FAMILY REUNITED FOR CHRISTMAS

An Eastbourne family are to be reunited for Christmas after a long battle to secure their return from Indonesia. Sara Oxley and her two children, Wallis (8) and Reuven (6), were trapped in Indonesia after the estranged father tried to stop them leaving the country. They will be arriving in the UK this Saturday for an emotional reunion.

Sara’s father approached his local MP Nigel Waterson back in August and he immediately made representations to all the relevant authorities.

Nigel commented today: “This has been a long battle for me and my team, but I am delighted that this family will now be together for Christmas. It took months of work to persuade the Indonesian authorities to issue the necessary exit visas for the children. I am grateful to them, and to Foreign Office staff, both here and in Indonesia. The Minister, Chris Bryant MP, was especially helpful to me.”

Mike Oxley said: “I would like to pass on to Mr. Waterson my heartfelt thanks for all the work he has put in on our behalf. It is without doubt his intervention that put the process on a different level and was in no small measure responsible for its success. He has been tireless and strong in his support.”

18th December 2009