Judy Smith, now 67, was reunited with her 1975 teenage diary after father-and-son builders Jim and Charlie Grace discovered the journal while renovating a third-floor flat in South Woodford, east London. The personal diary, which dates back to the year Margaret Thatcher took over as leader of the Conservatives and the Bay City Rollers had the top-selling UK single with “Bye Bye Baby,” turned up alongside old newspapers, magazines, and crisp packets.
Builders Find Lost Journal in East London Flat
Jim Grace, 62, and his 20-year-old son Charlie were working on the property renovation in December when they spotted the forgotten notebook. “I thought… it didn’t look like rubbish,” Charlie Grace said. Jim Grace added that it felt like finding a little bit of history where someone had put their life on paper.
The diary details Smith’s life when she lived in Snaresbrook, east London, and it is understood the address where the diary was found had a family connection. Charlie Grace read through the entries, noting particular surprise at historical prices, such as the cost of a cab ride from Enfield to the city centre for 50p.
Social Media Search Connects Builders to Diary Author
Jim Grace’s wife, Yvette Grace, 55, took on the task of tracking down the owner using Facebook. Her online search eventually traced Smith’s daughter all the way to Dubai. Yvette Grace expressed amusement upon learning that Smith now lives in North Weald, the exact same Essex village where she and the builders reside.
“I must have bumped into her or walked past her in the local Co-op or something,” Yvette Grace said. “There’s absolutely no way that I wouldn’t have seen this lady before.” Smith, an NHS receptionist, contacted the BBC through Your Voice after seeing a similar story about a child’s letter being found underneath some stairs 44 years later.
Smith Reminisces Over Teenage Entries
Upon receiving the lost journal, Smith read through the entries detailing her thoughts as a 16-year-old. “I was just cringing. I was just thinking what a naughty girl I was,” she told BBC Essex presenter Ben Fryer, describing the return of the document as incredible. She subsequently called friends to reminisce about their youth.
While Smith continues to keep a personal journal today, she noted that her current writing is less detailed and “quite boring” by comparison.
Frequently Asked Questions About the 1975 Diary Discovery
Where was the 1975 diary found?
Father-and-son builders Jim and Charlie Grace discovered the diary on the third floor of a property in South Woodford, east London, in December alongside old magazines, newspapers, and crisp packets.
How did the builders locate the diary’s owner?
Jim Grace’s wife, Yvette Grace, used Facebook to track down Judy Smith’s daughter, who was living in Dubai.
What historical year does the recovered journal date back to?
The diary was written in 1975, the same year Margaret Thatcher took over as leader of the Conservatives and the Bay City Rollers had the top-selling UK single with “Bye Bye Baby.”
Where do the finders and the diary author currently live?
Both Jim and Charlie Grace, along with Judy Smith, live in the village of North Weald in Essex.
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