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I was Googling - searching for people and found d.leng@virgin.net who had an address nearby Hayes, Middx so blasted him with an email, asking if he was Maggie's brother? Received a snail-mail reply from said long-lost lady on 10/01/2003 - am just checking if its OK to publish here.. see here for address etc..
June 2003 - Come on Maggie!! Haven't received a reply yet...SNAIL-MAIL it certainly is.... 5 months so far!!!!
Eventually got her by phone on 11 August, 2003 - OK to publish her letter but keep address & phone numbers confidential...click to enlarge
I had already replied with this - plus lots of hard-copies of pages in this web-site....
Maggie Leng!! 10 Jan, 2003
Well what a few years you have had!! Let?s hope, things can only get better.. Brilliant to hear from you (more about my search later on) ? and thanks to David for forwarding on. Before I forget?.. I have scanned your letter into my PC ? and would like to put it up on the Internet, in my web-site ? but hesitate to do so before checking with you. There are some personal things in there that perhaps you?d not want in the public domain ? so ? can I put it all up, or none of it, or perhaps blank out some sections/sentences??
Firstly comments/replies to points in your letter:
Ah-ha! 29 Bourne Ave? had forgotten ? yes that sounds like me ? not leaving any forwarding address, we moved to Denham where my Mum lived until she died 4th May, 1991, just old-age.. faded away ? shame.
Valerie Colbourne, yes, yes? I was trying to remember her name (had failed until your letter), to perhaps assist in the search for you ? but with ladies changing their names ? it makes the whole thing very difficult ? what?s her story?? Please send her my best wishes etc.. although I think we may not have been the best of friends at our last meeting. Giblin!! He?s a bad boy? comes and goes? I had a couple of emails from him in the last year or two ? and then nothing. Cannot remember Carol Woollard, but with a few more clues I probably would. Mark Wilson ? yes ? been trying to find him too ? don?t know why!
Married in 1972 hey? ? so you had a few years of freedom ? I was married in May 1971 in a Registry office in Slough ? what a social event! You didn?t have kiddie-winks ? shame ? but I firmly believe they come in between man & wife, and nothing is the same after their arrival. My two (daughters) are the apple of my eye ? and are the best thing to come out of the marriage. You?re in Woodford Green? I worked in South Woodford for a few months ? during the time of the 3-day week and the Miners Strike, is that close by??
Sorry to hear about your Mum and Dad ? amazing them both going on the same day ? that must have been a terrible time, particularly in the English winter (dreary/miserable/cold) and also at a time when the rest of the population is celebrating New Year. And then your husband Fred dying in February ? best to keep away from the surgeons I reckon ? no better than a bunch of car mechanics. And then your own troubles? Maggie!! This is not good enough! Fitness and Health are the watchwords today ? we are what we eat! So you have to take care.
Yes that was me ? ICT/ICL at Putney Bridge, and the Aussie friends ? I tried to contact them when I was in Melbourne in 2001 ? failed. Peter Sumner ? had forgotten all about him ? but as soon as I read the name ? I had a mental picture ? I shall seek him out..
Now for more details of the last 30 years:
I can remember having a red Beetle in North Hyde Rd and changing it for a yellow Lotus Elan just before moving to Denham. By that time I had worked for ICL in Putney and Harrow (can vividly remember driving home one evening into Hayes Town from Harrow, and the DJ introduced the first playing of a track off the new Beatles LP ? ?I am the Walrus? ? what a revelation ? great track ? but inspiration to change the world? did not occur) ? and had taken a gamble and joined some friends who had set up a Software House ? 1900 Programming. I was about the fourth one to join, and although I didn?t have a shareholding the thing grew like topsy, and most employees came in ?underneath? the starter-boys. Within a couple of years we had offices in lots of European cities, 3 or 4 British cities ? and 3 or 4 in South Africa and employed about 500 people overall. In 1969 the South African operation started getting into difficulties and in 1970 I and the MD of the Group transferred down to Jo?burg ?to sort it out? ? some hope!! Suffice to say we failed ? had to sell the company to ICL, but (work apart) had a brilliant time down there for 4 years ? flying and driving all over ? wonderful time/place.
