The lost childhood book of a woman who moved to South Africa 50 years ago has been discovered by Epsom schoolboys, who used Facebook to find its owner.
Kingswood House School’s Alex Darwish, Oliver Kennedy, Daniel Barlas, Matthew Price, Max Fryer, Jack Roberts and George Bateman found Prayers for Young People, a 1967 confirmation present for then-schoolgirl Helen Gilson in a pile of books taken from a soon-to-be-demolished school building.
A confirmation card still in the book after half-a-century gave the boys Ms Gilson’s name and mentioned the city of Cape Town - helping them track her down through an internet search of local schools and Facebook.
Ms Gilson, who moved to South Africa in 1961, attended school in Cape Town and was confirmed at St John’s Anglican Church, has no idea how her book found its way to the Epsom school.
She was delighted to get it back, and said: "Thank you so much for your consideration in returning the book to me. It’s amazing after all these years!"
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