Amnesiac seeks lost love after memory returns (From Your Local Guardian)

Amnesiac hopes his former Croydon girlfriend can unlock lost memories

11:30am Thursday 2nd August 2012 in News By Nick Hitchens

An amnesiac has had memories of a long-lost love sparked through the chance discovery of a passport photo and is appealing for help tracking her down.

Trapped in a pile-up on the M11 16 years ago Bill Lindner suffered brain damage losing huge chunks of his former life, including a decade in Croydon between 1970 and 1980.

The sight of a photograph of his ex-girlfriend Gisela six weeks ago, sparked his recollection, and now the 65-year-old is determined to find her to help him piece together his time in the borough.

He said: "I was flicking through an old catalogue and it fell out and the memories just came pouring back. Before that she did not exist, I didn’t even remember I’d lived in Croydon. I can tell you I had jelly legs."

He explained he was working as an electrical engineer when he first met German Gisela, who is ten years his senior, at her home in Old Farleigh Road, Selsdon.

They struck up a close relationship but he left the borough after she married love rival Fred Wallis.

He said: "I was a young man he was well established - I guess I never stood a chance. She was so important to me then - she really helped me grow up, and I’d love to speak to her."

His hopes hit a huge hurdle when he returned to her Selsdon home last month.

He said: "Just driving through Croydon I felt this huge memory lurch. I knocked on the door and the shape of a woman appeared - I almost fell over, but it wasn’t her. The new owner said she and Fred moved to Spain but she’d heard she died 10 years ago."

Mr Lindner, who is happily married in King’s Lynn, Norfolk, however remains hopeful he can trace his long lost love.

He said: "The trouble is I don’t know if she is still Gisela Wallis. She was originally from Dortmund and she was involved with the Women’s League of Health and Beauty. If anyone still has contact with her, or Fred I would be grateful for your help."

Contact Mr Lindner on cocklerbill@gmail.com