AN amateur sleuth is trying to track down relatives of an Alva woman who may hold the key to a mystery surrounding an old school teacher.

For the past seven years, retired teacher Reg Price has been researching the life of Arthur Hedley, a former teacher of his late brother.

Mr Hedley became renowned in musical circles for his studies on classical composer Frédéric Chopin.

However, Mr Price (81) from Kent, is trying to unlock the mystery of his WW2 record and discover whether he was a British spy during the war.

Part of that could be found with relatives of his long-term housekeeper and friend, Ena Makin.

Alexandrina ‘Ena’ Makin was Mr Hedley’s housekeeper and was central to his success as a writer and researcher. Such was their friendship, he dedicated his biography of Chopin to ‘my friend ENA MAKIN’ and he bequeathed £135,000 of his estate to her on his death.

Ms Makin ran his Edgbaston home in Birmingham and supported him during his painful decline from cancer. Census records reveal that she was born about 1892 in Alva and grew up in Craigleith Terrace.

He said, “Contact with a member of the Makin family would be invaluable to find out his role in WW2. At present demob from the forces in 1947 is the only hard evidence available to me. After six or seven years research nobody in his home area has come forward to offer information – he is a mystery man outside his acknowledged importance as a Chopin authority. The Makin family could unlock the mystery.” Hedley was a gifted amateur pianist and founder of the Chopin Society. Although he earned his living as a teacher he devoted his life to understanding the life and music of the composer. He was fluent in German, French and Polish and visited Poland to research Chopin’s documents and translate and edit his letters.

He taught at Tottenham County Grammar School as head of the languages department and following the outbreak of war the 39-year-old joined his school on its relocation to East Anglia. Mr Hedley served in the army for four years during the war and Mr Price said an interview with a former pupil hinted that his linguistic skills may have been used for espionage.

He said, “During this period she remembered that her French teacher would be absent for long periods without explanation. Was Hedley a gifted linguist recruited for espionage? There is no firm evidence but the pupil remembers that Hedley suggested that her class watch a TV programme on war heroes because he was in it.” According to Mr Price, Mr Hedley immersed himself in Chopin’s life purchasing many original documents and even the composer’s waistcoat, cuff links and a lock of hair. He received the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Polonia Restituta and was appointed Vice-President of the Warsaw International Chopin Piano Competition. He died in Birmingham in 1969.

Mr Price is appealing for anyone with information on Arthur Hedley or Alexandrina ‘Ena’ Makin to get in touch on 01689 853938 or email reginald.price@ntlworld.com.