PENARTH’S Royal Air Force Association (RAFA) club was given an early Christmas present after it celebrated the return and restoration of a wall clock.

In December last year the RAFA club was devastated after thieves stole the wall clock, which was presented to the club in 1977, during a burglary.

Thankfully Penarth CID returned the clock to the Windsor Road club in March this year after it was found at a nearby property on Plassey Street during a routine investigation.

The clock has now been fully restored thanks to the kind donation of costs from the widow of a former RAFA club member, Shelagh Evans, and mounted on the wall of the club with a plaque in memory of her husband.

PC Huw Longman, who initially investigated into the burglary and theft of the clock, came back to the club for the unveiling of it on the wall on Thursday, December 19.

Tony Parsons, RAFA club chairman, said: “We didn’t expect to see it again once it was gone.

“Penarth police did a fabulous job just finding it in a few months and returning it again.

“We would like to thank the police for finding it and the branch for doing a really good job of restoring it.”

He added: “It’s great now and looks just like the original one.

“A light and sympathetic restoration of the clock has taken place

“We are very pleased to have it back and very lucky that Shelagh has donated the cost of all the restoration.”

Shelagh Evans, whose husband John Evans was a long-serving treasurer at the RAFA club before he died a few years ago, offered to donate towards any costs incurred in refurbishing the clock.

“When I heard about the theft I got in touch to see what I could do to help,” she said.

“I would like to thank the club for refurbishing the clock in memory of my husband, who was the treasurer of the club for many years.”

The clock is distinctive for the many different colours on its face – each represents a different sector of operations within the RAF.

Tich Taylor, RAFA branch chairman, added that a lot of work had gone into repairing the clock.

“There was quite a lot of damage when it was returned,” he said.

“Everything has been overhauled and put back together again since then."

He added: “The clock has travelled everywhere during its restoration.

“The bezel glass was refurbished in Worcester, the dial was refurbished in Preston and the casing was refurbished in Cardiff.

“It was all in bits and pieces before it was finally put back together again in Abergavenny.”