General   (General discussion, talk about anything.)

Just received this email has anyone any information about this man?

Hi Ron

I am an old friend of Micheal Bithell
He sadly passed away a little while away and the Police where unable to trace his relatives
So another friend Helen took responsibility for arranging the funeral and today I came down from North London to assist her with clearing Michaels flat
I have previously been an Investigator and a Certificated Bailiff used to following paper trails and finding Missing people
Despite Knowing Micheal for Many Many years he always kept his ‘ Wigan ‘ roots something of a Mystery
He was estranged from his family due various conflicts, he also used several different names and even dates of birth which confused things even more
It is however only right that his family and relatives know of his passing whatever their relationship
He did travel to Wigan with great expectations at Xmas 2018 to stay with his Mother although on his return it appears things had Not gone very well which upset him greatly
I was and am Not satisfied that Essex Police have Closed the case as ‘No Known Relatives or Living Next of Kin ‘
After Helen got the keys to his flat from the Police she went there a couple of times but like them had No further luck in finding any Clues
I went there today and did a very thorough search and found a Cache of hidden documents in a piece of furniture that No realised opened and contained personal papers

Here is what We know from our own Collective Memories of things he told various of us over the years
I have reason to believe that his family have been discussed on your website so it may be that We can be put in contact with his family to notify them of his passing and We also have or own photographs of Micheal which they may like to have copies things like his passport etc
He lived at
Barringtons
Flat 69
Sutton Rd
Southend on Sea
Essex
He was 59 I believe although there are several different dates of birth
He used the name
Micheal Bithell
and
Micheal Corris
He was born in Wigan
He had a sister who apparently was a Police Officer possibly a Sergeant in rank
The Essex Police drew a blank with this line of inquiry which surprised us as Micheal seemed proud of her achievements
However My brother Richard was working with Micheal in Germany many years ago and clearly remembers Micheal going to visit his sister on an Army base there
I have suggested that she may have been a Military Police Officer in that case which could be why Essex Police drew a blank in their search via Wigan Police ??
We believe he may have had a brother possibly called Steven but this is a 50 percent at best recollection of a single friend said he just had a Vague recollection of him saying this, So it could just be a ‘ Red Herring as Such
The main breakthrough came today when I found a 2017 copy of a Marriage Certificate Micheal had ordered of :
Ronald Bithell
Who Married
a June Howarth
Of Petticoat Lane Wigan
Via Google searches it has brought to here where people have Mentioned a Mrs Bithell’s shop in Petticoat Lane
I am quite reasonably sure there in lies our biggest possible connection to finding his Mother at least
I think We worked out Ronald Bithell would now be approximately 83
He was 23 in 1961 when they got Married
I understand that the Marriage subsequently failed, he Never as far as I know Mentioned his father to anyone, his only family that he’s spoke of was his Mother / Sister / and possibly a brother
Whether she remarried and then adopted a new surname, so Howarth to Bithell either returning to Possibly Howarth or Maybe this is where and this is a Wildcard guess possibly
June Corris as he used this Surname and We have No idea where it could of come from only the possibility of his mother remarrying and becoming Corris
I understand she was quite ‘ Well to do ‘ and possibly moved to a former Mining Village near the Sea somewhere near Wigan
Again this is ‘ Collective Memories of several different people from many Conversation with Micheal over many years and May Not actually be Factual but could maybe provide a clue to some one that knows the local topography and geography or of a Sea side former Mining being Upscaled possibly to something more residentially appealing ...

As I say We have some of his personal effects and his ashes I believe have yet to be Scattered
Essex Police also have his Mobile telephone which may or may not contain personal photos etc
If You or Your readers / members could put us in Contact with any family member it would be great Ley appreciated as I think it is only right and proper that they know that he has passed and the details of this
Helen is the friend and the person who nominated herself to arrange a Private Funeral and Notified the Registrar of his passing and is administering his Estate as such and will have his Death Certificate etc
Thank You in Advance
Steve Davis