THE Hillingdon Times is trying to reunite two long-lost friends after more than 40 years.

Joy Rooney, 63, was born in Hayes in 1942, but now lives in Canada, and wants to find her friend Irene Haigh as she is coming to visit England in April.

Joy told the Hillingdon Times: "I have never forgotten Irene, neither did my mother who died in her 90th year in January 2005. She was so happy that I was trying to find Irene. She loved her too and had such good memories of her as do I."

Irene worked with Joy's mum at HMV/EMI in Hayes in the late 1950s, and lived in a small close near the Cranbourne Parade shops with her family.

Joy said: "We lost contact when I was around 20. I later heard Irene married a John Reeve and had two children, a boy and girl and lived off Coldharbour Lane. Sadly I then learned her husband had a heart attack and died quite suddenly and very young.

"I last heard about 12 years ago that she had married an insurance agent and moved to live in The Grapes area of Hayes. She may have moved away from Hayes completely. I don't know of her second marital name, but she may have her children of John Reeve still living in Hayes."

Joy has always been a football fan, and was delighted to see the movie Bend it like Beckham. She said: "I saw many familiar sights of my childhood and youth, and I smiled to see the 607 was no longer a trolley bus."

She added: "Irene is a very dear old friend I have lost contact with. I plan to be in England in April and hope to have found Irene by that time."

If anyone knows Irene Reeve (Nee Haigh), please contact the Hillingdon Times on 01494 755112 or email rsharp@london.newsquest.co.uk