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NET RESULT: Nadine Hounsell and husband Peter on the Internet and, inset, long-lost friend Dorothy James

LIVEWIRE Nadine Hounsell has tracked down a lost childhood friend using a mixture of modern technology and old-fashioned luck.

Mrs Hounsell, 82, used Internet forums to ask people in her native Suffolk if they knew the whereabouts of her friend Dorothy James, née Knights.

After further online investigations Mrs Hounsell, who now lives in Pretoria Terrace, Weymouth, sent a letter without a full address in the hopes of finding Mrs James.

Against the odds, the gambit worked and the women, who used to go dancing together as girls, will be reunited in Weymouth in July.

Mrs Hounsell, who is married to Peter, said: "I was just chatting with people in a forum based in Lowestoft about old friends and old times.

"I asked if the name Dorothy Knights rang a bell with anyone and some people said it did."

Mrs Hounsell was able to piece together some of her old friend's movements through her Internet investigations after the pair lost touch.

Mrs Hounsell discovered that Mrs James's childhood home in Lowestoft was still owned by her family.

She said: "I sent a letter addressed to Dorothy Knights in Bevan Street, which was her family home when we were growing up, but I couldn't remember a number.

"I also found out that the road had changed to Bevan Street East and Bevan Street West, so I just posted it and hoped for the best."

Dorothy James, who still owns the property but does not live there, eventually received the letter, contacted Mrs Hounsell and will be visiting Weymouth in July.

Mrs Hounsell said: "She was a very good friend and a very pretty girl. We probably met when we were about 11 but we were evacuated when we were 13, so I didn't see her for a long time.

"We met up again when we were about 16 and used to go dancing together but lost touch after this."

Mrs Hounsell, who taught herself how to use the Internet and edits videos as a hobby, said: "I can't wait to see her and reminisce.

"She was always the more active one, whereas I liked doing things that are more mentally challenging, like using computers.

"I'm not afraid of getting to grips with new technology and I'm very glad I did now."

10:59am Friday 16th May 2008

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