Choirboy's Hidden Plea Of 'Remember Me' Found In Church Pew 125 Years On

A letter by a 13-year old William Elliott with a hidden message from an orphanage choirboy pleading not to be forgotten has been found after it lay undisturbed in a church pew for 125 years.

Reportedly, the letter was written on August 11 1897 on the back of a chorister’s order of service at Sunderland Parish Church.

During the lockdown, work was carried out to restore the Grade I Georgian listed building into an event space called Seventeen Nineteen, and that was when the note was accidentally discovered.

Seventeen Nineteen/PA

Conservationists later worked on the letter to remove decades-old dust, grime and polish so that the words on the letter do not get damaged.

William wrote in pencil: “Dear friend, whoever finds this paper think of William Elliott who had two months and two weeks and four days on the 11 of August 1897.

Seventeen Nineteen/PA

“Whoever you are that finds this paper don’t tear it up or throw it away … keep it in remembrance of me, W Elliott … I was the leading boy of this choir …

“I love you if you love me.”

Further research by Seventeen Nineteen volunteers revealed William’s father was chief officer Thomas Duncan Elliott who was sailing on the vessel Skyros when he was washed overboard in 1887.

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(William's) letter has touched us all. He was clearly very aware that his time at the orphanage, and in the choir, was ending and I think apprehension at what his future may hold comes across in his words

Centre manager Tracey Mienie

William’s mother Sarah Ann Elliott was a widow with four children and even though her family was living a comfortable life, after her husband's demise, by 1891 she was working as a dressmaker to keep the family afloat.

William was eligible for admittance to the orphanage after his father’s death and was ultimately accepted the following year.

He was discharged on October 29 1897, his 14th birthday – just weeks after he wrote his letter.

Unlike many other kids his age, William avoided the sea and later worked for a local solicitor after leaving.

Seventeen Nineteen/PA

Then after the period of 1901, the trail grows cold, and little to no information could be found about William.

Next to the framed copy of William's letter, that hangs in the church’s Lady Chapel next to the very seat in which the boy composed it, is a wooden plaque commemorating the dead of the Great War.

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And tragically, listed among the names of the parish’s fallen men and boys, is an individual with the same name but different spelling – W Elliot.

His desperate plea to not be forgotten has inspired Seventeen Nineteen to launch The Dear Friend project, inviting anyone who wishes to, to write a letter back to William.

Centre manager Tracey Mienie said: “His letter has touched us all.

“He was clearly very aware that his time at the orphanage, and in the choir, was ending and I think apprehension at what his future may hold comes across in his words.”

Seventeen Nineteen/PA