Make reunion a reality

Express & Star readers who dream of meeting up with pen pals and relatives living across oceans have been responding to our Happy Landings competition in their droves.

See also: Happy Landings

We have teamed up with Birmingham International Airport and its partner airlines and tour operators to make the reunion dreams of one lucky reader a reality.

Entrants have been asked to tell us why they think they deserve the prize and the judges' task of choosing is going to be a tough one. We have received letters from people whose parents moved to Australia, from mums whose daughters followed their dreams to Florida, meaning they have only met their grandchildren once.

Old pen pals who stay in touch with regular letters have been longing to see their friends in Russia. We have even had an email from a man from South Staffordshire who now lives in America and would like us to bring him to Tipton and Wales to see his old friends and a cousin.

Express & Star promotions manager Viv Birch urged people to come forward with their stories.

He added: "There's some heart-warming stories out there of people who do deserve to be reunited but I'm sure there's plenty more we've not heard about yet.

"I would encourage everyone to get their entries in before the deadline because this is a once in a lifetime chance."

One reader and a companion can win an unforgettable trip around the globe to catch up with that special someone.

The lucky winner will receive flights, spending money and, in some cases, accommodation as part of the once-in-a-lifetime prize.

Dream to see father

Adrian Preece from Low Hill, Wolverhampton, grew up a long way from his father following his parents' divorce.

A few years ago he was delighted to find out his father, Stanley, was moving back to the Midlands from Cumbria.

But after six years of getting to know each other again, 67-year-old Stanley got the chance to realise his lifelong dream of emigrating and moved to Queensland in Australia.

Adrian, a 37-year-old lorry driver from First Avenue, is hoping to visit his father and knows that as the years go by the chances to meet get fewer and fewer.

Adrian said: "I knew it was his dream so tried not to show him how upset I was that he was going to live on the other side of the world. My partner and I both work, but on small wages, and couldn't afford the flights."

He hopes his entry into the Express & Star's Happy Landings competition will give him the chance to meet up with Stanley at least one more time.

"I know I'd never forgive myself if anything happened to him and he isn't getting any younger.

"I totally understand if someone else has a more deserving plight than me but I just cling to the hope of seeing him and surprising him."

Ship was torpedoed

His sister's infected ears saved Cannock pensioner Maurice Partridge from a watery grave.

In October 1940 the 77-year-old had been all set to be evacuated alongside other war children to Caribou in Maine, USA, to stay with relatives of his mother's, the Hartley family.

But his sister Jean became ill and could not make the journey, and young Maurice refused to go without her.

Maurice of Wimblebury Road, Heath Hayes, is one of scores of people entering the Happy Landings competition.

He said: "We were ready to travel in September and about to be sent to the point of departure with lots of other children and teachers for the trip.

"My sister Jean, who was always a sickly child, suddenly became ill again with her ears screaming with the pain so it was decided she couldn't go. I was sent to Shooting Butts in Rugeley.

"The ship we were meant to be on was the Empress of Britain and was torpedoed on October 2, 1940.

All the children drowned so my sister's bad ears saved our lives."

Now Maurice wants to finally make the trip to America to meet his relations.

He said: "I've never met the American Hartleys and this is something that I would love to happen, a meeting that's 67 years overdue."