Recipient of Blair Castle 1945 WWII letter found

The letter discovered during the conservation work at Blair Castle - the author of which has now been found. Picture: PA

The letter, originally thought to be written by a little boy toy to his friend during World War Two, was discovered during winter conservation works at Blair Castle, in Perthshire - along with other keepsakes such as cigarette cards, old dominoes and counters.

Staff at the castle - where many children stayed during the Second World War - were keen to trace the two boys involved to find out more about their lives during the war.

After launching an appeal, it now transpires that the short letter was written by Archie Findlay and addressed to his brother, Bill Findlay, who lived at the castle between 1942 and 1946 when his Winchester boarding school, West Downs School, was evacuated as part of the war effort.

The almost perfectly-preserved letter begins by asking after Bill, then comments on how quiet it is without him and goes on to tell him of another friend, Jackie, who is “going away for good.”

The heading on the letter indicates Archie was staying at Boturich Castle in Balloch, Dunbartonshire.

Bill Findlay, 82, who was 12 years old at the time the letter was written, said today: “This is just amazing.

“I’m just so tickled you’ve found it after all this time.

“We used to sit on the window ledges in the Grand Ballroom and it’s entirely possible that I dropped it down the back of the radiator, but it was such a long time ago.

“I had a tremendous time living at Blair Castle, and I have such dear memories of those years. It was a real adventure.”

Archie Findlay, 77, said: “This brings back memories indeed. I was told to write that letter by my mother.

“I guess I wrote about Jackie, Boturich Castle’s under gardener’s son, going away because it would have been the first thing that came to mind. I’m just so amused it’s been found so many years on. Who’d have thought?”

Stuart Letford, marketing and communications officer at Blair Castle, said: “It is incredible to think that Archie’s letter to Bill has been lying hidden for such a long, long time and yet we were able to find them within 24 hours of the news getting out.

“It’s truly amazing. We’ve agreed with Bill and Archie that their letter and keepsakes will be put on display to the public at the Castle and we have invited them up at a time that is convenient for them to see their correspondence again.

“It’s 70 years since the end of the Second World War this year, so it seems fitting that we commemorate this with Bill and Archie’s story - yet another remarkable tale to add to our 700 years of history.”

Blair Castle, one of Scotland’s most popular tourist destinations, will officially open to the public for the summer season on April 1 2015.

• Travel: A mini adventure at Blair Castle

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