A MAN has rediscovered a childhood picture more than 50 years after it was mailed to his father in the Far East.

Tim O'Grady, of Calgary Drive, Lower Wick, Worcester, said he only recently discovered his father had kept the picture - and must have carried it with him for several years when he was serving with the RAF in the Far East in the Second World War.

The 68-year-old, whose nickname is Tadge, said his cousin found letters sent from his father to his uncle and aunt in Ireland, talking of how his mother had sent pictures of Tim in his communion uniform to his dad.

Mr O'Grady, the third of six children, said: "I knew I had seen this photo somewhere. When I was sorting out my mum's things when she passed on, it was in a small basket made of reed my dad carried all around the Far East until he was demobbed in 1947."

He said he thought his father must have carried it round for at least two years and he had had no idea it was still in the family's possession until his cousins had mentioned it.

"It's the same picture and I have still got the original box. I just thought it was so nice, I never realised this, if I had known about it I would have brought it to light with my family."

Mr O'Grady said when his father returned, he met up with a man from Worcester called Tom Jones, who lived in Blackpole Road and had also served in the RAF in the Far East.

"Tom got my dad a job on John Weaver's Farm in Blackpole, with a tied cottage. John Weaver was also Mayor of Worcester," he said.

"The farm is long gone, all Warndon houses were built on all the farm land. We lived in the Lodge House where the Blackpole Inn is now standing.

"I look back now and think of what they both went through for us."