A WORLD War II survivor made an emotional return to Kidderminster after 60 years to show her son where he was born.

Nora Klim and her son Frank flew had arranged a trip to her native Ireland from the USA where they now live before making a spur-of-the-moment to visit the town for a few days.

The grandmother of four, who is aged 94, said she wanted to see how the place had changed since she left as well as showing Frank where he spent his early years.

Mrs Klim moved to Kidderminster from Ireland in May 1943, along with other women who were shipped in to work in factories during the war and she was placed at ICI in the town.

In 1947, she met Polish soldier Czlaw “Chester” Klimkiewicz whom she dated for two years before they married at St Mary’s Catholic Church in June 1949.

Frank, who was the first of the couple’s four children, was born at The Croft Maternity Hospital in February 1952 and the family lived at Burlish Camp in Stourport - which was home to American and Polish veterans.

Mr Klimkiewicz worked at Brinton’s and was part of the team that worked on a commemorative rug for The Queen when she was crowned.

Frank said his father had originally lied about his age to sign up for the Polish army – he was 16 when the minimum age was 18 – to ensure his family would be moved out of the war-torn country. He was posted in Kidderminster while fighting for the Allies.

Due to Mr Klimkiewicz’s family connections in the USA, they moved to Michigan in 1955 where he shortened his surname to Klim and the family settled. Sadly, Mr Klim died in 2010 aged 87.

Mrs Klim said: “I spent 12 years in the area and we lived in Kidderminster and Stourport and they were lovely places to live. It was very pretty, especially by the river.

“I’m extremely happy to have been able to come back after all these years with Frank. It is a lovely trip down memory lane.

“I wanted to visit places such as Harvington Church, Brinton’s Carpets and Burlish Camp and show Frank his roots as he probably won’t remember much as we left when he was three.

“They were good years in England and, when we moved, I missed so many of the wonderful friends we had made. But you get acquainted and we made a good life in America.”

Frank added: “I was born here so I am elated that I have been able to come back. I do have some memories about my formative years – particularly playing with other children at Burlish.

“I was a little bit nervous but very curious about everything and I have found that it is beautiful around here.

“Mum often pined for Kidderminster. She did love this area very much.”