Aussie Repays £5 Debt—40 Years Late

By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 19, 2008 8:14 PM CST
Aussie Repays £5 Debt—40 Years Late
In this photo illustration pound coins are stacked in front of a twenty pound note on November 27 2008 in Bristol, England.   (Getty Images)

An Englishman was surprised to come home and discover a £5 loan repaid nearly 40 years late, the BBC reports. In 1969, Jim Webb loaned an Australian traveler the money to help him get to England. The Aussie took Webb's address but never sent him the money as promised. Now 72, Webb said the tardy debtor dropped off £200—£5 for every year that had passed.

"I was quite emotional when I read it," said Webb, who is giving the money to charity. "In this day and age promises are made and promises are broken and you lose your faith in human nature. This was a lovely gesture. I am very sorry I was not in... he would have been very welcome here." (More debt stories.)

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