Browse Sections
Interactive
Popular Sections
Competition
Win £500 home security system
Click here for details
A shower in the a.m.News
| 
Submit Comments
Abe in late 1944, shortly after he returned from the UK to Canada
View gallery (total of 2 images)
advertisement
Son of war time pilot searches for family who befriended dad
17/ 4/2008
THE son of a World War Two pilot is searching for a family his father befriended in Walkden.
Abraham Ferstman, who was known to friends as Abe or Abie, came to England in 1942, when he was stationed around the country with the Royal Canadian Air Force.
He spent the last few months of his time in the UK at a repatriation depot in Warrington, where he became friendly with the Gregory family who then lived at 3 Bridgewater Road, Walkden. He returned to Canada in October 1944.
Canadian Brian Ferstman, 56, is now searching for that family to help him fill in the blanks of a book he is writing about his father’s life in the RCAF.
Among the friends of his father were two ladies named Ethel and Jean, and another lady with the intial E, who was around 20 years old in 1944.
Abe passed away unexpectedly in 1977 from a ruptured artery, aged 53.
Abe was a navigator on a Halifax bomber, but during the war his rank increased from a Pilot Officer to a Flight Lieutenant and he flew 33 missions over enemy territory.
Brian, who lives in Toronto with his wife and 15-year-old daughter, said: "I began researching the book in 1995 and started writing in 2005. I have letters from my father’s correspondent, E Gregory, and it would be wonderful to hear from anyone in the UK who remembers him."
The two letters appear to be from E Gregory, the lady of the house, and Ethel, who seems to be the daughter, which discuss him visiting the family.
Abe flew with the 431 Squadron and was strongly affected by his wartime experience.
Anyone who remembers, or is part of the Gregory family, can contact Brian via email: brian@ferstmanlaw.com, by post: St. Clair Ave.E, Suite 1500, Toronto, Ontario, Canada, M4T 2R1 or phone: 416-922-0305.
Got an opinion you want to share?Should less emphasis be placed on the results of tests and more emphasis on general education for children?
| Card | BT Fee |
| Virgin Credit Card | 2.98% |
| Egg Card | 3.0% |
| Barclaycard Platinum | 2.9% |
| Barclaycard OnePulse For London | 2.9% |
| Lloyds TSB Platinum MasterCard | 3.0% |
| Company | Typical APR |
| FirstPlus Exclusive Rate | 6.6% |
| Moneyback Bank | 7.2% |
| Barclaycard Personal Loan | 7.3% |
| Alliance & Leicester | 7.7% |
| Halifax (Semi-exclusive) | 7.8% |
| Bank of Scotland (Semi-exclusive) | 7.8% |
| Barclays | 7.9% |
| Provider | AER* |
|
ICICI BANK HiSAVE Savings Account |
6.16% |
|
BRADFORD & BINGLEY Internet Saver 2 |
6.00% |
|
ICESAVE Easy Access Account |
6.05% |
|
PRINCIPALITY BS e-SAVER |
5.75% |
|
SAINSBURYS BANK internet saver |
5.50% |