It was there that I met the future Mrs.. a German lady ? Almuth ? who I married within 6 weeks of our first meeting ? slightly rash! Must have been lust. I flew back to Europe (she was already back there) ? we couldn?t get married within 2 weeks (my holiday time) in Germany ? so it turned out to be the Registry Office in Slough ? but I really felt, that the wedding was unimportant ? it was the marriage/life that mattered. We returned to Hazlemere, Bucks in 1973 ? first daughter Britta born then, followed 2 years later by Inga. Basically, as soon as we arrived back in the UK ? the 3 day-week etc was upon us, and I preferred to not go ?permanent? but rather work ?on contract? ? writing programs and designing computer systems for anybody silly enough to pay me (even spent 1 year in Saudi Arabia would you believe). I didn?t want to build an empire ? just employ myself ? and this worked well right up until 2/3 years ago, when I retired (for the second time). We moved houses around the High Wycombe area ending up in a very nice place down a private road (speed bumps and electronic gates) in Penn with swimming pool in the back garden ? whilst our next door neighbours had an indoor pool and an outdoor tennis court ? so the kids (and occasionally the adults) had a fair amount of ?equipment? upon which to keep fit ? though I recall more time was spent drinking!!
It was there that Almuth got bored with married life and just separated, moving out and eventually returning to Germland. Had to sell the house and split the proceeds ? I moved into my mum?s house in Denham (she had been in an old people?s home in Denham for a year or so) and eldest daughter moved in with me ? having finished A?Levels and not being sure what she wanted to do ? eventually did a little course in Amersham College before Uni in Stoke (History of Art), meanwhile daughter number 2 was still coming up to A Levels (both of them of course had to go to private schools (not my decision!) in Dorset/Somerset) in Sherborne, and decided it was too ?posey? and decided to leave and continue her schooling in Hamburg ? which she did ? losing 2 years in the process (not completing the year she was doing ? meant she had to re-do that one ? and then in Germland they reckoned she should go back 1 more year to ?acclimatise?). She then returned to the UK and did Zoology in Leeds. So you can see that those 2 degrees are not going to keep me in booze money- all that money spent on their education!!
Then in 1993, I decided I should ?test? retirement? people had been saying ?you have to prepare for it? etc.. so I didn?t accept the next contract and stayed at home? after 6 months I realized that I was spending too much (hadn?t reduced my lifestyle to that of a retiree), and a friend asked if I?d do a 6 month contract in Hong Kong. Never been further East than Saudi ? so had to say yes. What a great place ? great time ? 8 years!! Met Janet within the first few weeks ? and we?ve been living together since then. She?s a Filippina, married with 3 kids (22, 20, 18 ? boy, boy, girl) ? and as there?s no divorce in the Catholic Philippines ? we?re both unmarryable (I?m only separated too) ? excellent. We get on very well ? (I?m beginning to think there?s either something in this astrology business (we?re both Scorpios) ? or (more likely) Scorpios are just the most wonderful people in the world ? lots of her relatives (even her kids) are Scorpios) ? never rowing.. life is sooo easy (after the Germanic regime of the 70?s and 80?s). She works for DHL traveling all over the place all the time and they moved her to Singapore a year ago (I came along with her baggage).
My last contract was wonderful Y2K (sorry you were having so much grief) ? I did a 2 year contract with Dresdner Bank to be their Asia Y2K Manager ? lots of traveling throughout Asia and Europe ? and as you know ? not much went wrong (probably would have been OK if we?d not done anything at all) ? but During those 2 years I earned more than I?d ever done before AND the wonderful thing was ? that for all my working life ? I had been creating the problem (always holding the year as 2 digits ? 97, 98, 99 etc) ? and now ? here I was being paid more money than ever ? to fix it!! Brilliant!! During your horrible times ? I was working very hard ? lots of trials and tests and rehearsals for the big night ? and I can remember the big Midnight ? I was with one young Chinese guy in our office in one of those big HK buildings ? all electricity turned off ? no lights, no air conditioning etc?. ?Happy New Year?? and then the work started ? turning everything back on ? checking to see it was working OK. That contract finished at the end of March ? and I thought ? 1st April, 2000 what a date to retire on!! And that?s the way its been ever since ? wonderful!
Now ? I take it that you do not have a PC (quite remiss) ? so instead of directing you to my web-site where most details are kept ? I?ll have to bring them here?. Firstly some contact details for Ealing Tech people I?ve managed to find ? alas ? its been mostly through email ? so that contact detail will not help you ? never mind (you may buy a PC soon):
Lots of attachments from this web-site here.......then..
