Can you help end a 59-year Sunderland mystery?

Sunderland City Council’s International Team has been contacted by Helge Polzer whose mother visited Wearside in 1959.

Helge will be visiting Wearside as a crew member on Alexander von Humboldt II next week.

The council’s international officer Tim Hakim said: “She has asked our help in tracking down a Sunderland resident who lived at an address in Shotley Avenue.

“She is very keen to make contact with the family who hosted her mother at this address on a youth exchange visit from Essen, in Germany, in June 1959. So far I have drawn a blank in trying to track down her contact so I thought that an appeal through the Sunderland Echo might be our last chance of making contact with the host family.”

Could Echo readers come to the rescue?

We do know that the mystery host may have been called something like Garrad or Garrard and would have hosted her mother on a youth exchange visit from Essen, in Germany, on from June 2 to June 20, 1959.

She also wants to contact a Miss Margaret Falconer who had a return visit to Essen and was the guest of Paula Pittig in Essen-Rellinghausen at around the same time.

Tim added: “Helge will arrive in Sunderland by ship with the German Sail Training vessel ‘Alexander von Humboldt II’ as the ship is guest of the Tall Ship Races Sunderland 2018 from the July 11 to 14.

“However, she will stay on board of the ship Alexander von Humboldt II until July 13 only.

If anyone can help, contact Tim on (0191) 5612057 or email [email protected]