THIS is the remarkable story - and one with a happy ending - of one man's mission to track down a friend he made in the Forest of Dean 60 years ago.

It was wartime Britain when youngster Russell Saunders made friends with an American serviceman who was briefly stationed at Lydney's Nass Camp.

Russell was just 10 years old and the likeable American was 21.

"I used to fetch his laundry which I took back up to Lydney for my mother to wash," said Russell.

"All the local boys used to go to the camp. The Americans were always very good to us because there was nothing much to spare locally and I became very friendly with one of them named Jack Santry.

"But in about 1943 he was posted to Europe. As the years slipped by I often wondered what had happened to him and if he made it home.

"At various times I made enquiries but I didn't really now where to start. Then my son Raymond tracked down the name 'Santry' in a directory on the internet. One after the other I telephoned them all and I always had a warm reception but no luck. I telephoned all the Santrys in one state and was about to give up when Raymond came up with another list for New Jersey.

"I telephoned the first two and still had no luck. So I decided to work backwards and start from the bottom.

"A man answered the phone and I asked him if he had ever heard of Lydney and he immediately replied 'Yes, it's in Gloucestershire.' I knew I had found my man," said Russell.

The story came full circle recently when Russell and his wife Sylvia visited America and stayed with Jack.

"He is in his 80s now and spent a lifetime in the Army ending up as a full colonel. It was wonderful reunion and he and his family were so kind to us. I can't begin to tell you how pleased I was to find him," said Russell.

He said Mr Santry could recall Lydney Town Hall and the Cross and remembered the Bathurst Cafe.

"It was a long time ago and it was so nice to meet him after all those years. He made a big impression on me as a youngster and I especially remember him from the other soldiers because he did not drink or smoke. He was full of kindness and used to give me tins of corned beef to give to my mother," said Russell.

Mr Saunders has an additional reason to remember the reunion - he flew home on Concorde.

He is planning to visit Mr Santry later this year and has, of course, invited him to Britain.

"Unfortunately Jack says he has done enough travelling. He went all over the world during his Army career and is happy enough to stay where he is. But he is a lovely man and I will definitely be paying him anther visit," said Russell.