A BOTTLE with a message inside written 82 years ago has washed up 245 miles from where it was sent.
Nigel Hill, 55, found the bottle while walking his dog on St Aubin’s beach at Bel Royal, Jersey, this week.
The message was signed by John Stapleford on September 5 1938 – meaning it has survived 82 years in the water.
It read: “Will the finder of this bottle please communicate with: John Stapleford, 18 Fitzjohn Avenue, Barnet, Herts, England. With a photograph.”
The note was written on the back of an old cake box from Cawley Bros Ltd and was placed in a Smith’s bottle, both of which were based on the island.
Nigel said: “I was just walking along and saw it and thought it looked interesting. Then I saw the note inside.
“Unfortunately, I had to break it to get the note out.”
Since discovering the message he has tried to track down the writer’s relatives.
He shared his find on Facebook and soon tracked down the person who is living at the address now.
“She says she does not recall a John Stapleford and she has lived there for 30 years,” Nigel said.
“But she has looked into the deeds of her home and found that a John Stapleford did buy the place in 1921.
“It would be really nice if I could give the bottle and the note back to members of his family. It could be an heirloom for them.”
Birth and death records show that Mr Stapleton was born on 4 August 1889 and had worked as a civil servant as well as chief accountant with Customs and Excise.
It is believed he had a wife called Nellie and that he died on December 2 1980, aged 91.
His address then was St George House, 11 London Road, Norfolk.
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