And finally.. some excuses? for my memory and in general ? about 6/7 years ago ? I sold my mum?s house, and had to clear the place out in 2 days ? having flown back from HK. Well basically ? I threw everything out? golf clubs, computer, electric tools, all furniture ? books etc.. etc.. and kept some photos (but they?re in the UK with Britta) ? so I have nothing to revert to ? nothing to remind me? so excuse the reliance on the old noddle. Whilst typing this I?m chatting with Mick Burrell ? he drives a bus between Heathrow Terminals and Car Parks ? basically retired and just keeping busy ? he did well as a professional soccer referee.
And now.... August, 2003 - we have a reply!! Maggie!! Snail-Mail it certainly is.... but never mind - lots of names and addresses which I've added into the Ealing Tech Contacts Page (have not added the addresses - they may be sensitive/old)
Around August 20th, 2003 i got Maggie on the dog & bone - nice chat - then sent her this snail-mail on 30th August,2003:
Maggie!! 30th August, 2003
Excellent ? got through to you on the dog and bone the other day ? nice chat ? but as I said ? difficult for the person being called ? not ready with questions/answers etc? So now a snail-mail letter so I can get all my subjects organised ? and then a snail-mail reply from you will be welcomed?. Not using David?s email ? I thought it would be a bit of an imposition!! Have put your first aerogramme up on the web, blocked out your address and phone number.
Got both your missives ? thanks for all the names and addresses etc? have already put them up on my web-site too ? but not the addresses ? thought they are probably old, and where not ? like yourself, ladies may not like their address being seen by all and sundry. In your mail to Carol Woolard you say ?unusual name Leng? ? but alas that was part of my problem when trying to find you?. In Asia? Leng is not unusual at all ? I?ve just done a search and it shows 333,000 sites containing the name Leng. One lady is a well known pianist, so if I ask for +Leng and ?piano that reduces the number of hits ? but when trying to find you, maybe I?d add +Bourne Ave ? and immediately I?d get no hits?. All or nothing, feast or famine!! Anyway ? I?m sure that all goes to prove that your ancestors were Chinese!! They claim to have invented everything else ? why not the Leng dynasty??
Don?t you feel pressured to reply, I?ve got plenty of time and many, many projects that keep me busy ? so do things at your own pace, like going off for cruises, holidays etc?
Am probably NOT coming to the UK in October/November now ? and really don?t know when I will return there, but will keep you informed of any plans. Yes ? you?re right ? 10th November ? 60!! Doesn?t time fly??
So now?. Cruising in the Baltic?. Any good?? I?ve only done one small cruise, quite enjoyable, left Hong Kong on a Friday afternoon, sailed down to nearly Vietnam then back again by Sunday evening. And what?s this? off to Canada on 18th Sept ? details please? I?ve only been to Vancouver and around there ? skiing at Whistler with the kids about 5 years ago ? most pleasant ? hope you have a good time!!
Is all this cruising and jet-setting, you being the merry widow, or were you both travelers of the first order, and you?re continuing the trips??
During our phone-chat I realized I was confusing some of what you said about Carol Woolard with Valerie Colbourne. Have got my mind straight now ? and realise that you were telling what a tough time Carol has had?. Sooooooooo?.. what?s Valerie been up to?? Full details please ? 40 years in 10 lines!!
Haven?t yet found any leads to Peter Sumner ? all I can remember that would make him somewhat unique is/was his sort of galump? galump way of walking, and his raincoat ? but I cannot search for that on the web ? ?peter sumner? finds 1,450 hits ? if I add ?Hayes? it goes down to 87 ? BUT most of the ?Hayes? hits are people?s names (not the town) ? so if I change it to ?Hayes Middx? ? I get 0 hits!! Any other distinguishing things about him?? Was he at Ealing Tech too?? Cannot remember??
