IPSWICH pensioner Albert Stollery was just 18 years old when his mum Annie died.Now at the age of 88 he is appealing for people to come forward who may be able to help him find a picture of his mum to go with a snapshot of the father that he never knew.

By Jessica Nicholls

IPSWICH pensioner Albert Stollery was just 18 years old when his mum Annie died.

Now at the age of 88 he is appealing for people to come forward who may be able to help him find a picture of his mum to go with a snapshot of the father that he never knew.

His father Arthur Edward (Teddy) Stollery was killed in action in 1916 in the First World War while a soldier with the Royal Fusiliers.

He has never had a photo of his parents but now is hoping to get a picture of his mother to show his wife Edna who never got the chance to know her at all.

The quest for the photos began when Mr Stollery's half cousin Shirley Stone decided to research her family tree to make a birthday book for her father who was reaching 90.

After finding a cousin in Felixstowe she learned that her grandmother had a brother called Teddy that she had never spoken about.

After finding his name on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website, Mrs Stone was contacted by a man living in Kent who was writing the history of the 12th Royal Fusiliers and was able to locate an entry as to how and where her great uncle was killed.

He is buried at the British Cemetery at Vadencourt and Mrs Stone travelled from Canada to place flowers on his grave.

She was also successful in finding a picture of Mr Stollery's father, whose name appears on the war memorial in Marlesford where they used to live but has so far drawn a blank with a picture of his mother.

Even though it is 70 years since his mother Annie died aged 58, Mr Stollery can still remember what she looks like.

He said: "She was a very small and refined looking lady who always wore her hair curled round in the old style."

Mrs Stollery was born Annie Threadkell in Hollesley in 1874 and died in 1932.

After her death, Mr Stollery went to live with his aunt in Rose Cottage in Marlesford.

He said: "My brother went into lodgings and I don't know what happened to all the photos, I presumed he had them.

"There was one in his house in Shotley which my wife once got a glimpse at but he died three years ago and I have not seen the photos since."

If anyone does have a picture of the late Mrs Stollery they can contact the Evening Star newsroom on 01473 324788 or e-mail StarNews@eveningstar.co.uk or contact Mrs Stone at 8 Trumble Lane, RR#4, Picton, Ontario, Canada K0K 2T0 or e-mail s.stone@sympatico.ca.