A PENSIONER who opened his heart to German families in the aftermath of the Second World War has taken an emotional trip down memory lane.

D-Day veteran Ricky Recardo has returned home to Droitwich after spending five days in the town in which he was billeted during 1945 and 1946.

The married grandad was reunited with 22 Germans, who were small children when Ricky joined their community as a peacekeeper. His host was 70-year-old Anne-Marie Bortle, who was 12 when she first met the British soldier.

The Westlands resident volunteered with the 51st Highland Division Royal Signals, and despite a five-year battle with the Nazis, he went out of his way to build bridges with the Germans following VE day.

In the absence of an officer or sergeant, he was made a non-commissioned officer and his men took over a house and street in Syke, north west Germany.

Ignoring warnings from top ranks not to fraternise with the locals, Ricky set up a sewing shop for impoverished German families. Women were employed to repair uniforms and stitch collars for British troops.

Ricky became a favourite among children because he encouraged soldiers to give the youngsters their chocolate rations and always traded his Army supply of cigarettes, which he chose not to smoke, for sweets.

His wife Dot sent ribbons for festive gifts and Ricky and the children staged a Christmas panto. To add to the spirit, he even dug up a tree from nearby woods and decorated it with motorbike headlamp bulbs.

Ricky travelled with his grandson and son-in-law to Germany and his return to Syke, proved that his kindness was not forgotten.

The 87-year-old heard nothing but praise from the children, who are now pensioners.

"It was wonderful to see them all again, particularly Anne-Marie who organised the get-together and put me and my family up.

"The house we were billeted in has been empty since the day I left Germany but the town has changed a lot since then."

Anne-Marie and Ricky had written to each other after the war, but changes of address halted their communications for 50 years.

It was not until 2002 that contact was established when Ricky wrote to Anne-Marie and sent the letter to a former address.

Luckily she lived two doors from a post office which intercepted the letter and redirected it to her.