Picture taken in 1936.T From left: The captain of ss Tommeltin, that ran from Stockholm to Jersey, Harold Campbell, Cyril du Feu, the son of the Captain and Gösta Stromdahl

A man is trying to help a friend complete a story entitled ‘My Deep Love for Jersey’ and is hoping that some of our readers can help.

Harry Read explains that his wife’s uncle Cyril du Feu, who died three years ago, was friends with Gösta Stromdahl when Gösta came to Jersey from Sweden in 1936 to improve his English.

‘Gösta’s father was an exporter of straw and had contacts with J W Huelin and the Country Gentlemen’s Association, which was the biggest receiver of the straw and hay,’ says Harry. ‘The friendship came about through an employee of Huelin’s, Harold Campbell, who introduced him to Cyril and for the next year the three were inseparable.’

Gösta has since written his story My Deep Love For Jersey and has asked Harry for some information to help him add to it.

The people mentioned to him by Gösta are George Brailey who, he says, lived in St Aubin and was the manager of the GCA and had a daughter of about four years old; Billy Wells, who was cashier at Huelin, and his wife Peggy; and Jean Gilbert who represented Jersey in diving in the Commonwealth and Empire Games in 1936. He believes that her parents had a flower shop in St Helier and had two brothers who were active rugby players.

‘Because of his contact with Jersey, his son (Johan) and a friend (Urban) came over in 1977 and stayed with families in Rozel and St Brelade, arranged through Billy Wells, and in 1979 the younger brother of the friend (Erland) came and stayed with the familuy. If any of this strikes a cord with your readers I am sure Gosta would be delighted to hear,’ added Harry.

If anyone can help, they can contact Harry at read.harry@googlemail.com.