Hostage David Bolam was devoted to helping the young
Released Midland hostage David Bolam was a 'dedicated' teacher who tried to give children in Libya 'a good education', a senior government figure has said.
Defence minister Philip Dunne said he had been in close contact with Mr Bolam's family throughout their five-month ordeal at the hands of Islamic militants.
The Ludlow MP revealed the 63 year-old, who used to run Hartlebury School near Kidderminster, had gone to the north African country to give children a fresh start after the uprisings that led to the fall of the Gaddafi regime.
Mr Dunne said: "David is a dedicated English teacher who had returned to Benghazi to help rebuild the international school of which he was a director, after he had been evacuated during the Arab Spring.?
"He was trying to help young people in Libya gain a good education."
Mr Bolam quit the fee-paying school, which was attended by pupils with special educational needs from the Black Country, 10 years ago when it fell into financial difficulties.
Details of his capture had been shrouded in secrecy while negotiations took place.
It is believed local groups in the Libyan city negotiated his release by paying a ransom.
He appeared in a video posted online on August 28 published by a group calling itself the Army of Islam.
In the video he begged the Prime Minister to agree to a hostage swap to secure his release.
He said: "I am a British teacher, my health is good at the moment, I have been here a very long time.
"I ask the British government and Prime Minister David Cameron - please allow me to go back to my family. I ask my family and friends, and anyone else who hears this, please can you do something to let the government understand I need to go home soon. Please, please do something to help me."
Benghazi, where the uprising against Colonel Gaddafi began, was seen as an attractive and modern city that welcomed westerners. But it is now in chaos, ruled by Islamist militias and criminal gangs.
The International School Benghazi announced Mr Bolam's disappearance on its Facebook page on May 19, days after nationalist forces led by retired general Khalifa Hiftar began attacks and air strikes on Islamist militias.
He is also pictured in 2012 meeting then-President of the General National Congress of Libya Dr. Mohamed Yusuf Al Magariaf.
Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond said: "Glad that David Bolam is safe and well after his ordeal and has been reunited with his family, who we have been supporting since he was taken."
A Foreign Office spokeswoman said: "We are glad that David Bolam is safe and well after his ordeal, and that he has been reunited with his family. We have been supporting his family since he was taken."
She added: "We do not comment on the detail of hostage cases. The family have asked for privacy."
But Ambassador Michael Aron took to Twitter to express his delight:
