FREDERICK Ready could not hold back his tears when he opened a letter from a man whose life he saved 47 years ago.

Despite being almost five decades ago, Mr Ready's memories of August 5, 1953, are burned into his memory.

Mr Ready, 61, a retired pharmaceutical technician from Peatmoor, was 12 years old at the time and living in Hanwell in West London.

The married father-of-three said: "I can still remember it very clearly. It was a summer's day and there were a lot of people out by the River Brent.

"All of a sudden I heard a lot of shouting and commotion, so I went to have a look at what was going on.

"There was this little kid in the water splashing around. I remember he was wearing wellington boots.

"There were a lot of people standing around and not doing anything. I did not think.

"I just dived in and managed to bring him to the bank of the river where he was pulled out by some golfers on the other bank."

Mr Ready's heroic actions won him an award from the Humane Society, presented by his headmaster at Brent Side Secondary Modern School.

But although his actions caused a flurry of publicity in local newspapers at the time, Mr Ready had almost forgotten about the incident until he received a letter early this month from Tony Snow, who was five years old at the time.

"I have to admit I really tearful when I opened the letter," said Mr Ready. "I have not spoken to him since the day I saved his life.

"I am looking forward to meeting him."

The letter from Mr Snow, 54, who now lives in Harrow, reveals how he managed to track down Mr Ready after he met a friend of his niece, who still lives on the Cuckoo Estate in Hanwell where the two men grew up.

In the letter, Mr Snow speaks of his "eternal gratitude" to Mr Ready and how he has often thought of the selfless act of bravery that saved his life.

Mr Ready has yet to contact Mr Snow to arrange a date to meet, but hopes to see him in January.