In search of Billy Sutton

Photo: SHANE WENZLICK

LOOSE ENDS: Back in March Mangere Bridge resident Robert Pate received a letter from Scotland from an elderly man looking for his long lost brother William “Billy” Sutton. Feeling sympathy for the elderly man’s plight Robert is trying to find Mr Sutton.

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A Mangere Bridge resident has a mystery on his hands and he’s hoping the Manukau community can help him solve it.

Back in March this year Robert Pate received a letter from the caregiver of an elderly man, Frank Sutton, living in Glasgow, Scotland.

Robert says Mr Sutton is trying to track down his long lost brother William "Billy" Sutton who’s last known address was in Mangere Bridge.

"I suspect that Frank may be disabled or handicapped in some way and his family was a bit fragmented,’ he says.

"When the letter mentioned William might be dead and he wanted closure, I just felt really sorry for Frank and promised to help him out."

Robert also felt a certain affinity to Mr Sutton’s plight – he has family from Glasgow and also lived and went to school in the area himself.

So far he’s has tried several avenues to track William down, including scouring through the phone book and asking around the neighbourhood, but with no success.

He’s even gone to the Manukau City Council to search through a list of the house’s previous owners but to no avail. Robert has hit a brick wall and is appealing to the Manukau community to help give Mr Sutton some closure.

"I tried one avenue, then another but with no success and it keeps gnawing away at me.

"I just want to help Frank out. Not knowing what happened to someone in my family is not that nice and I would appreciate it if someone did something like this for me.

"So if anyone knows William Sutton I’d be grateful to hear from you and I bet his family would be pretty thrilled too," Robert says.

Anyone with information about William "Billy" Sutton can call Robert Pate on 021-856-991.

Billy’s family history may help find him

Excerpt from a follow-up email sent to Robert Pate with details about William “Billy” Sutton:

“Frank’s brother’s name is William Manson Sutton, born in Scotland. Billy as he is commonly known, is a year older than Frank who was born in Middlesex, England in September 1933.

“Their father was William Sutton, born in Liverpool, England, and Frank remembers he worked at Parkhead Forge in Glasgow operating machinery.

“Their mother was Christine Sutton (nee Manson) and was born in Scotland. She went to America for some time.

“They have a cousin Frank Manson who stays in Liverpool, England, and is the only living relative Frank is in touch with. Frank remembers they grew up in the East End of Glasgow, first in Shettleston, then Carntyne, and finally at 21 Douglas Drive, Old Garrowhill with their father.

“He remembers his brother married a woman named Mae and moved to Glasgow, and Frank Manson says Billy emigrated to New Zealand in the 1950s.

“Billy traced Frank some 25 years ago and met up with him. This was the last time Frank had seen his brother.”

- © Fairfax NZ News