Man reunited with sister after 60 years

Charles Udris, who now lives in Acomb, York, had not seen his family since being seized by German soldiers in the dead of night, 59 years ago.

He was forced into slave labour, baking bread for front-line German troops.

The 78-year-old travelled back to Latvia in 1999, but could find no trace of his family. But earlier this year, Charles's son-in-law, Grahame Bonsall, managed to trace two of Charles's sisters through the internet.

In late October, Charles, Grahame, Grahame's wife, Pamela, their daughter, Nicola, and Charles's younger son, Tony, made the trip to Latvia.

Tragically, Charles's beloved sister, Berta, died before he was able to go "home".

But he did have an emotional reunion with his older sister, Alma, and his niece, Brigita.

He also made a poignant trip to Berta's grave, revisited the Riga home he was seized by German soldiers and saw the bakery where he learned his trade as a teenager.

Widower Charles, of Wheatland Grove, said: "It was so sad we could not see Berta. After all those years we found her again and then she was gone, but it was important for us to see her grave.

"I was glad to see Alma. She is 85 now and not well, but Brigita was telling her who I was in Latvian, while she was holding my hand.

"She started squeezing. She knew who I was and it was a very emotional moment."

Charles said he will not be returning to Latvia permanently, but is planning a second trip next June.

He added: "It is difficult to describe the feeling. York is my home now and has been for a long time, but when we landed in Latvia it felt like I had gone home."

Charles came to York via Hull and Melbourne, near Pocklington, setting up home here with his wife, Ivy Guest, in 1952.

Fearing the Russian occupation, he had turned down the chance to return to Latvia at the end of the war.

He worked at Woodcock's bakers in York, then Ovengloves, only fully retiring a year ago.

Updated: 10:46 Saturday, December 07, 2002