A QUIRK of circumstance has led a former teacher to help a woman’s campaign in tracking down a person who inspired her from her time at school.

Geoff Lucas, of Chineham, unexpectedly received a letter in the post from a Daniella Farrelly in her bid to find a teacher who inspired her to succeed in her current career working in television.

Daniella’s career has seen her settle in Los Angeles and work on shows such as Dancing With The Stars as a floor manager.

But she has never forgotten her roots and so reached out to reunite with Gerald Lucas who she worked on productions with in her time at Ash Manor School in Surrey, believing he now lived in the Basingstoke area.

Finding a ‘G Lucas’ on the electoral register, she sent out a letter to the address only to find it was the wrong Mr Lucas.

Coincidentally, Geoff Lucas is also a former teacher, albeit he taught in Winchester.

Now, he wants to help Daniella find her real G Lucas and got in touch with The Gazette to spread the word.

He said: “I’m just trying to help her to and get Gerald this feedback that he ought to see.

“If I’m the only G Lucas on the electoral register here, it appears Gerald isn’t in Basingstoke anymore. We might be able to find an old neighbour or someone like that to track him down.

“It was a complete surprise when the letter arrived through my door, I had never heard of her before at all. But I just want to help her now.”

Geoff Lucas has also written a letter to the Gazette about the subject.

Part of the letter reads: “I am an ex-teacher and therefore know how thrilled Gerald would be to hear of his former pupil’s success.

“I would therefore love to receive any information on Gerald Lucas that would enable me to contact him.”

n Please email newsdesk@basingstokegazette.co.uk for any correspondence in helping to find Gerald Lucas which the Gazette will forward on to Geoff Lucas.