The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Remarkable life inspires film for Christian Aid
ANNIVERSARY: Second World War refugee stars in animated movie
The remarkable story of a war refugee who settled in Fife has been turned into a film to mark the 60th anniversary of Christian Aid Week.
Theodor Davidovic was a Second World War refugee from Serbia who came to Scotland in 1947.
Mr Davidovic received life-saving support from Christian Aid. And he has repaid that help, supporting Christian Aid Week from its inception.
The 92-year-old was orphaned as a child and sold into domestic service, eventually joining the resistance to fight Germany.
After the war, he found himself in refugee camps in Italy and Germany, but said he never forgot the food parcels he received from Christian Aid.
Aged 22, he escaped the camps and found his way to Scotland.
Four years later he met his future wife Betty at a Kirkcaldy dance hall.
They married in 1953 and have two sons and four grandchildren.
After running a shoe repair business for 50 years he retired to become a fulltime carer for his wife.
Theodor said: “I came to Scotland as a refugee in 1947 and I am grateful for the sanctuary and safety that I found and I couldn’t have been happier.”
When it came to becoming an animation, he added: “We’ve had a giggle or two, I say to Betty that she’s married to a film star.”
He has run local youth club events, barbecues and plant sales to help raise money for the charity as he “feels he owes his life to the cause”.
Grateful to the community which welcomed him he said: “I appeal to all the Christians: your Christianity is not only to come and pray and sing hymns.
“It is to put your belief in actions – helping somebody that needs your help and showing love and compassion to the wider world.”
Sally Foster-Fulton, head of Christian Aid Scotland, said: “Christian Aid began as a response from churches in the UK to the refugee crisis after World War Two.
“It began by people loving their neighbours and we will not turn our backs on them now.”