News

A pensioner who served as a Royal Engineer is celebrating after Kent Police has reunited him with three medals that were stolen 18 years ago.
 

78-year-old Graeme Olley from Saltwood, near Hythe was awarded the MBE in 1958 after working in Borneo to make a major river navigable on behalf of the Government. He was also awarded the General Service Medal for a tour of duty in Malaya in 1956 - 58 and he was also recognised for his services to the country with a Queens Silver Jubilee medal in 1977.

The medals were stolen during a burglary at his home in Saltwood in May 1991 and Graeme never thought he would see them again.

However, his step-son Simon Hathaway, a former Metropolitan Police Officer discovered the medals almost by accident whilst looking on Ebay.

Simon contacted Kent Police who carried out enquiries to find the original crime report from 1991. Enquiries were then made through Ebay to locate the medals and retrieve them.

They were being sold by a dealer from Norfolk for £795, but they were handed to police when the dealer realised their background.

Graeme said: "I am delighted to get my medals back as I never expected to see them again. There are many memories associated with each medal!"