FORMER REFUGEE AND CHARITY VOLUNTEER DIES AGED 95

A former refugee and lifelong charity volunteer, whose life story was turned into an animated film by Christian Aid, passed away in February at the age of 95.

Born in Serbia, as a child Theo Davidovic was sold into domestic servitude after the death of his mother. As a teenager he joined the resistance to the Nazis, but following the Communist takeover of Yugoslavia he was forced to flee the country and spent two years in refugee camps in Italy and Germany, where he received lifesaving help from Christian Aid.

Theo arrived in Kinglassie In Fife, in 1947, where he met and married Betty Douglas and worked first as a miner and then ran a shoe repair shop in Edinburgh. He joined his local church in 1950 and became an Elder in 1965.

Theo never forgot the food parcels he received from Christian Aid whilst a refugee, so when the church was looking for a collector he readily volunteered. With his collecting can he became a familiar sight on the streets of Kinglassie during Christian Aid week, but he did much more. A keen gardener with a large garden, he organised plant sales and held an annual barbecue in his back garden with proceeds to Christian Aid.

In 2017 Christian Aid marked the 60th anniversary of Christian Aid Week by turning Theo’s life story into an animated film which was nominated for a Charity Film Award.

His minister at Auchterderran Kinglassie Parish Church, the Rev Donald Lawrie, said: “Theo was an example to us all. He will be sadly missed by his family, his Church family and his community.”