THE memory of a Lithuanian man buried in Lower Stratton Cemetery lives on thanks to two kind-hearted groundsmen.

Stratton Parish Council workers Bernard Minty and Rodney Collins were sickened to hear that vandals had smashed a wooden cross on Andrius Lituaitis's grave.

They have now repaired and restored the cross in their own time and for free.

Stratton St Margaret Council was only able to make contact with Mr Lituaitis's elderly children because of a letter they received two years previously.

Relatives in Cambridge contacted Stratton Parish Council asking exactly where he was buried. The council was able to inform them of the vandalism when they found the letter on file.

The relatives wrote to Mr Lituaitis's children in Kaunas, the provincial capital of Lithuania, explaining what had happened.

Mr Lituaitis, who died on December 30, 1964, aged 68, was employed as a porter at the now demolished Stratton Hostel in Swindon Road.

Council clerk Bob Blake said: "A lot of Lithuanians came over to England after the war.

"He was buried in the council-owned cemetery behind St Margaret's Church, but vandals recently smashed his cross.

"We realised his children were not in a position to fix it so two of our groundsmen offered to do it for free."

The council sent a letter and pictures of the restored cross to Mr Lituaitis's children.

They in turn sent a book about Lithuania and an accompanying letter that read: "We are cordially thankful to you. Now all our family is very peaceful and satisfied about our father's eternal rest in peace. As a gratitude for your concern we send to all of you and to the people of Stratton St Margaret parish this book of pictures about our country."

The groundsmen took the smashed oak cross to their workshop where they fitted the polished brass plaque to a new stained piece of wood.

Mr Collins, 51, said: "The cross was quite badly smashed it's a terrible thing for anyone to do.

"We were only too pleased to give up a few hours to repair it.

"I'm glad the family have been in touch it's heart-warming and a total surprise.

"There has been the odd occurrence of vandalism round here, it's not something that happens frequently, but what sort of person does that to a grave?"

Mr Blake added: "The cross would probably have not got repaired and the family not informed in many other places.

"Anything we can do to help we try to. Bernie and Rodney didn't think twice about offering to repair it in their own time that's the sort of people they are."