“Seeing it pulled on my heart strings a little bit.”
Need to know
“Seeing it pulled on my heart strings a little bit.”
A photo was found inside one of the compartments of this purse(Image: Sharon Owen)
A seemingly ordinary trip to a Wirral charity shop has led to a heartfelt public appeal to reunite a precious memento with its rightful owner. Sharon Owen was browsing the Koala North West Charity Shop in Claughton Village when she spotted a great bargain: a stylish red Julian Macdonald purse, perfect for her daughter, priced at just 50p.
However, it was not the purse itself but a small, hidden item inside that has now captured the attention of the community, as the mum-of-one realised she may have stumbled across a treasured memory belonging to someone else.
Upon closer inspection of her purchase, Sharon discovered a small, old passport photograph tucked away inside one of the purse’s internal compartments. The image, which she describes as being of a “handsome chap,” immediately resonated with her on a personal level, having recently experienced the loss of her dad.
Believing the photograph must hold deep sentimental value for its original owner, she is now determined to track them down. This touching gesture highlights the kindness of strangers and the importance of preserving precious family mementos, especially those passed on through generations.
The photo found inside the purse that Sharon wants to return to its owner(Image: Sharon Owen)
What People Need to Know
- Sharon Owen is appealing to the public to find the owner of an old photograph. The image was found unexpectedly inside a purse she recently purchased from a charity shop.
- The purse was a red Julian Macdonald design, which Ms. Owen bought for just 50p. She intended the affordable find to be used by her daughter for school purposes.
- The purchase was made at the Koala North West Charity Shop, a popular destination located in Claughton Village, Wirral. Ms. Owen had travelled from her home in Bangor to visit the store.
- The discovered item was an old passport-style photograph of a man, who Ms. Owen described as a “handsome chap.” The picture had been carefully tucked away into one of the purse’s small internal compartments.
- Ms. Owen was immediately convinced that the photograph must hold considerable sentimental value for its original owner. She noted that there was no writing or identifying marks on the back of the picture to help trace them.
- The appeal is deeply personal for Ms. Owen, who was recently lost her father. She understands the emotional desire to have such treasured mementos safely returned.
- She expressed a strong desire to reunite the photo with the owner, believing it must belong to someone’s husband or father. She added that the discovery “pulled on her heart strings a little bit.”
- The finding serves as a touching reminder of how important physical photographs are, especially for capturing memories of loved ones. These types of printed photos are becoming increasingly rare in the modern digital age.
- The Koala North West Charity Shop is a vital local service that supports families and children across the Wirral. They directly benefit from the public’s generosity in donating items like the purse.
- The Liverpool Echo is assisting with the ongoing public appeal to trace the owner of the photograph. Anyone who recognises the image or the purse is asked to contact the newspaper directly.
Does the photo belong to you? We’d love to get it back to you, email [email protected].
Full story: Woman couldn’t believe what she found inside 50p charity shop purse


