Colchester daughter reunited with late father's watch

Kellieanne Devaney, from Colchester, has been reunited with the watch after finding a friend of her late father had the watch after many years.

Her father, James Devaney Seamus, was an Irish soldier who served in the British Army for 26 years.

He was a Physical Training Instructor in the 3rd Battalion, Royal Anglian Regiment, but died aged just 42.

Kellieanne said: “Whilst my father was in service, he took underprivileged children from Jaywick through the army.

“When he was on the Isle of Eigg he passed due to a coronary heart attack at just 42.

“He was well-loved and more than 800 attended his funeral.”

James in his younger years met Lewis Baldwin whilst serving in Cyrpus.

Both were avid runners and became friends.

Pair - a stock image of two soldiers (Image: Pixabay)

Kellieanne said: “They exchanged watches when I was just a child as my father ran in the Cyprus Walkabout in 1983, the equivalent to the London Marathon.

“He was and is the only man to win the race three times.”

After what Kellieanne described as “sheer chance” and “fate”, the sentimental watch has now found its way back to her.

She said: “Recently, I have been socialising with friends in Shrub End.

“One of my friends was speaking to Lewis's son and asked me to talk to him.

“I realised he served alongside my father and was in possession of his watch and had been for 46 years.

“He had kept it all this time.

“It was fate I met Lewis and after arranging to meet, he wanted me to have it and it still works, but the date won’t change.

“My father died on Saturday, May 23, 1992, and the watch's date is the same, Saturday 23rd.”

Happy - Kellieanne said she will treasure the watch (Image: Public)

After getting the watch back, Kellieanne said it was “wonderful and overwhelming”.

“My father was a wonderful man and loved by many,” she said.

“To have this watch come to me by sheer chance after so long is wonderful and overwhelming all at the same time.

“It is a part of him I will treasure.”