ARMED with only a note scribbled on the back of a dusty black and white photo, a man from Australia was able to track down the house in Chalford he was evacuated to as a baby.

Aged just two-years-old, Graham Harold and his mother were evacuated from London to the safety of Stroud when the Nazi bombs began falling.

Though Graham was too young to remember the moths he spent in the village, one single piece of evidence survived the war.

Years later Graham discovered an old black and white photo his father had taken which showed a two-year-old Graham and his mother standing by a pond.

On the back of the image was scribbled a single note: “Alice with Graham, Dr Weston’s house, Chalford, Gloucs. 1944.”

Determined to track down this part of his childhood, 72-year-old Graham began trying to find out where the image had been taken.

Making contact with Chalford Parish Council, he set up a correspondence with general manager Christine Prince.

She put a note in the Chalford parish newsletter, and was finally contacted by David Parrott, whose family used to live in the house on Chalford Hill.

Now called the Codderies, it has served as the local doctor’s house for more than a century.

Mr Parrott, 78, who now lives next to the property, was able to speak to the current owners and arrange a visit for Graham and his wife of 48 years Helen.

After months of searching and appeals for information, Graham finally made the 11,000 mile journey across the world to visit the house, and in August he stepped over the threshold of the house that had provided shelter for him and his family some 71 years ago.

“We were overjoyed to meet the current owners who were so welcoming and hospitable,” he told the SNJ.

The couple were given a tour of the house and gardens by the home owners, and to his delight, Graham discovered the pond he was pictured by all those years ago.

“It was really amazing to stand in the same spot. I’ll treasure the photo forever,” he said.

“I really enjoyed visiting the Chalford and the UK after all this time, its’ a beautiful place.

“We’re want to say a huge thank you to everyone who helped us in our search, we’re so grateful.

Before they left, Graham and Helene paid a visit to personally thank the parish council for their assistance.

Graham currently lives in Sydney and has a son, 45, a daughter, 42, and six grandchildren.