A CHANCE-of-a-lifetime trip to America turned into an emotional reunion for a former Preston woman and her son.

In a lucky twist of fate, psychiatric nurse Stuart Gregory, from Goosnargh, was given the opportunity to jet off to America to meet his mum Margaret - who had emigrated to the USA five years ago.

Stuart, 39, a corporal with Preston's Kimberley Barracks-based Territorial Army, immediately snapped up the offer of a trip to the United States as part of a TA exchange scheme.

Stuart - who has worked in a secure unit of Whittingham Hospital for a decade, since completing six years regular service with the King's Own Royal Border Regiment - even persuaded his bosses to let him take a couple of days off during the trip.

He said: "It was my first trip to America and, as a result of the exercise, which was in Minneapolis, I was able to meet up with my mum." Mum Margaret retired to the Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, after spending her childhood in Liverpool and her working life at The Grapes in Goosnargh and as owner of a Preston cafe.

He added: "My mum could hardly believe it when I turned up in Hollywood. She hadn't expected to see me for years, at the very least.

"I'm very grateful to the TA, for giving me time off to enjoy the visit with mum and hope I can return in the future."

But, although Margaret loves living in the US, holds down a job and has remarried, Stuart has no plans to follow in her footsteps.

He said: "America isn't my cup of tea but it's a great place to visit. And now I've got family over there, I could return at any time."

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