A poignant letter written by a young evacuee, which has been hidden away for nearly 70 years, has been unearthed at a Perthshire castle.
The handwritten note was found during conservation works at Blair Castle, near Pitlochry.
Since 1945, the letter has been tucked behind a radiator in the castle’s grand ballroom.
It appears to be part of correspondence between two young evacuees who had been sent to the safety of the countryside until the end of the war.
Signed Archie, the letter begins “My Dear Bill” and goes on to complain that “when you are away it is so quiet here”.
Archie ends his letter by telling Bill about another friend, Jackie, who is “going away for good”.
Yesterday, staff at Blair Castle made a public appeal to help track down the two young friends, who are now likely to be in their eighties.
It is hoped that the pair can be reunited with the letter, along with a collection of keepsakes which were also found during work over the winter, including dominoes, cigarette cards and an unusual golf game involving dice.
Stuart Letford, the castle’s communications officer, said: “It is incredible to think that Archie’s letter to Bill has been lying hidden for such a long, long time in one of the castle’s 30 rooms, and it would be fascinating to hear more about their story and their memories of being evacuated during the war.
“Who were Bill and Archie? Where were they from? Do they even still know each other? Are they both still alive?
“It must have been a frightening time for them during the war, but we hope Bill enjoyed his time exploring Blair Castle and the surrounding area during his stay.”
The heading of the letter indicates that Archie was staying at Boturich Castle in Balloch, Dunbartonshire and, going by the location of the letter, Bill was a resident at Blair.
The castle team have appealed for anyone who can shed light on the pair’s identity to get in touch.
Anyone with information can contact news@thecourier.co.uk or call 01382 575290.