Tracking down an old friend

[Ross365]

I want to try and get back in touch with someone I’ve not seen for 25 years. I’m guessing they still live in the same general area.
In the past, ‘192.com’ used to work well, but last time I tried to use them I was very unimpressed. Any good ideas how best to pursue this?

 

[qwakers]

search for him on facebook.

 

[Ross365]

Nope... that's not worked . He may well have passed on, but then I'd like to find his kids, whose names I've long forgotten. Some pointed me at the Association of Genealogists and Researchers in Archives (AGRA); maybe this will need a professional on the job?

 

[RWD3M]

Have you Googled his name? Might be worth a shot, especially if there has been a funeral.

 

[Porkypine]

By googling the name and looking thru the results I've found a couple of people I knew in the 80s so well worth a try, unless he's John Smith or something..

 

[Ross365]

No, that's not working here. I did locate another one old buddy who's name just appeared on Google on the score-sheet of a tennis club and another who was a Scout troop leader!

 

[Porkypine]

Hope the scout troop bloke wasn't on 'tinternet for anything, erm.. 'dodgy' !

 

[winchman]

Might be worth asking on Facebook if there is a local area group one for his hobbies?
I have also seen an ad in a shop window work!
Some people don't disclose names etc on line for there own privacy

 

[Tigman]

Electoral register ?

 

[addjunkie]

Electoral register ?

go back to last know address, and follow it through from there. If they are still working try linked in too.

Might be worth asking on Facebook if there is a local area group one for his hobbies?
I have also seen an ad in a shop window work!
Some people don't disclose names etc on line for there own privacy

fairly common question on a couple of the facebook groups I follow for where I used to live. Anyone know where xyz is now. I even answered one, as I worked with the guy 20 years ago and knew hed moved a long way when he changed wives.

 

[marlinspike]

You can look up birth, deaths, and marriages on Free BMD. It only goes up to 1997 though as it's an ongoing project.

FreeBMD Home Page

If it was a school friend you could try the Facebook groups for your school. He might not be on FB but you could ask as someone might still be in touch or he might be still in the area. Also LinkedIn if he is still of working age.

 

[Nomad]

If you know his old address, knock on the neighbors doors - if they were close you might get a forwarding address. It's worked for me in the past.

Try to track down any of their old friends..

 

[jmp49]

Depending on what he does or did for a living, a search on linkedin can be very useful too.

 

[Ross365]

At the time we knew each other we both lived in the same town, then both of us relocated, so we were over 200 miles apart. I cannot find an address for his new location.
I will give FreeBMD a try, but it's one of these deals where it's free for 14 days, then they start charging... and you never get around to stopping it!
He had health problems and was retired long before Linkedin arrived.

 

[Farside]

He had health problems and was retired long before Linkedin arrived.

It's surprising how many geezers and codgers on Linkedin, you never know.
On a more general note, there's lots of people don't want the past turning up.

 

[Robotstar5]

I will give FreeBMD a try, but it's one of these deals where it's free for 14 days, then they start charging... and you never get around to stopping it!
He had health problems and was retired long before Linkedin arrived.

FreeBMD does not charge, always free