Former news colleagues who lost touch more than 30 years ago have been reunited thanks to Holdthefrontpage.co.uk.

Last month former Raymonds News Agency reporter Tony Baxby made an appeal on our bulletin board in a bid to contact former Derby colleagues Les Parkin and Barry Ecclestone - and it came up trumps.

Les's wife Pat, who now works at the Derby Evening Telegraph, spotted the appeal almost immediately and the pair were quick to contact Tony.

Les, who ended up managing the agency, said: "It's all a bit of an odd coincidence really. I hadn't seen or heard from Tony in more than 30 years and had been rooting through some old suits when a card dropped out with Tony's name on it.

"I was wondering what had happened to him and then three days later we saw the message on Holdthefrontpage."

Tony, Les and Barry first became good friends when they worked together at Raymonds in the 1950s.

The threesome also shared an apartment, but lost touch when Tony emigrated to Canada in 1958.

Les said: "Tony was very popular and good fun and I think everyone was shocked when he told us he was going to Cananda.

"We had the odd Christmas card from him and then we lost touch totally - and I still haven't found out what he's being doing for the past 30 years. There is a lot to catch up on."

Now Tony and Les, who is now retired, are busily trying to fill in the gaps of the past 30 years by e-mail, and may even meet up in Canada early next year.

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