Bob had been a member of the RAOB, known as The Buffs, since the 1960s.

For more than 40 years he enjoyed the comradeship provided by the fraternal order and earned many medals, or jewels, for his service.

In 1997 our home was targeted by burglars who stole a briefcase containing the jewels along with my handbag. The break-in left Bob devastated and he died in 2014 never knowing what became of the jewel. 

Little did he know, the medal had been discarded in a farmer’s field less than four miles from his home.

In October it was discovered in Hedenham by Norfolk metal detectorists Graeme Simmonds, Godfrey Pratt and Mike Gleeson. They tracked down Trevor, Bob’s son, who was astonished, as you never think you would get something like that back.

Trevor said “It would have meant everything to my father; the RAOB was very important to him and he got quite high up. We must have been driving past the medal on the way to Norwich for 20 years.”

Telling me that the medal had finally been found was an “emotional” experience as when he called me I shed a few tears but was over the moon to know that it had been found. Bob was devastated to lose his jewels, they were irreplaceable and even buying another would not have the same meaning as the one he lost.

Before presenting the medal back to us Mr Simmonds, Mr Pratt and Mr Gleeson cleaned and framed it and as Trevor said, “They didn’t have to do what they did. We can never thank them enough for what they have done.”

Each year that passes doesn't get any easier. Wrapping presents at Christmas was something we did together and I can still hear Bob saying "Nice and tight, wrap them nice and tight." But this year, because of the generosity of Graeme, Godfrey and Mike I am sure that Bob's star will be twinkling brighter than ever.