and off occationally between then, they are finding it impossible to recontact this person.

As neither of them is particulrly computer literate, I said that I would see if there was anything that I could do. But I honestly don't know where to start.

I have tried the obvaious searches, but this produces either hundreds and thousands of results (not a particularly unusual name), or none at all.

Has anyone sucessfully found someone from their past using a company or other method that they could recommend?

Any other hints or advice would be really apreciated.

Many thanks

neneromanova

Have you tried to see if they are on friends reunited?

[Deleted User]

Yes I have, they are not unfortunately

minerva_windsong

Maybe try Facebook? They might not necessarily be on there, but their children might. It's a long shot but it could work.

[Deleted User]

I've also tried facebook - and I know that they never had any children.
I have been through the obvaious routes.
Thanks though

paulwf

192.com will have the electoral register if you are prepared to buy credits. You can also get births, death and marriage on there. That will be the best bet if you can't get anywhere with Friends Reunited, Linked In, Twitter and Facebook.

If you know the area then write a letter to the local newspaper, I see requests quite frequently in our local paper.

Do you have any family info such as names of his/her parents and any details of a marriage? With this combined with an area there is a chance you could link to the person using the full version of Ancestry. My OH has been able to join up family trees produced by several relatives on Ancestry, you'll need some credits though.

It might be a difficult search if they aren't on the electoral role but if you have other details and do enough digging both locally and online they could be found.

[Deleted User]

thanks Paulwf I will look into this, much appreciated

pimento

Try Googling the name with any other info you have. For example, if they're a banker, search the name + bank.

It's a very rare person who isn't on the internet somewhere, even if they haven't put themselves on.

Savvy_Sue

I would write to the Alumni Society at the University, and ask if they are able to forward the enclosed stamped letter to Fred, who was at uni with me x years ago, doing y course - basically as much info as possible.

I do not think the Alumni Soc can release the address, or even confirm if the person is on their records or has died, but if they can forward a letter I can't think of a reason why they wouldn't.

[Deleted User]

pimento - unfortunately tere seems to be far to many results when I try the various permutations and combinations on google - it's a very common name, both first and second names are common.

Savvy_Sue - this might be worth a try, I will look into it thanks

pimento

If you know their year of birth and place of birth, try searching Genes Reunited and Ancestry to see if anyone has them on their family tree.