Wife's last gift enables NZ man to take trip 'home'

A former New Zealand electrician has returned to Scotland to see his brother for the first time in 60 years, thanks to an unusual gift from his late wife.

Tom Clark, 81, told the Greenock Telegraph in Scotland that he was heartbroken when his wife, Joyce, died last year.

Shortly afterwards he was surprised to find out she had been saving money in a secret bank account for him, and had left instructions that he was to use it for a trip back home after her death.

The cash meant that Mr Clark was able to again meet his brother Matthew, 75, whom he had not seen since he left Scotland in December 1946. At the time, he was just 21 and his brother only 15.

Mr Clark, who arrived in Scotland at the weekend for his two-week holiday, told the newspaper: "We haven't stopped talking."

He said he left his family home in Falkirk on December 21, 1946, and stayed overnight in Greenock, before boarding the Hinemoa, with 150 other people travelling to New Zealand, mostly war-brides going to join NZ servicemen they had met in Scotland during the war.

He signed on as a crew member and travelled as the ship's electrician for the six-week voyage. Mr Clark lived in New Zealand for 35 years, marrying his wife, Joyce. They later moved to Brisbane.

Mr Clark said he would spend his holiday visiting the Trossachs, St Andrews and other sights around Scotland.

- NZPA