A “human chain of kindness” has led a woman to her former nanny, 60 years after she left Malta, the place which inspired her happiest childhood memories.

JaneMary Castelfranc-Allen, who lived in Ħal Far with her family between 1955 and 1958, returned to Malta with her husband Barry Parsonson last month, looking for the house she grew up in and any recollections about her parents.

Her father Robert C. Allen was a New Zealander officer in charge of aircraft maintenance engineering within the British Royal Navy’s Fleet Air Arm.

He lived in a house in Ħal Far together with his wife Gwynneth and four of their children.

But there were also three Maltese sisters who played a pivotal part in making Dr Castelfranc-Allen’s time here the “brightest and happiest”.

So she asked Times of Malta readers whether they knew of Yvonne, Marlene and Joyce.

Marlene was her nanny while Joyce would sometimes cook for the family.

Read: In search of three sisters, 60 years on

Since the article was published on June 24, Dr Castelfranc-Allen has succeeded in getting in touch with Marlene and Joyce, who live in the UK and Australia, respectively, and has finally been able to say “thank you”.

The series of events that led to the reunion started off with her friend Carol Naylor in New Zealand, who introduced her to Gloria Micallef, a Maltese Royal Airforce pilot.

JaneMary Castelfranc-Allen

Dr Castelfranc-Allen showed Ms Micallef an aerial photo of the house in Ħal Far and the latter contacted Lieutenant Colonel Alexander Dally, who at one point worked with her in Malta.

He agreed to meet Dr Castelfranc-Allen and her husband at Ħal Far, and with the help of Google satellite maps, they found the house, situated right next to the Open Centre.

Lt Col Dally made arrangements for them to take a closer look at the abandoned house from the centre, where they were assisted by two women whom Dr Castelfranc-Allen recalls as Ana and Amanda.

Meanwhile, Ian and Ana Scerri, who run a bed-and-breakfast where she was staying, contacted this newspaper to try trace down the sisters.

Several people got in touch with her following the publication of an article in The Times of Malta, including Charles Pace, aged 84, married to the cousin of the three Mamo sisters.

It transpired that Yvonne and their brother had passed away, but Mr Pace put her in touch with Joyce, 85, who now resides in Australia.

Joyce wrote back, sending a photo of the Allen siblings, taken in the UK, where the family had moved to from Malta.

This proved that she was one of the women whom Dr Castelfranc-Allen was looking for.

Joyce, in turn, put her in touch with Marlene, whom she contacted by e-mail.

The virtual encounter brought tears to Marlene’s eyes, while Dr Castelfranc-Allen has finally been able to thank her: “I can remember your presence always as cheerful and good. The older I get, and the more I have experienced a harsh world, the more I have learned to value these things.”

Dr Castelfranc-Allen told this newspaper she will always be grateful for the “human chain of kindness”, which included Ray Polidano, chair of the Malta Aviation Museum for helping her relive her memories in Malta.