THREE people from a remote North-East dale, who were caught up in the trauma of the New Zealand earthquake earlier this year, have held an emotional reunion.

They were joined by members of their families to reflect on their narrow escape from the disaster which devastated the New Zealand capital of Christchurch.

Retired scientist Ken Heatherington and his wife, Kathy, from Westgate, in Weardale, flew home at the weekend after spending more than two months with their daughter, Jane, a Christchurch doctor, and her family.

They were in a cafe having lunch when the 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck on February 22.

Only minutes earlier, they had been in an art gallery, which was destroyed by the quake.

Jo Cundy, widow of the Bishop of Peterborough, who has a home in Weardale, was in Christchurch Cathedral, lighting a candle in memory of her husband, Ian, when the quake struck.

She and her cousin, New Zealander Liz Scott, struggled through the dust and rubble to safety.

Mrs Heatherington plays the organ at Heatherycleugh Church in upper Weardale, where Mrs Cundy is a regular worshipper.

When they discovered they were going to be in Christchurch at the same time, they agreed to meet.

But that rendezvous never took place because of the earthquake.

The Heatheringtons have mixed feelings about being safe back home in Weardale.

They have left behind their daughter, Jane, her husband, David, and their grandchildren, Hannah, four, and Emily, two, trying desperately to rebuild their lives – and their home.

Dr Heatherington, who is chairman of the Weardale Museum, talked about the trauma his daughter had to face as a GP in the thick of the aftermath.

“The city’s medical centre was totally destroyed, and four doctors, nurses and patients died. One of the doctors was a close friend of Jane’s,” he said.

He also described how his granddaughter, Emily, had learnt earthquake drill at creche.

“She knows she has to crawl under a table if one strikes,” he said.

“The people of Christchurch are trying to rebuild their lives and return to some kind of normality, but I’m afraid life will never be quite the same again.”

Mrs Cundy, whose daughter- in-law, Susan, gave birth to twin boys, Finlay and Edgar, three days before she left for New Zealand, reflected on the “luxury” of being able to spend time with them and getting away from the devastation of Christchurch.

But she added: “I also have a strange feeling of guilt at being a survivor when you are surrounded by others with much more pressing needs who are trying to rebuild their lives.”