I cannot find a couloured photo but can recall those amazing tones with the fruit jellies and chocolate button on top.

I must admit to being one of the ‘lick the filling out first’ types, but like others, I rarely suceeded – ofcourse this made me more determined to keep trying.

From a marketing perspective, these would not need to trade on the business of those of us who remember, they were so perfect I am sure they would appeal to a whole new generation.

In the last few days, I have sent the following message to the Paknam Web Forum in Thailand …………………..

Re: New Members Please Introduce Yourself Here
Hello All,

I have just found this site and after over 60 years wondering about someone I met at primary school all those years ago, I decided to see if he was still alive and if so, contactable.

When I was a boy of about 6-7, I went to a private school in Birmingham, England and met a yound lad from Siam, as it was then called. His father had sent him to England to be educated and being all alone and me being new to the school, we soon made friends.

My father used to pick me up from school in his car and would also pick up my friend and took us for a special tea at a place in Edgbaston, Birmingham, where we had something that if still around, he will remember.

After many months, the boys father sent a gift to my father to thank him for the friendship shown to his son, but after leaving that school, we never made contact again.

I often recall him by name and although I may not have the correct spelling, his name was Vivat Utamote. His father was then a silversmith to the King of Siam, before the country changed it’s name.

I am hoping that Vivat is still alive and well, perhaps occasionally thinking of his days in England some 60+ yars ago and a boy he became friends with. He will be about the same age as myself, now 70. If anyone can possibly make enquiries over there, not sure of his location now, but any information would be welcome and I can be contacted on my e-mail at (email removed by Moderator, people can contact you via Privatge Message if they wish). Perhaps if he is still around, we could link up and maybe even arrange a meeting before we drop off our perches!

Malcolm

That special place referred to was the Kunzel restaurant at five ways in Edgbaston Birmingham, who some of you may remember. We enjoyed scoffing many of the showboat fancies when we had those teas.

I had made various attempts to trace my old friend over the years without any success, but thought I would give it one more try.

With the help of a few determined people over there, I was delighted to receive the following message ……

I’ve found the son of Khun Vivat Uttamot, he will contact you directly. Congratulation.

Mel

Followed by this ….

Dear Khun Malcolm,

I’ve received a phone call from Khun Mel yesterday, and immediately called my father, Khun Vivat Utamote, afterwards. Yes, he still remembers you and the tea place he used to visit with you in the past. My father is well and now living in Bangkok.
Please let me know your e-mail address, so that I could ask my dad to write to you directly.

My dad and myself would like to thanks Khun Mel once again for her great helps. Without her, we would never come across the message. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Regards,
Krisda Utamote (Jon)

I am now looking forward to hearing from my old friend and Kunzel chum.

Malcolm

I hope this gets through to someone.

If only they could be brought back! Not as a parody of the originals, but the real thing!

Bryan llewellyn (Wales)