A person says he’s a step nearer to discovering out how a mysterious suitcase from World Battle Two ended up in his village, thanks to assist from throughout the nation.
Steve Grey discovered the suitcase in Whitwell, Derbyshire, and contacted the BBC in a bid to seek out some solutions, as a result of he wished to return it to the household that it belonged to.
Since then, folks have been in contact in regards to the suitcase that Mr Grey stated contained a “gold mine” of knowledge together with letters, a postcard and images.
He has discovered there are prone to be surviving descendants of the household nonetheless dwelling on this nation in and round London – however he’s nonetheless looking for out why the suitcase was left in Whitwell.
Earlier this month, Mr Grey advised the BBC he wished to seek out out extra in regards to the suitcase because the eightieth anniversary of VE Day was approaching.
He stated: “I discovered this case within the early 2000s, so it has progressed far additional than I might have gotten it.
“I got here to a brick wall. I simply gave up with it – nevertheless it has resurrected itself.”
There are official enterprise letters and paperwork within the case but additionally household images and postcards, so Mr Grey is eager to maintain working to seek out descendants of those artefacts.
“If it was one thing that associated to my household and any individual had bought this info, I might be over the moon to obtain it,” he added.
The paperwork seem to belong to the Costa household and David Ellis, from the Whitwell Historical past Group, has been in search of family members of these talked about within the paperwork.
Folks have since contacted Mr Ellis with details about the Costa household, together with Robert Morfitt, a genealogist from Wales.
Mr Ellis has additionally been utilizing a family tree web site, and the proof he has gathered means that descendants of the household could possibly be dwelling in Kent, London, Good in France and Florence in Italy.
The suitcase was present in a constructing reverse the Jug and Glass pub, and Mr Ellis is attempting to trace down folks within the village who can bear in mind what the constructing was used for.
Mr Ellis added the response to this enchantment had been “extraordinarily encouraging” and the descendants would “have a subject day” with the knowledge within the suitcase.
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