A couple of thoughts about you buying a PC?. Get someone to help you (David??), but here are some very biased thoughts of mine which may help too:
 | Get a PC (IBM compatible) ? not an Apple |
| Buy a Dell, Gateway, HP or Compaq ? where you also get Service Support ? they generally don?t go wrong ? but when they do, it?s a bit like the hi-fi, box it up and take it to a Service Centre. |
| Get Windows XP or Windows 2000 Operating system ? Professional would be great ? but I think they?ll sell you the Home version ? that?s OK too. |
| Get Microsoft Office ? including Word (for word-processing), Excel (for spread-sheets) and Outlook (for email etc..) ? I doubt if you?ll want need Access (Database organizer) or PowerPoint (for creating Presentations) ? but if they?re offered at no extra cost ? grab them. |
| You?ll need to connect to the Internet ? so will need a Modem ? a slow 56K one will probably be provided with the PC ? but if you want faster Internet access (costs more) then you?ll need a Broadband modem (also costs more) |
| Basically a 56K modem and a ?dial-up? account will be OK for emailing ? but for visiting web-sites that have lots of pictures and movies or downloads of music etc? it?ll be too slow ? like maybe 1 hour to download just one song (e.g. I am the Walrus ? by the Beatles) ? whereas ? with Broadband it?d download in maybe 5 or 10 minutes |
| A Broadband modem and account will cost more (typically I pay about 20 to 30 Pound per month and can be on-line, connected to the Internet all day, all night ? everyday) ? whereas the 56K dial-up account only used to cost, if I went over maybe 30 hours connect time per month ? easy to stay below that ? provided I didn?t download too much music!! All my friends in the UK have 56K dial-up accounts ? most people in Asia have Broadband ? but that?s also because most local phone calls are free here anyway |
| Get your Internet service from a solid/good supplier ? e.g. BT or somesuch ? if you have cable TV ? that company may also offer cable Internet connection |
| Enough computerese for a while? |
Back to the memories??..
Barry Parker and John Perry went to?.. Kingston?? Teddington?? Or where?? College after Ealing?? Mark Wilson went to British Rail?? What happened to Bill (Colin) Hanstock?? Photos?.. if you have any of yourself, us, others of that time but cannot be bothered to get them copied, send them over here ? I?ll copy them and send them straight back.
I remember meeting you and Valerie sometimes - either on the Central Line or more likely at Ealing Broadway main line having just changed from the Central Line. I can even remember you saying one evening that a nasty man had pinched you (or something) and you?d spoken out in a very loud voice along the lines of ?please move away from me and stop molesting me? hoping to embarrass him in a crowded train (maybe they weren?t good old days??). I haven?t been there since those times ? but I bet it hasn?t changed much ? that?s what?s so nice about the UK ? very little changes, maybe a mini-roundabout here or a new shopfront there ? but basically its all the same as it ever was. Then there was the walk down Hayes Station hill to Nestles Ave ? a nice natter there and you?d go off down Keith Rd whilst I?d go down Nestles ? I can picture it as if it was yesterday.. I even remember walking up Nestles Ave towards the Station some mornings and seeing a Lotus Elite come around that corner ? one of my first ?car memories?. A few years ago I took the Airport Express (or whatever its called) from Heathrow to Paddington, and it took me a while to realise we were going along ?our school route? (Southall, Hanwell, West Ealing etc..), but it was all so fast I could hardly recognize any of it, certainly not Ealing Broadway?. Flash?.gone?
Now I think that?ll do for now, better get this off in the snail-mail ? 5 days how silly? but even in these days of techno-babble I did a bank transfer today ? and they said it?d take 5 days ? I know they keep our money and place it on over-night deposit at enormous rates of interest, but why aren?t we (Joe public) complaining about that ? electronically its there within seconds!!
Hope Canada is enjoyable, looking forward to your reply,
Love & best wishes,
Mike Curley
Wow!! on 8th September, 2003 - a fast snail-mail reply - some old photies, Maggie has provided names - but I'm going to have to guess which faces they apply to - most are well known...but..... Also - I don't recognise the location... Ealing Tech playing fields?? Maggie reckons its circa 1960.....
Beryl Marchant, dog, Major Hurley, Carol Woolard, NOW Maggie... is that you?? Beryl, Mary Draper, Carol, Brenda Bainbridge
Mike Curley and John Hutcherson (I can remember this pose - and falling over if my right leg was out where the left was)
Carol, Lesley Gale, Maggie - Gillie Gale with the girls!! How unusual!!
Now surely this next shot is taken at a different time/place?? But where??
Carol and Maggie
Lovely girls!! And I do love the dresses!!