A retired nurse has been reunited with her jewellery, family heirlooms and treasured gifts, which were stolen from her home in Tibberton, near Newent, a few weeks ago.

In September, Wendy King’s home was burgled. The offenders stole her jewellery and some precious memorabilia from Wendy’s nursing career, including the badge from the Royal College of Nursing, which was awarded to her when she qualified as a nurse in 1981.

Her name badge was also stolen, along with the special fob watches that nurses wear, as well as brooches handed down from her grandmother and a necklace, which was given to her by her children for her 50th birthday.

Wendy had recently retired as a practice nurse at Staunton and Corse GP Practice, but her early career began at Charing Cross Hospital in London where she completed her nursing training. She then travelled to Bangladesh, where she worked for two years at the Cholera Hospital in Dhaka. There she met her future husband, Gus, who was part of a Voluntary Service Overseas team working in Bangladesh.

When the couple returned to the UK, they got married and had four children, who are now all grown up.

Working in Bangladesh was a "real culture shock" said Wendy, "But I wanted to experience true nursing in an environment where oxygen, for example, doesn’t simply come out of a pipe in the wall."

Wendy’s jewellery was found in the stream at Barnwood Park in Gloucester and handed in to Worcester Police Station. It was then passed to PC Claire Murray, who is based in Tewkesbury.

Claire realised that the items would have particular significance for someone. She cleaned all the pieces, photographed them and sent details to the police’s press team, who posted a message on the police Website, Facebook and Twitter pages.

One of Wendy’s friends saw the post, immediately recognised the items and gave Wendy a call to give her the good news.

PC Murray met with Wendy and her husband yesterday (Tuesday, October 8th) to return the precious items.

Wendy said, "I can’t thank the gentleman enough who handed in the jewellery and the police for taking so much trouble to find me. It’s not the financial value of the items that matters; it’s the sentimental value that means everything. My nursing badge could never be replaced; neither could the necklace my children chose for my 50th birthday. I’m so relieved and thankful to have these things back."