Whitton: The parents of a Whitton man freed after more than a month in a Greek prison say having their son home is a lovely Christmas present.

Ron and Mary Arnold, of Vincam Close, have battled tirelessly for the release of their son, Graham, 38, since he was arrested on spy charges, with 11 other British plane enthusiasts, on November 8, at an airbase near Kalamata, in Greece.

The group faced an uncertain future. If found guilty of the crime, they could have spent 20 years behind bars.

But last Saturday morning, Ron and Mary waited nervously at Luton Airport for the arrival of the best Christmas present they could have ever hoped for.

Emotions ran high as the group walked through the arrivals gate. A massive cheer went up and the group hugged their waiting families.

"It was amazing. A tremendous relief," said Mary. "I think they were shocked. They didn't expect so many cameras and press."

Each of the plane spotters was ordered to pay £9,000 bail before being allowed home. The Dutch government paid the money for their two citizens, but the British 12 had to find the money themselves.

"I had to rush out and find £9,000. It's not as if I keep that amount under my mattress," said Ron.

Flowers and cards sent by well-wishers are the only decoration in the house. There is no Christmas tree, no tinsel.

"Christmas was cancelled as far as we were concerned," explains Mary. "We haven't been able to think about Christmas, or anything else for that matter, since Grahams arrest.

"When asked how they have been feeling over the past month, Rons eyes well up. It's been traumatic. You live in hope but you get the bad times when depression sets in and you realise my son is held for spying in a Greek prison," he said.

"Graham said we probably had a worse time than he did out there. He said they got used to the discipline of prison life, like you would the army.

"They kept each others spirits up, but when they phoned home they started realising the scale of it all. He said the worst thing was the boredom. We sent him quiz books and they would hold quizzes at night."

Graham, who attended Teddington School as a boy, has been a plane spotter since the age of five. "A lot of little boys in the area did it then," explained Mary.

"Heathrow airport is right behind the house, so he could see the planes landing and taking off from his bedroom window. This won't stop him plane spotting. He's always loved visiting airports."

But Ron admitted: "If he did want to go on a trip abroad again, I'd try and pinch his passport."

December 24, 2001 11:30