An online appeal to find a holidaymaker’s ‘sentimental’ photographs has been shared more than 260 times on social media.
Gemma Beere and Robert Bromley are hoping to be reunited with the memory card from their Sony a6000 camera, which they lost in Beer on Thursday, January 5, at around 2.15pm.
The couple tried retracing their steps after discovering it was missing. Last Friday, Robert discovered the lens cap and some broken pieces of screen in a layby on the B3174 Hollyhead Road.
The couple were visiting family in Devon over Christmas from Montreal, where they are currently living as Robert work as a construction manager.
Gemma, who is originally from Postbridge in Devon, said it would make her year if the card could be located. She expressed her gratitude to social media users for sharing her post.
The 32-year-old said: “The camera holds many valuable memories from the last eight months, made in Canada and the UK. We’d say the most precious of these are photos of our three-week trip home over the Christmas break to see family; rare unscripted moments with people we seldom get to see, in places we miss terribly.
“Not all images had been stored on our hard drive and it is possibly the most sentimental of photos that we have lost, which is utterly heartbreaking. These are moments that we won’t experience again for at least another year, which is torturous and fuels my soppy and apprehensive nature. To salvage the memory card would make my 2017.”
Gemma said the couple went through Southdown Road, Clapps Lane, Fore Street and Causeway before exiting the village.
Gemma said: “We’ve never fully understood what a powerful and uplifting tool social media could be. If we see a Facebook post asking for help, we will always hit that ‘share’ button, but until you are the one in need, it’s impossible to comprehend its undeniable force – one of great comfort to us at this time. Rob and I have been overwhelmed by the level of compassion we have received and couldn’t begin to describe how grateful we are for all the shares, suggestions and willingness to search on our behalf.”
The couple have now returned to Montreal - 3,145 miles away. They hope that passers-by will spread the word and keep an eye out for the memory card.
Gemma, a media productions manager said: “Devon constantly tugs on my heartstrings and I’m proud to call this county my home. The Beere family used to visit Beer for coastal walks and salty lips so it holds lovely memories.
“We are trying to manage our expectations, there is also the possibility that the body was picked up as it would have been hazardous in the middle of the road. We really don’t expect to recover a functioning camera but would be overjoyed if we could recover the memory card. It appears likely that a momentary lapse in concentration resulted in the camera being left on the roof of the car whilst packing other camera equipment in to the boot.”
Anyone who locates the camera or memory card can email gemma_beere@hotmail.com.
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