The widow of tragic Baildon church elder Michael Pollard will be spending Christmas telling worshippers on the other side of the world about her forgiveness for his killers.

Jo Pollard, pictured, currently on holiday in her native New Zealand, is planning to speak to the congregation at a Baptist church at Whangarei in her home province Northland on December 27.

Mr Pollard, 62, elder at the Emmanuel Evangelical Church at Baildon Green, died in August 1997 after he and his wife were attacked by robbers in Hungary while en route to Romania with a camper van full of aid.

But ever since the tragedy and although she testified in court against them Mrs Pollard, 56, who was herself left badly injured, has always maintained her forgiveness for the three young men jailed for her husband's manslaughter.

Speaking to the Telegraph & Argus from New Zealand, she said: "I'm hoping to go to church on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day but on the 27th I've been asked to speak at the local Baptist church.

"I'll be speaking about last year and it's all on the theme of forgiveness.''

As Christians the Christmas period has always been a special time for the Pollard family and Mrs Pollard, who has given talks to several other church groups in New Zealand, plans to enjoy a special 'Russian Christmas' with her children Rebecca, 26, Tamar, 22, and Andrew, 19, when she returns to Baildon early in the New Year.

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