'I stumbled across my favourite childhood book at a car boot sale - it sparked an incredible search'

Simon Papouis couldn't believe his eyes when he opened the book to see his name and address written on the inside cover. The moment inspired the dad-of-two to hunt down all his favourite toys

A dad went on a 21-year nostalgia trip after he found an old favourite book at a car boot sale… with his own name written inside. He had stumbled upon the very same copy of the ET: The Extra-Terrestrial book he had owned as a child.

The coincidence sent Simon Papouis, 49, on a mission to hunt down all his old toys, 36 years after they were lost when his parents divorced. He said: “I couldn’t believe it when I spotted my name and my address on the inside cover. I felt emotional, the hairs on my arms stood up. I got my shiny 50p out, the best 50p I have ever spent.”

Now Simon has been inspired to hunt down another 100-150 of his old toys. The prized toys, which include a BMX bike, remote controlled trucks and a model of the Titanic, are all kept in secure storage with CCTV cameras watching them.

The dad-of-two, from Worthing, West Sussex, says the most prized toy is an unopened Tamiya Sand Scorcher model car kit. Simon added: “I don’t play with the toys. I am a grown up in a grown-up world, but I think it is nice knowing that I have them. From a sentimental point of view, it was absolutely worth every penny. I like to think of things as investments.”

Simon has now started the The Cine Film Factory, specialising in transferring old film to modern formats. Simon says the business is a great passion of his as he loves returning lost memories to nostalgic people like him.