A CANADIAN serviceman has owned up to stealing a spoon from a Sussex catering firm - during World War II.

Now Sam Shore, 77, is offering to pay "rent" on the spoon for the 57 years he has had it.

Mr Shore, who lives in Ontario with his wife June, was posted to Sussex in 1941. He was a signalman in the Royal Canadian Corps of Signals.

He was put to work in the kitchens of an officer's mess at Handcross Park.

It was there, during an officers' party in 1942, that he pinched the silver-plated spoon.

From that day on, it went with him everywhere.

Speaking from his Canadian home, he said: "I was a signalman, the lowest of the low then.

"When I saw all this lovely silver cutlery I thought that's a whole lot better than the stuff we've got.

"So I decided to steal the spoon. Back then I would have got 28 days in the digger, what they called the jail."

The spoon saw action with Sam in Italy, France, Germany and Holland before he finally returned to Canada in 1945 after marrying a Scottish bride.

It has been in the kitchen of the couple's home ever since.

Sam, who escaped serious injury during the war, said: "I use the spoon everyday for my breakfast. The end has worn away where I used to eat from my mess tin.

"It's been a good spoon to me. It really reminds me of my time in Sussex. I loved it there.

"I used to go dancing almost every night in Brighton and at a dancing hall in Haywards Heath.

"I got thinking about the spoon and thought maybe I ought to send it back."

Royal Mail chiefs were alerted to Mr Shore's story when he wrote a letter addressed to caterers Letheby and Christopher, East Grinstead, the makers of the spoon, admitting his crime.

He also said the letter should be opened by the East Grinstead Postmaster if the company had moved.

Letheby and Christopher had been based in East Grinstead since the 1890s and moved to new headquarters at Glyndebourne in 1983.

In his letter to the caterers Mr Shore said: "I cannot say I feel guilty. I feel proud that your old spoon looks so well.

"It is worn from many a mess tin meal but looks new. I don't know how much rent I would owe you. You figure it out and I will make a deal.

"I remember my years in England with great pleasure. When I think of Haywards Heath, Brighton and London, fond memories return.

"I married a girl from Glasgow. She came to Sussex and lived with me for a time. After we were married she worked in the food office in Haywards Heath.

"We have been married for 56 years and they said it wouldn't last."

Now the couple are planning to visit England again in May.

But company executive director Sean Hall-Smith says he will not be demanding money and wants Mr Shore to keep the spoon.

He said: "It probably has a lot of sentimental value for him now. The spoon is silver-plated and not worth very much.

"We are more than happy for him to keep it and we don't want any money from him.

"It is an intriguing story and I shall be inviting them to come and have lunch with us at Glyndebourne.

"On this occasion they will be served with plastic cutlery so he is not tempted to make off with any more!"

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