A NAFFERTON woman is set to return an historic Bible more than half a century after it was left with her family.
Delia Simpson, formerly Prince, will hand the book back to Janet Howard when she returns to the village from her home in Australia next month.
As previously reported, Ms Howard is due to come back to the village for the first time since leaving wi
th her family at the age of three in 1957.
Mrs Simpson told the Driffield Times that the Bible, which belonged to Ms Howard's grandfather Henry Rodgers, had been left with her mother when the Rodgers family moved Down Under more than 50 years ago.
The families had lived close to each other and Mrs Simpson knew Ms Howard's elder brother Raymond.
And she said that Ms Howard's forthcoming visit seemed like the ideal time to hand the bookback.
"It's an opportunity to put it back in its rightful place", she said.
"It's one of those things that I've always kept and I always knew where to go for it.
"It's one of those things that you never think will be given back. You never think you'll get that opportunity."
From her home near Adelaide, Ms Howard explained that the Bible, which dates back to 1906, carries great sentimental value.
She said: "Grandad's Bible is a very special Bible. It's been nurtured by a loving family for all these years."
She said that they had not had enough room to carry the book on the ship to Australia.
And during the crossing, the family's other Bibles as well as other documents were pushed through the ship's port hole and lost at sea.
As first reported in the Driffield Times two weeks ago, Ms Howard will be travelling back to Nafferton in late May.
l Anyone who would like to contact her before her trip can telephone 0061 883675202 or 0061 409675235.
Alternatively, email jh505403@bigpond.net.au or janet.howard@
adelaide.edu.au
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