Prisoners' church custodian dies

Former PoW Mario Ferlito came up with the idea for the church

An 86-year-old man who spent 40 years caring for a small Catholic church built by Italian prisoners of war (PoW) during World War II has died.

Bob Thomson looked after the Church of the Sacred Heart in Henllan, near Llandysul, Ceredigion.

The PoWs transformed a hut and made ornaments out of corn beef tins and paint from clothing dye and fruit.

Police are investigating the death but it is thought that there are no suspicious circumstances.

Mr Thomson's death was confirmed by one of his sons on Tuesday.

Dyfed-Powys Police have not officially named Mr Thomson, but said they were investigating the sudden death of an 86-year-old whose body was found on an industrial estate in Henllan last Thursday.

Squashed fruit

Mr Thomson had spent 40 years caring for the building, described as "stunning" and "very beautiful", which still stages church services.

Last year, efforts began to secure its future when Mr Thomson said he wanted to retire.

In 1945, Italian PoWs held in Henllan transformed one of their huts. They made ornaments out of corn beef tins and paint from tea leaves, clothing dye and squashed fruit.

It was the idea of prisoner Mario Ferlito who was one of 1,000 held in the village.

With limited resources Mr Ferlito even painted a mural of Christ's Last Supper on the ceiling of the hut above the altar.

For many years after the war ex-PoW's made an annual pilgrimage to Henllan where they celebrated Mass and visited former comrades who had settled in the area.