An eight-year-old Ukrainian refugee has been reunited with the only toy she brought to the UK after losing it on a bus – thanks to a kind-hearted bus driver turned detective.

Sofiia arrived in Oxfordshire with her mother Yana carrying one rucksack which contained only essential items and one special handmade toy gnome.

The gnome was the only toy she had space to take with her and it accompanied her during the 1,500-mile journey from her family home in Ukraine. 

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The family were welcomed to Oxfordshire by a host family and begun to settle as best they could.

Sofiia dropped her gnome when departing Thames Travel’s 98 service connecting Didcot to Harwell Campus, prompting a public appeal via social media to help track down her precious lost possession.

Thames Travel bus driver Steve Brook spotted the appeal on social media and within 24 hours located the gnome and returned it to Didcot resident Clare Towlerton, who has been supporting the family since they arrived in the county in June last year.

She said the discovery was a huge relief.

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“It was a wonderful feeling when Sofiia was reunited with her toy gnome,” said Ms Towlerton.

Oxford Mail:

“She was completely distraught when it went missing, and we’re so grateful to Steve, the general public and Thames Travel for their help. 

“What Sofiia and her mother Yana – and all Ukrainian guests – have been through in the past 12 months is unthinkable in a modern world. They’ve had to leave everything behind, including Sofiia’s father who continues to fight for Ukraine’s freedom.

“This toy gnome was one of Sofiia’s only possessions made especially for her. The image of both Sofiia and Yana arriving in the UK with just a rucksack each is something I’ll never forget. It makes me teary just thinking about it.”

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Since arriving in Oxfordshire Yana has started studying English and works part-time in a local restaurant. Sofiia has also returned to school and studies in the same class as Clare’s youngest daughter.

Clare hopes to one-day travel back to Ukraine with Yana and Sofiia and described them as a warm and loving extension to her existing family.

“Yana and Sofiia are our family now,” said Clare. “They are both such wonderful people and we pray for peace in their homeland so they can safely return home.

“Ukrainian families have lost everything because of the war. Yana’s business and family home have both been destroyed.

“Supporting and hosting them felt like the obvious thing to do, to help a family in need. We are so privileged to live in a free and peaceful country and if the shoe was on the other foot, I could not imagine how desperate our situation would be.”

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Mr Brook has been driving Oxfordshire’s roads with Thames Travel for six years.

He said: “I saw Clare’s appeal on social media and made it my first job the next day to check our buses for the missing gnome.

“Fortunately, it was still on the bus I was due to be driving that same day. The family was over the moon, and I’m so pleased to have played a small role in reuniting Sofiia with her sole possession."

Oxford Mail:

Luke Marion, Thames Travel managing director, added: “Steve went above and beyond and is a wonderful example of the care our team have for the people we serve. The story has touched everyone at the depot and we’re pleased Sofiia was reunited with her toy gnome."

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This story was written by Andy Ffrench, he joined the team more than 20 years ago and now covers community news across Oxfordshire.

Get in touch with him by emailing: Andy.ffrench@newsquest.co.uk

Follow him on Twitter @OxMailAndyF