Hidden letter found in Essex home reunited with author after 44 years

A letter written by a 10-year-old girl 44 years ago has been discovered hidden inside a staircase in Hockley, Essex. The note, dated August 12, 1982, was found by a construction worker during renovation work at a local home.

The current resident, 36-year-old Michelle Harwood, received the letter and used a local Facebook community group to identify the author. Within one hour of her post, the writer was identified as Rachel Miles, a 54-year-old teacher currently living in Milton Keynes.

Miles explained that the decision to hide the letter was inspired by the popular children's television program ‘Blue Peter,’ which encouraged children to create time capsules. The letter began with the phrase, ‘To the finder,’ a sentiment that Harwood described as goosebump-inducing, noting that she was not yet born when the letter was written.

In the note, Miles mentioned her pet cat, ‘Kizzy,’ whom she described as a local legend at the time. Both Harwood and Miles noted the coincidence that they both owned cats while living in the same house.